Hop (green) and Skip (yellow)

By Amber O'Neill

There are times in our lives when even small birds need special help. Such was the case with two little parakeets, now known as Hop and Skip.

A special thanks goes out to Amber O. and Lin W. for stepping up to the challenge and paying veterinarian bills for two parakeets in different homes when each received a leg injury. Unfortunately, each parakeet had to have surgery and a leg was removed due to injuries.

Hop

In Amber’s case, the parakeet in her house became an accomplished escape artist and landed on another birds’ cage. The resulting injury caused by the caged bird cost the parakeet a leg. She paid for that surgery and decided that this bird would be rehabilitated and a special needs home would need to be found in the future.

In an unrelated situation, another parakeet residing in Wasilla suffered a mysterious leg injury and had the opposite leg removed. Lin W paid for the emergency surgery for that bird. Cindy W picked the parakeet up at the vets and kept it over the weekend before it went in for surgery. Although not confirmed, it was suspected the parakeet got its leg caught between the bars and the leg band caused the bird to wrench it’s leg free, causing an injury which resulted in its leg also being removed.

Hop and Skip

Cindy W. drove to Anchorage with the second bird and Amber picked up the bird in the parking lot of the American Red Cross just before the Amateur Radio Class Cindy W was enrolled in. Amber took the bird home and the two birds, each with the opposite legs removed, could be buddies and become cage mates.

Each bird has recovered from their injuries and because of their personalities, and the trauma they and their care givers or owners went through, it was felt that they deserved to be recognized as bird (s) of the month.

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
akbirdclub@yahoo.com