As Kookaburra Bird Shop, LLC approaches it’s 30th year of business.  I have spent the day reflecting how this business has inspired me throughout my life.  My mother, Terrie Beckley, opened the shop 29 years ago during the week of my 10th birthday.  Her goal was always the same throughout the years.  Sell only tame well adjusted birds to the best of her ability.  In the early days, I can’t count how many parrots were calmly tamed in our small 4 bedroom home.

We have seen many changes throughout the years.  Some of which were drastic and others that were much more subtle.  One of the drastic changes was the 1992 ban on wild caught birds in the United States and the gradual captive breeding programs that became the supply of pet bird market.  The world has been very slow to outlaw the importation of vast numbers of wild birds, but that chapter is closing.  This has been a good change for birds in general.

Nutrition has always played an important role at Kookaburra Bird Shop.  We have kept up with all the latest research through out the years.  Many of the same principles that applied 29 years ago apply today.  Birds are scavengers and we must cater to that need to keep them as pets.  Diet has become much easier with the advent of manufactured diets, but as research suggests it is not the be all end all that originally it was touted. 

There is exciting research being conducted in the wild and there have been many surprises.  In the South American jungles researchers have found that macaws must remember when trees fruit.  To the amazement of the scientists this is not every year and yet the birds know when the fruit will be available.  In Australia, the cockatoos have been studied at length.  Galahs have “nanny” birds which teach the juveniles the ways of the world.

Education is the key to keeping birds their entire lives.  These wonderful creatures teach me on a daily basis. Our goal has always been “for the birds.”  Helping people with their pet birds is a daily challenge that I love to grapple with every day.  You are always welcome to come into the shop for a one on one session to help you with your bird’s needs.

As I look through almost 29 years of receipts, I wonder where all these birds have gone.  The earliest receipts I have are for the birds sold in 1981.  I am guessing that the evolution of the written receipt took a couple years to get started. I will have to ask Mom for more information on that. The first evidence of a written health guarantee shows up on receipts in 1986.  At that time, the only vet work that was being done was cultures and swabs.  Vet medicine has come a long way since 1979.

In looking ahead to 2009 and our 30th year, I am starting a search for the oldest living bird with it’s original owner sold from Kookaburra.  If you purchased your bird in 1979 or 1980, you will have to provide the original receipt.  We do not have those.  If you purchased your bird in 1981, or later we can look up those receipts.  Obviously it will be easier for us if you have the receipt. 

Here are the simple rules:

1. 1. Any bird purchased from Kookaburra Bird Shop is welcome to submit their story via any method excluding carrier pigeon.
   

2. 2.  We will verify the owner and bird via our receipts.  There must be written documentation for verification.
   

3. 3.  Your stories will be published on our website
   

4. 4.  The winner will receive a $500 credit to be used on anything in the shop.
   

5. 5.  We will end the search on November 12, 2009 and announce the winner no later then December 12, 2009
   

Share this blog with your bird loving friends.  Help us find the story of the bird who has been with one owner for 30 years!