Hello! My name is Dali, like the artist. Not to be confused with “Dolly”. I was born in 1999, I think. I spent a lot of my life in a cage. Almost all of it, really. The family that adopted me had me a long time (about 20 years), but never took the time to hold me, so I Really Don’t Like Hands. I don’t mind if humans want to put their faces near mine. I like it, actually. I love the attention and conversation. I especially like it when you sing to me. I don’t even mind if you don’t sing well, as long as you know the words to the song. Sing to Me! My favorite song is Rockin’ Robin, but you should change the words to Rockin’ Dali. Also, anything by Harry Belafonte.

I went to live with my human sister for a while (about 5 years), and that was awesome. I got brave and came out of the cage a few times, though I’m not really good at flying because I don’t have much experience. I’ll step up onto your clothed arm when I’m done exploring, but I really don’t like hands and fingers (unless they are holding a treat). I like grapes and bananas, but I never really got on the vegetable kick. Oh, and I like my peanuts raw. I’m not really aggressive, but I’ll lunge and show you that I’m not happy. I Will protect myself and bite if those hands get too close, though.

My human sister had to bring me back to her family from July 2024 to April 2025, so I kinda went back into my shell a little bit. Then my sister cried a lot when I had to come live with my foster mom. She was worried because I’m kind of an old man, and I really don’t like change. I do like dogs and other animals because there were always other animals around me my entire life. She just wants to make sure that the forever family I land with knows that I’m sweet but scared, and I’m going to need time to adjust. I grew up with people who didn’t really know how to take care of me, and they didn’t really do the research on what I needed. I’m hoping to find a nice family that likes music, has other friendly animals, knows what I need, and will take it slow. I’m just an old man looking for a safe place to retire. It’s nice to meet you.

Dali

I arranged and released Dali to a foster mom this week. This is what I sent her for his potential adoption. My heart breaks thinking about it. I told him as he was leaving that I wanted him to be so happy that he forgets about me and everything before his new family. I want him to be that happy. The fact is, he was a replacement bird. Stanley was a very friendly and personable blue crown conure who would greet everyone with a hello, would free fly around the house and gladly step up onto anyone who presented a hand (unless my sister was around). He came to an untimely death when someone with a dog that wasn’t bird safe went to stay at my mom’s. Dali (Dolly until I researched and realized he was not a girl) was acquired immediately afterward, but didn’t have the same personality and demeanor, and was left sitting in the cage, unsocialized. Obviously fed and watered but not enriched or nutured. I didn’t live in the house then, but every time I visited, I made it a point to say hello and give some attention to him. When chaos was happening years later, Mom needed me to take him in, so I did.

He did go back for a time when I moved in with my ex-wife, but he did join us with our dogs, and eventually just me after the dogs passed and the divorce was final. When I converted my car to live in it, I knew I couldn’t take him with me so he went back to my mom’s with me visiting every day, but it wasn’t the attention he needed or deserved. When mom passed away, I knew the only thing I could do was find some “bird-people” who would really know what he needed. Time, space, and love. I found a bird rescue group who helped me place him in a foster home, and they told me that back stories help the animals find the perfect forever home. I really hope someone who knows what he’s all about can take him in and give him the best life ever. I love you, Dali!!