Crystal Collison never considered how exhausting playing Cupid can be.
In early July, the Canyon Heights resident spotted two lovebirds canoodling in her neighbour’s tree. The next day, Collison witnessed one of the pair — a sea green coloured lovebird — fly directly towards her fence and fall to the ground.
“Our daughter (Milena Nordwall) spied our cat about to pounce on easy prey and took lightning fast action,” recalls Collison of how she saved the lovebird.
The family has been caring for the lovebird, nicknamed “BB,” ever since while desperately searching for its companion — the white and yellow lovebird seen next to BB in the neighbour’s tree.
Collison put up posters on the street and turned to the Internet, even to a parrot website, for help in reuniting the lovebirds.
Three sets of people who are missing one of their lovebirds have come by Collison’s house to see if BB is a match.
“We had a couple from East Vancouver arrive with a huge cage in the backseat of their tiny car containing the mate to their lost lovebird.
It’s been an interesting ordeal,” says Collison, who has learned a lot about her feathered friend.
“For instance, I had no idea lovebirds need a hammock and need 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep or they become surly.”
Lovebirds, among the smallest in the parrot family, are native to subtropical regions and live about 10 to 15 years. They also mate for life.
When a mate dies or becomes separated from its companion, the lovebird can display signs of depression through erratic behaviour.
So far BB seems to be coping well, according to her custodian.
“BB enjoys looking at her image in the mirror, preening and has a keen mind,” says Collison.
Collison nicknamed her found lovebird BB Logan 7, because she arrived close to her daughter’s birthday and Logan 7 after the ‘70s science fiction movie Logan’s Run, “because, well, she is a runner.”
Collison said she can tell BB misses her real owner and if she can’t find them then she wants the lovebird to go to a great home. Anyone who is missing a lovebird that matches the description of BB can email the North Shore News at [email protected] to be put in contact with Collison.
