Posted on 01/16/2006 7:38:29 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
A TALKATIVE parrot was being blamed for the break-up of a couple's relationship after squawking the name of the woman's secret lover, British newspapers reported today.
Ziggy, an eight-year-old African grey, prompted a confession from 25-year-old call centre worker Suzy Collins that she was having a four-month fling with a former colleague when the pet blurted out: "Gary, I love you."
The bird had previously said "Hiya, Gary" when Collins' mobile phone rang and made kissing noises when the name was mentioned on radio or television but its owner, Chris Taylor, from Leeds, northern England, laughed it off.
But the computer programmer who bought the bird as a chick and named it after singer David Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust said the penny dropped when the couple were snuggled up on the sofa before Christmas.
"We were watching telly when Ziggy blurted out, 'I love you, Gary' in Suzy's voice. I started laughing but when I looked at Suzy, I could tell something was up. Her face was like beetroot and she started to cry," the 30-year-old said.
"I felt sick to my stomach. She told me that she'd been seeing someone she'd met at work called Gary and that she wanted to finish with me.
"She said she was going to tell me anyway but she didn't know how and couldn't find the right time. I've not idea who this Gary is. I was devastated. Suzy left that night and I've not seen her since.
"She came back to collect her stuff when I was out. I hope I never see her again."
Ms Collins told newspapers she was not proud of her actions but admitted she never liked Ziggy in the first place.
Mr Taylor already divested of a girlfriend has now given away Ziggy.
"I couldn't get him to stop saying that bloody name ... what else could I do?" he said.
Too good to pass up birdie ping!
Wonder what she wants for the bird. I love African Grays.
I thought it was "sheep lie."
Where men are men and the sheep are relieved!
LOL!
Oops! Forgot to ping Darks on this one. I'm slipping.
My mind is slipping, I can feel it slipping, what are you doing Dave?
OOOooo...that's gonna leave a mark......LOL
"I couldn't get him to stop saying that bloody name ... what else could I do?" he said.
You have 'em in Arkansas?? I didn't know that.
A couple of years ago, we had an Australian houseguest...he said his kids thought they were the size of Emus.
Yes. We have quite a few of them in Arkansas. I've seen them all over the state.
Dave? Is that you? Dave?
Never have an affair around a bird of the Congo Grey class.
Clever little monsters.
Give someone a finch or a canary instead..
You aren't the only pissant in my life.
It looks and stands like a mud spattered crow.
What do they eat anyway, besides desert lizards.
That is really cool......
They just kind of amble around aimlessly. They prefer meat like mice and lizards, but I think the bulk of their diet is stuff like crickets. Some people feed them little balls of raw hamburger.
I know they also dine on snakes; they can kill a rattler by avoiding the strike, grabbing it and beating it to death against the rocks. Now, that is something I want to see someday!
Just yesterday I watched on in the backyard have a three-foot faceoff with a chipmunk, but it lost interest and moved on.
Check my homepage for more pics.
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