Jonathan Tsou's Blog

Xiao Guai Guai is the name that my mom gave to a Hill Myna Bird that we bought when we lived in DaQian about 8 years ago. He died on 3/3/2010. According to my sister, he was not talking and was lying on the bottom of his cage. We have alway took him as a our family member. I still remember the first day when we bought him. Me and my sister were waiting in the DongFeng Van while my dad and mom went to the Flower and Bird Market, as what the local people call it, to buy some flowers. Then bought a lot of red flowers and then a bird cage. The cage was covered so i could see what was in there. My dad told me not to take a peek because the bird will be scared. Xiao Guai Guai was a bird that could learn how to talk like a human. We trained him how to say Ni Hao(hello”), Xiao Guai Guai, Xiao Guai, and laughing sound. When we laugh on the phone he would laugh too.

He tried to escape a lot of times in the first year. Once he escape and me and my sister rushed out to find him. Even the guards at our compound helped. Then he was found in another guys house. Another time it was around 8pm while i was trying to take him into the house, because his cage is hanged on the tree during the day, his removable bottom fell and he flew out. I ran immediately and caught him on a white sewer pipe. He was screaming and panting heavily.

I didnt like to change him excretion. We put some newspaper on the bottom to let him poop on it. We had to change it every 2 or 3 days. When I go take a shower and i would take him with me. And i would pour some water on him.

When we lived in DaTang. We put him on the little balcony. Then one day a piece of glass that was put on the balcony fell. it block the main access to the balcony.  It also broke his cage. The only access is to climb through the tiny window. We were watching xiao guai guai sitting on the edge of the balcony, looking very confused. Thank god he did not move a bit. My sister was able to go thru the window and open the door. She took her into the apartment and i gave him some water. He looked shocked. then mom quickly sewed a piece of cloth to cover but the hole. then the next day or so we went to buy a new cage. A blue steel cage with had 3 stories. We thought he would jump on and off but he didnt. He stayed on the 2nd floor. It must of been tough sleeping on the 2nd floor fearing that he would fall. It was a durable cage but then we bought a new wooden cage since the steel one is starting to rust.

Thank you, Xiao Guai Guai for the great time you have been with me and my family for the times we were in Shanghai.  Thank you.