Harvey Wallbanger, My beloved Uccello. - Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure

by Bridget English
(Huntsville, AL)

Meet my amazingly wonderful, little yellow sided green checked conure parrot, Harvey. :) I'm 22 years old and to think i wanted a dog... Harvey beats having a canine companion any day. I inherited Harvey after one of my friends and his girlfriend split up, he also being one of my ex boyfriends. He claimed he didn't have the time and lifestyle to tend to Harv.

In the past I have had parakeets, but never a larger and more high maintenance birdie. It amazes me at how fast i could become so crazy about the little guy. I can have the worst of days, be in an irritated mood, and he makes all of the negative energy just disappear.

When i first got him, we had a 2 hour drive from Asheville, NC to Morristown,TN. It was as if he hated me! Biting me and not wanting anything to do with me. After a few days of just talking to him and him settling into his new environment was the beginning of our beautiful relationship. Now he loves him some Bridget, my nickname also being bird. :) fate.

In his cage, Harvey has an amazing personality, he chats quite a bit, on and on about who knows what. There is a toy hanging from the top of his cage with a bell at the end, when he plays with it, its as if he's cursing it out, too cute. He also gets excited and bobs up and down uncontrollably. I enjoy watching him from time to time, he gets excited and just does laps in his cage. Here there and everywhere. Dangling from the ropes and chains of his toys, crawling across the top of the cage upside down while scraping his beak as he goes along, while talking to himself. <3
After a while of being cooped up in his cage he doesn't hesitate to let you know he's ready to come out for some action. Specially after he's gotten his good nights sleep, he feels i should get up and get going on his schedule, which really doesn't bother me a bit.

Out of the cage, Harvey is oneeee bigggg babyyy. In the mornings when i still want to lay down for a little bit, I will get the little loud booger and bring him back to the bed, he patiently sits on my pillow and preens away, occasionally going off to explore. He love love loveees to be out when I'm cleaning or just puttsing around in my room. If he sees I'm doing so and i haven't gotten him out, oh boy, he lets me know how angry he is.

I normally just open his cage door and let him do his thing for however long he'd like, as he gets into anything and everything he can. Make-up, ribbon, q-tips, pens, pencils, etc. I don't mind his exploring one bit, sometimes the things he gets into provide me with a good laugh and cheap entertainment.
One of his favorite spots is right on top of my head. He preens, picks at my bobby pins, hangs upside down if my hair is down, ruins my bump if I've just done my hair. haha, the little guy is a pest, but I absolutely love every minute of it.
He will also sit with my when i watch my tv shows, cuddling up on my shoulder, in my hair, or in the cress of my arm and doze off.

I recently moved to Alabama to go to school. A 4 hours adventure for Harvey and I, it was a late night drive, I hate that he was in his cage so I of course let him out, he went straight to my shoulder and hunkered down and went to sleep, the entireeeeee trip he sat in the same spot, occasionally waking up and ruuuubbing on me showing affection.

Harvey loves peanut butter and cheese! He is very very protective of me, and sometimes warms up to a few select people, but bites those he feels threatened to. When i have a drink sitting there, Harvey takes it upon himself to make whats mine, his as well. Prior to reading alcohol is bad for them, Harvey would even feel free to taste my beer and shots when i was lounging around the house. Oops.

He is also starting to talk, its like i have a child, when i first heard him say "HEY BABY" i was in shock and soooo excited! Now he practices alll the time! I guess he picked it up from me, I say hey baby to him, as well as the other animals, every time i walk in the door or stop to play.

I absolutely adore my feathered friend, he makes for a fine roommate, and more amazing company. I could ramble on and on about him. My facebook is covered with fun photos of him. He's one of a kind in my book. :)