[ Home ] [ Food ] [ Treats ] [ Toys ] [ Cages ] [ Cage Buying ] [ Playstands ] [ Perches ] [ Order Form ] [ Bird Care ] [ Bird Day Care ] [ Boarding ] [ News Article ] [ Video ] [ Links ] [ In Loving Memory ] [ Killing Birds Softly ] [ Our Family ] [ Custom Built Aviaries ] [ Contact Us ]

Meet our ParrotPhernalia Family

Chari and Jimmy, great team. Always eager to answer questions, assist in the right choices of items and food for your bird and just listen to their customers talk about their birds. Not related, people often think they are mother and son but Jimmy actually came into the store 15 months ago and asked to volunteer. He started out as a one day a week volunteer and Chari immediately knew he would be a great asset to the business. Jimmy is now working at the store Tues, Thurs, and Saturdays. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to needing info or advice and always interested in what you have to say. When you call the store and Jimmy answers the phone you don't need to ask for Chari.....Jimmy can help you just as well.  Chari opened the store in 2006. She learned everything she knows from a store she worked at in Cali, listening, observing and communicating with her former boss and her avian vet. Most of all though, experience, common sense and compassion is what she feels has been most beneficial for her success. Though she does whisper to the birds who come in to the store as rescues to calm them, to reassure them that everything will be fine, she does not consider herself worthy of the title so many have given her. "The Bird Whisperer" Chari just loves what she does and has made this venture her life. "Glory is not what I'm after, I just love what I do, that's all" she says. "Love and appreciation from the birds is all I ask for." "And of course, I want people to understand and respect their pet birds (and all other animals) and be kind to them."

This is Jasper. A greater sulfur crested cockatoo who was given up by his owner because of his work schedule becoming too demanding. Jasper has been adopted by very close friends of the owner of ParrotPhernalia and is loved more than ever and much a clown these days. Many locals know Jasper, he became very popular and never forgotten by anyone who has ever met him due to his alarm and head banging act. It's his way to show you how happy he is. If you tell him he is beautiful, he will strut for you. His theme song is "I'm too Sexy". And trust me, he knows he is hot stuff!

Owner and Bird Whisperer, Chari Davis with Jasper

This is Aurora, an umbrella cockatoo that was a rescue who lived with her cockatoo sister in very undesirable circumstances. She now is loved and owned by Jimmy who works at ParrotPhernalia. Her sister Jersey, was adopted by a very dedicated customer of ParrotPhernalia and both are happy, healthy and loved so much now. She is a sweetie, but still skeptical of people she does not know, especially men. Except Jimmy of course. She lovvves her Daddy!

Chilly is a 2 year old Catalina Macaw who belongs to the store owner's daughter, Kristie. Chilly catches everyone's attention due to his beauty and playful personality. A Catalina Macaw is a hybrid of a scarlet and a blue and gold macaw. Chilly visits the store often for social interaction. He may look threatening with that big beak, but Kristie is able to cradle him like a baby and play with him as though he was a kitten. Chilly is shown in this picture with Jimmy, a dedicated ParrotPhernalia employee and extreme asset to our store and flock.

This is Zappa (yes, named after Frank). He is a male Umbrella Cockatoo who had the same owner for 14 years. Poor Zappa was spoiled rotten but in all the wrong ways. He was fed chocolate, coffee, slept in bed with his female owner and not caged unless his owners boyfriend was around. Then he was put into a ferret cage with a stuffed animal and covered up. His owner finally brought him into the store I worked at in Cali, literally threw him on the ground and said she didn't care what we did with him, but she couldn't take the screaming he did when boyfriend was around. He had blood on him, I took him to the vet and learned he had several health issues due to the improper care he received from the previous owner. He bit me profusely, screamed constantly, and would chase anyone who came into his site to bite them. It took me over 2 years, but now he is my sweet heart, healthy, happy, beautiful, and has learned to trust me. I promised him I would never give up on him and I think he believed in me and still does. My toughest challenges are always my most rewarding. I love my Zappa! (as I do them all)

