We are Nika's foster parents, as he/she has joined us from a rescue. From what we can understand, Nika is 20 years old and lived with a gentleman for that time. When the owner passed away the family felt unable to cope and sent him/her to a rescue. Unfortunately Nika started to pluck and has now stripped all his feathers from his belly and part of his back. We are now going to try and combat the feather plucking and hopefully return Nika to his/her former glory.

Nika is a name that we have chosen to use, as we are unsure of what his/her name was before. We chose it because in Greek it means Victory, which is what we are hoping to have with the feather plucking.

Nika is a great talker, and has come out with some remarkable things. Nika has only been here a few days, and seems to be well settled and enjoying the climate.

We will update on Nika's story regularly

17th July 2003

Nika has progressed so well, he is still a grouch and will try to take a chunk, but he has stopped plucking!!!!!! His featers are not growing back, but we still think he looks beautiful. Since we moved house he has had the door to his cage left open and we have moved his food outside of the cage becuase he does not want to be in, so he seems a lot more relaxed and happy and does not have so many "freak out" attacks. (he has not had one since we moved) all the birds seem to prefer the new house, and Nika is just continuing to amaze.

January 2004.  Its with a heavy heart that I have to inform you that Nika lost her battle with PDD (Macaw wasting disease) on the 1st of September 2003.  It was a huge shock, but she is now in a better place.  Nika's temperament improved with me on a daily basis, and we would sit and talk and cuddle, she still hated everyone else.  Nika will always hold a special place in my heart, she inspired me with her struggle to come to terms with loosing her owner and way of life and with the way she adapted to life here with us.