Share a Story Month: May 15th: "A Prince among Parrots"

A Prince Among Parrots

"During the 1980s I was lucky enough to grow up with one of these extraordinary birds, thanks to my great aunt’s love of antiques. On a visit to an auction house, she was dismayed to discover that one of the lots was a green, live, caged parrot; she couldn't possibly go home without him.

It was then that Maestro, a yellow crowned Amazon parrot, entered into our lives. My aunt was not in a position to be able to take on the responsibility of a pet, so our family was the obvious choice as we already had a growing menagerie.

Maestro soon found his place in the family, going on to become the head honcho. He was an accomplished singer and had a wide vocabulary, guaranteeing thrilled reactions from visitors meeting him for the first time.

Parrots often choose a person and I was lucky to be his favourite for a few years, before he suddenly turned his attention to another family member — they’re fickle! During the time I was his preferred human, he demonstrated his approval of me by hanging upside down from the gutter outside my window and trotting across my duvet singing to me, during a bout of flu. As the early riser of the family I used to bid him "Good morning" when I came downstairs, a greeting which he returned after a few weeks.

We don't know what his life was like before he joined us, but he lived like a king while he was part of our family. Whenever it was safe, he was outside his cage and he loved to be nearby in the garden. I remember him in autumn, flying back to his cage with a purple beak after a meal of fresh elderberries.

It was with great pleasure and many happy memories that I painted this portrait of Maestro. It's on show in Marlborough until May 22nd at The White Horse Bookshop Annual Art Exhibition. It’s a lovely old traditional bookshop and a favourite of the locals." 

Click here to see more of Amanda’s beautiful paintings