Wesley 'Burd' - 18/08/96-18/07/11

[Ferg1985]

I was on here yesterday reading about people's lost 'tiels and feeling so sorry for you all, didn't expect to be contributing to it within 24 hours.

This morning we woke to find our 14 (going on 15) year old Wesley had left us. I feel the need to write a little obituary about him and post some pictures, but I'll have to do it later as I'm still too choked up (spent all day in work trying to block it out so not allowed myself time to deal with it yet).

[xoxsarahxox]

Im so sorry for your loss :( rest in peace Wesley.

[lperry82]

Im so sorry for you loss :( RIP Wesley

[lovelyolivia]

I'm so sorry for your loss of Wesley!! Fly High, Wesley!! We know you will meet Wesley at the Rainbow bridge one fine day!!! Rest in Peace little one!

[fantasi2424]

i'm really sorry for your loss, i totally feel you my friend.. i have to agree with lovelyolivia, one day i know you will be together again.. rip Wesley..

[Sarah Hanson]

I am really sorry for you loss, i feel for you. Rest in peace Wesley.

[Ferg1985]

Thank you all for your messages! :)

It's been a weird few days, I suppose after the shock of a loss you have that denial phase where you forget they've actually gone. I found some little snippets of video of him from a couple of years ago and I've been watching them.. they've made me smile and laugh and I'm so thankful I've these to cherish. I really don't know how so much character and love can be inside of such a small animal, but I'm sure we'll all agree they're all wonderfully individual, charismatic and irresistible to love.

We've had a fair few 'tiels over the years (my first 'tiel was for my 6th birthday present, 20 years ago this year). Few have lived to such an age as Wesley did, (Saying that, his Dad is still with us at 17). Out of them all though, Wesley was the special one.. he was the only one we didn't buy, as he was the 3rd chick to hatch from a clutch of 4 eggs in 1996. After a few days of hatching he was rejected by his parents, and that's when my sister stepped in to hand rear him. His elder brother and sister were later sold as we didn't have the room for them (something my family have always regretted looking back).

When she was feeding him, she'd often say 'come on, two more scoops'.. and as a kid my favourite tv show was 'Gladiators', on the American version there was a contestant called Wesley 'Two Scoops' Berry and so that is where his name came from (although nearly everyone thought he was named after Wesley Snipes, lol). He got called all sorts of names throughout his life and he responded to them all...the likes of 'Weasel', 'Wussly' 'Orville' which all had 'Burrrd' thrown on the end of them. You could always guarantee that if he was out of sight and you said 'What you doing Weasle bird?' he'd pop up somewhere to let you know where he was.

I have fond memories of sitting at the dining table having breakfast before I went to school with Wesley sat beside me, eating egg food from his own breakfast bowl - it didn't take long for him to get into a human lifestyle and he never accepted living with the other birds. He was besotted with my mum and was mainly her bird, but I did spend a lot of time with him. He could barely hold a tune and as soon as he started to pick up a new one he forgot the old one, lol.. he was a terrible flier and spent most of his time strolling around the house (or one time taking a ride on the dog's head!) and he was best friends with one of the dog's toys.

The room seems so quiet and empty without him, you don't think that losing a pet so small would leave such a big void but it really does.. I start to think back of all the times I would have told him to shut up when watching tv or shouted at him for being naughty and feel guilty... but it's stupid to look back like that. I know deep down that he had a long, healthy and happy life.. even on Sunday he was whistling, bopping to music and we even had a game of hide and seek which always made him chuckle.

Whilst I'll always miss him, I know he'll always make me smile and laugh.. and I hope never to forget his crazy little ways.

Thanks again, everyone :)

[Dekey]

I feel sorry for you , I have never lost a bird Before and I can only imagine what your dealing with , rest in peace wesley fly high <3 I hope you feel better soon :) xx

[casualrepartee]

seems like a really tough day/month for us here on the forum. While it might not be worth much, its good to know there are folks here who really care about their special little birdies as they should be cared for!

I'm so sorry to hear about Wesley :( RIP lil guy.

[Orion]

I'm sorry for your loss. I have only had my little one for a month and I couldn't imagine being without him. A few years ago I lost my dog that I had for 16 years. Having a pet for so long and losing him is very hard. Also, that was nice you wrote an obituary for him. R.I.P Wesley