I found Selma, my female umbrella cockatoo at a store in Cali where I eventually worked. She came into the store completely brown from cigarette smoke since she was kept in a small apartment where the owners spent there time smoking and watching TV. Selma, however, was kept covered most of the time due to her crying "momma, momma" wanting to be held and cuddled. After several years of neglect, Selma was put on consignment at the store and I immediately took to her. She had a hard time balancing on one's finger or shoulder since she was rarely held and lived in a very small cage. It took 2 weeks of bathing before Selma's beautiful white feathers began to show through the nicotine stain. Selma is epileptic but has had only 3 seizures since I acquired her in 2002. She loves everyone, but unless being cuddled, prefers to be in her cage where I have made sure she has many many toys and lots of room. Selma still yells out Momma when she wants something, but I will cater to her wants and needs instead of covering her and ignoring her cries for love. One needs to ask themselves, would you lock your child up in his room when he cried for love? Not if you really cared for them. Pets need love and attention too, not just food and water.

This is Kirbee, Chari's very first bird. Eight years ago Chari bought her as a baby. The only bird owned by Chari who was actually "bought" as a baby and not a rescue. She talks and talks and loves everybody. She is caged in this picture only because she is outside. Birds at ParrotPhernalia are only caged at night when put to bed and when outside enjoying the sunshine. If you see Kirbee in her outside cage, she will probably tell you "hello" than say "You are all Koo-Koo". Don't be offended though, she's a bird.

This is Fallstaff, our celebrity bird. A plucked Moluccan Cockatoo who was Chari's (ParrotPhernalia's owner) first love. He came plucked and untrusting to humans but Chari immediately fell in love with him anyways. He is everybody's favorite!! He will entertain you, he will talk to you. He will not bite you but loves any attention you are willing to give him. In 2001 when Chari bought him from Petsmart In California, he was 10 years old and had been in 12 different homes. (no wonder he plucked, huh?) Chari promised him she would never let him go and was tremendously challenged by his screaming and testing attitude. Now he is the biggest lover, charmer, and entertainer than any other bird in the store.

This is Harriette. The oldest bird in the store, 36 to be exact. Wild caught and smuggled into the US back in the 70's most likely. She is an Amazon and enjoys nothing more than to sit in front of a window (like most little old ladies) and bark at the squirrels (I doubt little old ladies do that though). She is a permanent resident and will never leave. She enjoys being loved on, bathed and of course, talked to. The one word she will say is "Margarrrrita". Hey, she didn't learn that here at the store! Really. ha ha

Kiyah (female) and Angel (male), a bonded pair of Blue Throat Macaws. Purchased at two separate pet stores in California in 2003 and 2004, Kiyah was given up by her 22 year old owner who was forced to sell her due to a job offer in the Bahamas training dolphins. Angel was found in the back room of yet another pet store and not allowed to be out because he was labeled "mean". I rescued them about 6 months apart and they immediately bonded. They will not breed however, because the blue throats are very particular about their breeding environment and more than likely will only start a family in their natural habitat. Ok by me. I probably would never be able to give up the babies anyways. This is why the blue throats (Caninde Macaws) are now on the endangered species list and so few exist. They have each other, they love me, I love them and they are happy. That is what is important. I've been called selfish by breeders but true bird lovers disagree and just admire them for their beauty and playful personalities. Always in trouble, these two. They can take a cage apart in minutes.

Joey is a male citron cockatoo who is your typical little "Dennis the Menace" Once stuck to fly paper at his previous foster parent's home, Joey has naked legs but is as cute as they come. He loves to bop up and down when he is excited and can be very sweet when he wants to. Be careful though, his trust in humans is still not 100%. He loves kisses but will sometimes surprise you with a clamp on the lip by his little but sharp beak. If you take my female citron, Lucy, out of his site, he will scream profusely. He loves her but she finds him very annoying. That doesn't stop him from trying to woo her over though. He is constantly shredding paper hoping she will approve of the tentative nest and fall in love with him too. No cage sharing for these two!!!

