I am still extremely distraught over what happened last Sunday. I had Charlie for almost two years. I hand fed him since before he had feathers and could stand on his own. He was only about 2 weeks old when I got him. He was my best friend that I acquired after my divorce to lighten my spirits. I remember the first time he took flight! I watched him fly around the room for the first time and I felt like I was watching my child take his first steps. Of course his destination was right to me! I've had plenty of mishaps with Charlie, also. One day when I let him out of his cage he flew into one of those sticky fly strips of paper hanging from the ceiling in the barn. He got all caught up in it, started screaming and I started panicking! Dawn dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush does wonders on getting that sticky stuff out of his feathers. Our daily ritual of playtime, laughter and snuggling lasted two years, and BOY was he a talker!! He would give me a wolf-call whenever I got dressed ( I always thought that was funny), when I sneezed he would sneeze, when the phone rang he would mimic the phone ringing, he would laugh when I laugh and of course there was always a very chipper "HI Charlie!!!" coming from him whenever I entered the room.
The day my heart broke - last Sunday. I put Charlie in his cage and took him outside on the back porch like I always have done for the past two years. I just never thought it was right since he was a bird to keep him locked inside all the time, especially on a bright, sunny wonderful day. I heard him singing outside and playing with his toys in his cage. An hour went by... I realized I didn't hear him anymore. I walked outside to the back porch to take him inside and I started crying hysterically. His cage was knocked over sideways, all of the contents had spilled out of it, feathers were everywhere. I just knew something got my bird. But what???? I haven't seen any stray cats in my neighborhood. The back porch is fenced in so whatever got him had to be able to jump a fence. The worst part is that I continue to hear his chirping without him here. I miss him SO much. I feel like I let him down because I have always tried my best to protect him, and he knew he could come to me for comfort, but I wasn't there when he needed me the most!!!
Can anyone please give me any ideas about what happened to my bird? It would help to know, no matter how hard the truth may be. Thanks for reading. Katie

dear katie im so sorry for your loss,

it could have been a cat or possibly some bird of prey. sometimes these things happen even when you least expect it, I lost my first paulie by accident, so i can feel your pain, I am glad you shared your experience. I hope you feel better and someday you can move on to another feathered friend but always keeping charlie in your heart.

Dear Katie, I am so sorry for you. I can only think it might have been a cat or dog or like quakermom said a bird of prey. I was thinking what might make you feel better is to know that you were right in giving Charlie fresh air. In trying to give our pets a more fullfilling life sometimes involves unforseen dangers. It was an accident hon. Please take care. Very sorry again.

Laura and Pepe

So sorry for you loss..

I am so sorry for your loss.........

I'm so sorry Katie. Please don't blame yourself, unfortunately terrible accidents happen.

I'm very sorry for you Katie

Katie, I'm so sorry for what happened to Charlie. It does sound, to me atleast, like a cat got to him. A dog probably wouldn't have been able to clear the fence without making enough noise for you to hear it. These things happen, and its not your fault.

I'm sorry sweetie

So very, very sorry for your loss! There is no way to foresee everything that might occur in this life--so much the better that you had two such lovely years with Charlie. I don't know if it will help you, but I believe sometimes God needs a little extra love with Him. He'll take good care of Charlie until you see him again.

I'm so sorry....

i too hava a charlie.. i am so sorry for your loss...

You are in my prayers...so sorry for your loss

Well - it will be a week Sunday since this terrible tragedy happened, and I wanted to give you all an update. Call me Sherlock Holmes, but I was speaking to my neighbor who knew nothing of the incident and I asked her if she's seen any loose animals around. Well- it turns out she has been leaving cat food out for a wild BOBCAT she said has taken up residence under the porch of her house. Hummm.....

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to this post. I originally found this website simply because I missed Charlie so much that I wanted to see a picture of other quakers. All of your responses with your pictures and kind words have really helped out a lot. I wasn't sure before, but now I think another quaker later down the line might be good for me. I am reluctant to get another one anytime soon, only because I want to be fair to my new arrival and love him for him, not because I am looking for a reminder of Charlie.
Furthermore - I feel like I can make something positive out of my horrific heartbreak by telling my story to other quaker moms and dads so that nothing like this will happen to your quaker. Please, please, please if you are going to put your quaker's cage outside for a little bit during the day - make sure you can clearly see his cage at all times, do not PLACE it on a table or hang it from a free-standing cage holder. If I could go back in time, I would have hung his cage on a secure and strong hook from the eave of the porch in front of the back window so I could also clearly see him. Lastly, I love this species of bird very much and I want all of you to know how much I would give anything to have Charlie back. So please do me a favor and kiss and cuddle with your quaker, I would give anything to love on mine again! Thank you again for your kind words. Katie

Katie,
thank you for sharing your painful story. You are totally right, it can help all of us be more careful. I too would give whatever i could for you to have your precious Charley back. I would be devastated to not have my Maui in my life.
I am so glad that you are able to look into the future and see another Little Green Chickin in it. It would be a tribute to Charley for you to share your love with another of his kind.

God bless and heal quickly.

Bonnie & Maui

So sorry to hear about your loss

Katie, we're so sorry to hear about your loss!

Dave & Peanut

Sorry to hear about your friend, I know how you feel but believe he knows how much you loved him, and he loved you too. Keep in your memory all they good time you have together. I will never forget my Buddy, I still cry when I think of him, I miss him so much too; he left me on April, 2005, the worse day of my life. He was doing ok at night when I put him to sleep. And next morning I woke him up he come to me, and I new he was not fine. So I start to cry, lost my day of work and rushed to the vet, I went home and in my way home they called me telling that he would not make it, if I want to say goodbye. It was so difficult, he died on my hands. That same bird that makes my life so wonderful was now so defenseless lying w/ his tome up and he talked w/ me and he was gone. I still today can't believe, but I tried my best. God know everything and I'm sure he is in heaven. I had Buddy for 4 years. (I love you baby). So know I have two other Quaker parrots. Lucky and Blueberry, Lucky looks like just like Buddy, but they have different personality. And Blue is only 3 months she is blue (ha-ha) and they are good company for each other. But I miss Buddy.
Hope your pain heals and you can love another bird as well.

I am so sorry the pain will fade a little with time but your memories will stay....

I know God is good. Thank you for your kind words. This is the first time I talk about this. Hope w/ time I can speak more openly.

Katie I am so sorry for your loss. Please take care and don't blame yourself, this could happen to anyone.
Pam