Over the years, there were many interesting experiences with a variety of wild birds and animals but in the fun to-have-around department, Eeny, Meeny, Miney, and Moe won hands down.
    Never caged, the birds lived free inside and outside our house.  Not picky about their food, they ate anything offered them;dog and cat food, table scraps, fruit, vegetables, and their favorite, French fries.  When outside, they hopped along behind us or flew overhead.  To us, they seemed to not only enjoy life but to be mischievous.  It looked like they delighted in pulling our dog’s tail and playing leapfrog over my macaw when he perched on the garden fence rail.  They rolled in the hay our horse and donkeys were eating, or flew over the ducks, geese, and chickens, scaring them and then watching them run in panicked circles.
    They learned to imitate many of the sounds they heard; honking geese, words my macaw spoke, water dripping from a tap, and a car revving its engine.  Sometimes, they croaked out a raspy sounding “Hello” to people who visited our home.