This is Phern, a 16 year old Green Wing Macaw. She was up for sale by her owner and when several of my customers went to visit her with the possibility of purchasing her, they came back to me and told me that I needed to go check out the situation before I sent any other prospective buyers over to her home. Phern was in a cage that had not been cleaned in 2 years. She had not been out of this cage for 2 years also. One toy, one perch, a bowl of water and a bowl of seed in the bottom of the cage because that was the only way to get it in without getting bit. Wedged between a wall and a refrigerator in a single wide trailer, scented candles burning and a lit cigarette in the ash tray on the table next to her, food frying on the stove 3 feet from her cage, I knew I had to get her out. She lunged at anyone who approached her cage but I managed to get her out with a towel and get her into a carrier to transport her to my store for rehabilitation and a healthier environment. The owner agreed to let me work with her before putting her back up for sale. I knew it was very difficult for the owner to let her go, but she knew that letting her go was what was best for Phern, which means a lot. Though she loved Phern and cried as I drove away, she really wanted what was best for Phern. Immediately after letting her out of her carrier at my store she climbed up my arm, rubbed her beak on my face and preened my hair. She has never ever bitten me. I knew than I would never be able to let her go. My policy is to not buy birds, Phern was my exception. She put the Phern in ParrotPhernalia. It was meant to be.

This is Rosie. She is a Moluccan Cockatoo though her beautiful peach coloring is not so bright in this picture so it is difficult to tell. She is so so sweet and was brought into a store I worked at in Cali because the owners did not want her anymore. They chose to sell her to get money to do some remodeling in there home. Rosie did not trust anyone but me. If I did not work a certain day, nobody could get her out of her night time cage. She is beautiful, always happy on her swing, swaying back and forth as fast as she can go and absolutely loves children. Anyone who comes into my store and wants to hold a big bird....Rosie is the one.

This is "Yellow" our lovebird. In this picture Yellow is just coming out of her coconut bed to greet me. Yellow was found in someone's backyard and after a year of nobody claiming her, was turned over to me. Yellow will entertain you by playing with all her toys and squawking at them when she gets frustrated. She loves to ride on a shoulder and is very sweet, unless you put your hand in her castle. Then she will bite. Her people time is on her terms, not ours. She even talks. So much personality for such a little critter. And oh so beautiful!

This is "Bill". He is a peach front conure who thinks he is just as big as all the macaws in the store. Bill has more personality than anyone could imagine and seems to be almost human. Anyone can hold Bill, when you let him step up on you his immediate reply is "what r u doin?" in a very sarcastic tone. He will peck at your shoulder then say "ouch" and if you don't respond he will continue to do so but every time a bit harder till he gets your attention. Our unique little conure has the skill to let us know whether your bird is male or female. He has not been wrong yet. If you put a female bird next to him, no matter what breed, he will stretch his neck out to look as large as she and then begin preening her and snuggling. If you put a male next to him, he will gently scoot him off the perch as to show he is alpha. He loves to dance and do a little rap song that consists of one word, "What, What, What" but is as cute as they come. Bill came to me from a couple who breed love birds and could not keep "Bill" since he did not get along with them. Full of personality, but more so attitude, Bill seems to love all customers and female birds (especially Quakers). Want a free DNA? Come see Bill!

This is Corky. Corky belonged to a little old lady in California who's family was very close to Chari's daughter. When Grandma passed away, nobody in the family could care for Corky so he was turned over to Chari. He is so very happy, talking singing and loves his baths. When you see Corky in his outdoor cage, sing with him. He has a beautiful opera voice! But be careful! He also has a killer bite!

This is LeRoyee, a Timneh African Grey. He was a border who became a serious plucker when many changes were made in his human family. When he came in to board at my birdie camp, his plucking would stop, but start up again when he would go home. After the owners learned that I had just lost my Timneh African Grey to heart failure, they turned LeRoyee over to me and he is on a quick road to recovery. Ironically, My Timneh African Grey's name was LeRoyee also. Coincidence? Or meant to be? Either way we are happy and thankful for such compassion on the previous owner's kindness.

Boo-Boo is a Senegal that comes in for birdie day care three days a week with his Blue and Gold Macaw brother, Chopper and his Umbrella Cockatoo sister, Chewey. Once scared of his own shadow, Boo-Boo is becoming more and more sociable with people and less spooked. This is what birdie day care is all about, socialization with people and other birds...and in my opinion, is a very healthy practice.

This little parakeet came to me very depressed. The owner tried to pair her up with another parakeet but they did not hit it off. She asked if I could re-home her and maybe she would find happiness elsewhere. She just sat in front of her mirror all day as though that was her only friend. Well, when the parrotlette came in for re-homing also, they bonded and have been cage mates ever since, preening each other, sleeping next to each other. Who woulda thought? So since the female is much larger and the male is the little guy, we like to call them Brigette and Flav. For those of you who know who Brigette and Flav are, I'm sure you find the humor.

