Ellery came to us as something of a surprise. We had been on the waiting list for a blue head pionus when we found someone looking for a new home for his older blue head, so we brought home Marina, then made a "lateral pass" and asked if we could switch from a blue head to a white cap. As it happened, Queen’s Pride Aviary had two female white caps all weaned and ready to go. I left the decision up to Ginny Queen. She walked into the aviary where the little white caps were staying and said, "Which one of you wants to go home?" Paloma, the younger one, flew over and landed nearby, but the older one, who had hatched on April Fool’s Day, 2000, flew directly to Ginny and landed on her shoulder. That was Ellery.
I had been hesitant about getting a white cap because of their reputation as being nippy, stubborn, or feisty, although the people I knew who had them told me that their birds were generally sweet. Ellery (who is so named as a Valentine to the Queens) definitely landed in the sweet side of things.
On the way home from the airport, my seven year old daughter Beth asked if Ellery could be her special bird. I think she was a bit jealous because the other birds were Mama’s girls, except for Marina, who attached herself to my 19 year old daughter. Beth took over the care and feeding of Ellery, and would share snacks with her, watch TV with her, read to her, and generally play with her. The plastic dollhouse was a big favorite- Ellery would rearrange the furniture and carry the dolls off to the roof while Beth played. Beth eventually wrote about her blossoming friendship for a magazine, and "Ellery’s Adventure" was published in the Kids’ Korner section of the March/April issue of Original Flying Machine. They’re famous!
Ellery’s colors really started to come out around her first birthday. By then her cap was almost solid white, her head was turning blue, and you could see the prettiest electric blue scalloping in the light. She’s quite the beautiful lady!