Mohd Firdaus Mohd Damuri is the proud “bird parent” of Pogey and Poney – two stunning macaws.
Pogey, a blue-and-gold macaw, is just over a year old with bright blue plumage on his back and a rich yellow breast. Poney, meanwhile, is nine months old, with red plumage and shades of blue and green on her wings.
According to Firdaus, the birds are very attached to each other. “If they are separated and can’t see each other, they will start making noise,” the 37-year-old said fondly.
Firdaus is a member of the Kuala Lumpur Free Fly Community, a group of bird lovers who meet regularly to allow their birds unrestricted outdoor flight. The birds are all trained to return to their humans.
When FMT visited in April, Pogey and Poney could be seen affectionately playing in the indoor aviary he built for them at his home.
“Once, during a free-flight session, Pogey was just about to come back to me while Poney was further away,” Firdaus recalled.
“Suddenly, an eagle showed up and started chasing Poney. When Pogey saw this, he immediately flew towards her, wanting to protect her!”
Thankfully, both birds were unharmed and managed to return to him safely.
Firdaus, who grew to love birds because of their beauty, has looked after Pogey and Poney since they were each only two months old. “It really was like caring for a baby because I used to feed them formula three times a day using a syringe.”
These days, the affectionate fowl enjoy a dish of pellets, vegetables and fresh fruit, with almonds being their favourite treat.
Unsurprisingly, they are also attached to their human. “In the mornings, as soon as they hear my voice and know I am awake, they will call out to me, wanting me to come to them. I will then spend some time playing with them.”
On the characteristics of each bird, Firdaus explained: “Pogey is happy-go-lucky and enjoys playing. Poney, on the other hand, needs more attention – if she doesn’t get enough, she refuses to eat even though she is hungry.”
The birds are undoubtedly clever. In addition to being trained to return to their human during free-fly sessions, they will also lift a little foot to Firdaus’ palm whenever he says “high five”!
But owning a bird, he admits, can be time-consuming. “You must ensure you are spending enough time with them. If I don’t do that, they get stressed.”
That said, “Pogey and Poney have brought so much joy to my life. Even if I have a lot of things on my mind, when I am with them I always feel happy, and playing with them makes me feel less stressed”.
He concluded: “When they are free-flying and then come back to me, I feel so proud of them.”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.