Lucy is a 20+year old Citron Cockatoo who was given up by her original owners of 14 years when they decided to retire and travel. Out of the stress of losing her home of 14 years, Lucy started plucking. She doesn't pluck anymore though and grew most of her feathers back. Her chest will probably remain naked, but I just say she likes to go topless. She will charm you with her little "Minnie Mouse" voice when she asks you "watcha doin?" When the other birds in the store get loud, Lucy will yell "Gaucho!!" because I once had a dog named Gaucho who would bark and bark so of course I would yell his name "Gaucho". She also says "here kitty kitty" and will lift her wing and say "tickle tickle' for a little wing pit massage. Can't help but adore and love this little girl, but she is very skiddish of people she does not no. Not a biter, but will drop to the ground if you try to touch her. When you visit Lucy, just talk to her and admire her for who she is. That all it takes makes her happy!

Though my intentions were to keep Mango and my promise to the previous owners were to do so, with there blessings, Mango has been re-homed to a wonderful family and has bonded with their female umbrella cockatoo, BO-BO. A free flight aviary custom built by the new owners and a safe indoor cage when not under human supervision, Mango now has the freedom to scream, fly, and be a bird. Though he and BO-BO will never breed (which is a blessing) they are much in love with each other as they are with their human flock, especially Tyler...the little boy who adores them so much. Another wonderful home for a homeless bird who just wanted to be loved for who he is. Thank you Mike Tammi and Tyler. You are a blessing.

Brazen, still half naked, is quickly growing his feathers back. He has been adopted by a young boy and his family. Dakota, Brazen's favorite person, is Brazen's new best friend. Dakota has a gift, a gift that seems to draw any and every bird to him. He can handle even the most aggressive of birds and fell in love with Brazen from day one. It is obvious that Brazen is now very happy and content with his new best friend due to his rapid feather growth, no more plucking and minimal squawking. Dakota, you are an amazing child and Brazen is very fortunate to have you love him. Stay involved in the bird world, you are gifted and will go far in life helping these birds.

Gangi is a male Grand Eclectus. Less than a year old, Gangi was brought into the store for re-homing due to allergies in the human family. Jimmy, who works at the store, immediately took an interest in Gangi and Gangi in Jimmy. They have been best buddies ever since and Jimmy is now the proud daddy of this amazing bird. Gangi comes to work with Jimmy (along with his umbrella cockatoo Aurora) and has his own personal play stand behind the cash register in front of a window and reacts to human conversation with a simple "hmmmmm" as though he is taking it all in with approval. Now, what captive bird could ask for a better life at work?

Ralph has an amazing background. Not the happiest one, but with a happy ending. Ralph is a male Moluccan Cockatoo who was purchased at a bird show at the Jamil Temple about 2 years ago. The breeder who was selling him told a woman who had just lost her husband that Ralph had also just lost his mate. (Hmmm, don't believe everything you hear...especially from a sales person.) Ralph was purchased by this woman, thinking it was an omen and meant to be. Well it wasn't. He was way too much for her to handle. Loud, needy, kept outside on the patio to appease her room mates. So Ralph was sold to yet another woman. Ralph was not happy having to share attention with the other birds in her home and went into attack mode. Not to his human, but to the other birds. So Ralph went yet to another family. The noise, once again, was too much. His crazy behavior was a very bad influence on the other birds in the home. He wanted all of the attention all of the time. So Ralphie was driven to Florida to live with a family who thought they could supply Ralph with the much needed attention he demanded. After biting the owner while she was playing tug-a-war with him through his cage with a toy, (and 14 stitches in her finger) he was brought back to So Carolina and turned over to me. (P.S. DON'T play tug a war with a big beak....it is teasing and you WILL get bit!) In my store Ralph is allowed to be Ralph. If he wants to scream and bang his toys against the bottom of his cage, he may. The only restriction Ralph has is that he may not be out of his cage when the other birds are out until I can trust that he will not hurt the other birds. I can hold him, cuddle him, sing with him.... as well as a few other people may without getting bit. But Ralph is Ralph and he must be respected and looked upon as being the pit bull of the flock. He is absolutely beautiful and the largest Moluccan one has ever seen. But that just makes him more fun to cuddle with. Turning a big bear into a loving pup, he is now "my big baby" and will never leave my care.

