The Birds of Pandemonium by Michele Raffin

Oscar loves them, but Raffin discovers he cannot fly. She treats him, keeps him close and then introduces him to her flock of zebra finches. Oscar comes to her looking pathetic and sickly. From tiny Oscar, a Lady Gouldian Finch who cannot fly, to Ferguson, a large, noisy East African Crowned Crane, she finds affirmation and the reward of understanding more about the bird kingdom. Is it all worth it? She certainly thinks so. She studies, asks questions, makes calls and spends sleepless nights attending to sick or injured birds, watching eggs and planning new aviaries to house her growing brood. They need safety from predator birds, and special food - Raffin starts her own mealworm production – and the right material to walk on and nest in. They need perches, nest boxes, hiding places and somewhere to get out of the cold. Parrots and macaws need interesting toys and activities to be happy birds, much like young children. Raffin has to play the mating game with a number of her birds, just to keep them healthy and happy.

Many bird species mate for life, and when one of the pair dies, or is separated from their mate, the grief can be deadly. At home, he falls for Raffin’s son and isn’t happy unless he’s around. There, Amigo has a nasty bite and bad attitude. She rescues Amigo, a red-headed Amazon parrot, from imminent death at an animal shelter. At first, she’s the rescuer of abandoned or injured exotic birds. She’s not a vet, not a breeder intent on making money. Soft touch? Raffin has it, and the required soft heart, which eventually develops into a brave heart.

The Birds of Pandemonium by Michele Raffin