Neighborhoodtimes: Macaw may leave beach bachelor pad

Neighborhood Times

Special report

A Cry in the Night
Almost 25 years after a murder shocked the little city of Gulfport, the man convicted of the killing hopes that DNA evidence can clear him.
More special reports

Video report

Paycheck to paycheck
Catch up with a once–struggling dad, a budgeting retiree and a resourceful mom.
More video reports

Multimedia report

Owning vs. renting
The end of the real estate boom has led to a community mix that some owner-occupants say they didn't bargain for. See detailed, clickable maps with data for your neighborhood.
More multimedia reports

Macaw may leave beach bachelor pad

By RITA FARLOW
Published December 31, 2006

Captain, the blue and gold macaw known and loved by many in St. Pete Beach, may soon have a new home.

Owners Markus and Natalia Lehtovirta are considering giving him to the Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary in North Tampa, where he would have new feathered friends and a 750-square-foot open-flight cage.

"This bird became our baby and it just breaks our hearts to have to do this, (but) we figure it's the best thing for him," Markus Lehtovirta said.

When the couple bought Captain from a breeder as a baby 31/2 years ago, they thought they were doing the right thing, they said. They provided him with an outdoor living area to mimic his natural habitat and gave him tons of attention, something macaws crave.

But after some research, the couple realized that captivity was not the best bet for a big bird like Captain.

"I think he just needs to be with some birds. Maybe he can find a mate. That's where he should have been from the beginning, with the birds," Mrs. Lehtovirta said.

The couple said they will donate money to help care for Captain and the other birds there. If it won't confuse him, they'd love to go visit, they said.

"I think he'll be missed by a lot of people, not just us," Mrs. Lehtovirta said.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 22:08:27]

Share your thoughts on this story

Read our guidelines for comments

Comments on this article

by Cate	01/08/07 01:44 PM
What is 10 times more cruel is breeding these birds in capivity. Most people who breed give the parrot couple NO space to fly, only a seed diet to eat and just get to sit obese on a perch all day. Make a story about THIS abuse!

by Cate	01/08/07 01:41 PM
What's so bad about keeping him? It's not like he's unhappy! Is he? He's not plucking, not screaming, and not biting. HE'S FINE! And only three years old too! STOP giving perfectly normal birds to shelters/sanctuaries!

by Kate	01/05/07 05:42 PM
What a wonderful couple - so excellent that they educated themselves about the needs of large parrots! Captain will be much happier in free flight and with natural sunshine - with others of his own kind. They did the RIGHT thing!! How unselfish!

by Jo	12/31/06 03:10 PM
I suppose they would give their own child away. Animals become family in a very short time and are very much attached to their owners. Sounds like Captain has a very good home where he is. Something is missing in this story.