Six years ago while traveling in Indonesia I aided in the release of a wild-caught parrot — a rainbow lorikeet — who had been chained to a perch for more than a year. While this was just one bird out of the millions who suffer the same or similar fate as a result of the trade in birds as “pets,” Lucky (as we came to call him) was an individual, and his quality of life mattered to him, and to me.
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I have never forgotten this little bird, full of spirit and sass in the face of one of the cruelest things that can happen to a bird — denial of the ability to fly and socialize with other birds. This type cruelty happens every day — whether chained to a perch in a remote village or confined to a cage in an urban living room.
This is why I turned Lucky’s story into a children’s book. While it may have taken 6 years for the story to finally be published it is here now and because it turned out so beautifully, I guess it was well worth the wait. Special thanks to the Avian Welfare Coalition for making it possible.
The book is printed on recycled, chlorine-free paper to protect the environment and the world’s forests. What’s more, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits avian welfare, rescue, and conservation — to help birds like Lucky.
Help send the “Keep Wildlife in the Wild” message to the next generation. Order your copy of Lucky today!
You can view a little slide show featuring some of the book’s original art work illustrations by Melodee Strong. Look on the left side under “Lucky’s Interests: Television” and the illustrations will continue to post while you view. On the same page on the right side you can see another slide show of pictures of the real Lucky.
The dedicated website www.LuckyTheLorikeet.com includes lesson plans and a narrated documentary video clip of the real Lucky being released.
Blogging off,
Monica