Indy has found a wonderful home! YAY! A customer who came in the store shopping for toys for her amazon and in conversation had explained to me that she one day years ago was in the market for a Blue and Gold macaw but when visiting a bird store was bonded with an amazon. "She" was basically adopted by the amazon, but realized this bird and her were meant to be. So even though her goal was a macaw, she went home with the amazon and have been best friends ever since that day. While visiting my store the woman, Sue Ellen, saw Indy and was mysteriously drawn to the macaw. Unaware that Indy was homeless, Sue Ellen spent two days visiting Indy and could not stop thinking about this wonderful plucked, but loving bird. Indy stuck to her like glue and seemed to be extremely anxious to be held by Sue Ellen whenever she was in the store. I then told Sue Ellen that Indy was in need of a loving home and Sue Ellen finally got her Blue and Gold Macaw. Yes, Indy has a loving home now and spoiled rotten and Indy loves her bib. Sue Ellen, you are an angel and I thank you for your constant updates and pictures on Indy's success and happiness.

This is Leilani. a plucked female Eclectus who was homed in an aviary with many other birds. The other female Eclectus' constantly picked on Leilani therefore, her owner asked that I help to re-home her. Only at my store for a couple days, a family with many other birds asked to take her home to see how she would do there. Their youngest son, Casey and Leilani immediately bonded. Casey tried to bond with several of their other birds, but the attachment never escalated, till Leilani came into the home that is. Casey finally got his own bird who loves him more than she does any of the other family members and has made Casey a very happy little boy. Just goes to prove, not every bird will bond to the human who wants so badly to love them, but the bird will be the one to choose who it wants to be it's true friend, as in the case of Casey and Leilani. Not all children are capable of caring for a bird, however some have the gift and are responsible enough (with the help of their parents) to learn, love, care for and respect their feathered companions. Congratulations Casey, on your new best friend!

Frankie is a female Military Macaw Hybrid. She was homed by the same family for at least 20 years, but with mom now fostering many children who's parents are unable to care for them, mom and the children just didn't have enough time to give Frankie. Though very much in love with Frankie and extremely difficult to make the decision to let her go, Frankie is now homed at our store and still extremely happy and loved. Very beautiful, very sweet, Frankie will receive the best of care at ParrotPhernalia and is much the cuddler. Frankie's, previous and new family love her very much! She seems to understand that, her previous family made a very wise and difficult decision, and knew what was best for Ms. Frankie. To Frankie's previous mom, "Thank you and bless you for your gift to all the young children you are helping. And thank you for Frankie. You are a very special and unique woman."

Freda is back. A 3 year old female Blue and Gold macaw who had been re-homed but has come back to me due to the new owner moving out of state. She is now back in her familiar surroundings of ParrotPhernalia as happy and playful as a bird can be. Prone to being a plucker, Freda may become a permanent member of the ParrotPhernalia family. Only time will tell. It will take a very special person for Freda to prove to me that she will bond with them for me to consider letting her go. Loves women, skeptical of men, Freda is in no hurry to leave the comfort, safety and love she receives at ParrotPhernalia and the flock she so adores.

Chopper (Macaw) and Chewey (Cockatoo) are well known in the community since they are part of the band members known as "Not Necessarily Just The Band". When their former owner passed away, his best friend took on the birds and they love him as though he was one of them. Still performing in various Irmo functions, Chopper will dance while the band performs swaying his head back and forth like Stevie Wonder and Chewey will grab onto anything she can and bob back and forth to the music. Caged together for 14 years, Chopper finally developed allergies from Chewey's feather dust and are now caged separately except when at ParrotPhernalia day care, which they attend 3 days a week or at home under daddy's supervision. Here at ParrotPhernalia Chopper is caged with Phern, my Green Wing macaw whom he adores, and Chewey is on a playstand with a hanging bell from the ceiling which she dances on all day. When they get together, they will cuddle and preen each other, but can't stay together for long before Chopper's allergies act up. Best Friends forever, Chopper and Chewey. May Tommy Bass, rest in Peace, your birds are in good hands thanks to your best friend.