Days before the chartered flight was scheduled to leave Los Angeles, the production was stunned to learn that customs officials would not permit the parrots to travel to the Caribbean because of a deadly disease which had recently decimated the bird population in that part of the world, tainting their entire poultry industry as well. Although further contamination has been contained, the risk was too great to travel the production’s feathered friends south.
Animal trainers Mark Harden and Ursula Brauner scrambled to locate even one bird already in the West Indies with similar color markings to their own. Animals, like humans, need time to build trust; therefore Harden sped up the bonding process as much as possible by holding the new bird non-stop, carrying him on his shoulder or forearm everywhere all day and night, stroking him and talking to him and soothing him continuously. It worked—Harden walked away with the talon scars and poop-covered shirts to prove it. Always good-natured and concerned for the animal, he didn’t care because he’s made a new friend.
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