A Quaker parrot named Willie alerted a babysitter that an infant was choking by repeatedly squawking “Mama, Baby!”.
Megan Howard was babysitting an infant and had brought her pet parrot with her on the job. When Howard left the room once, the baby started choking on her breakfast. Willie started calling for help and flapping his wings. When Howard returned to the room, baby Hannah had already turned blue from lack of oxygen.
Howard admininstered the Heimlich maneuver and the child was able to resume breathing. The baby’s mother, Samantha Kuusk recounted, “The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I’ve heard it”. Recently, Willie was honored for his life-saving efforts by a Denver Red Cross chapter with an Animal LifeSaver Award. Willie was given his due at an event attended by the governor of Colorado.
Quaker parrots live about 20 to 30 years and are also found in the natural environment, in the East and the South. They are known for their intelligence, and lively expressiveness.
Image Credit:CBS4DENVER
Wow! That’s amazing!
WAY TO GO, WILLIE!!!! Very cool story and wonderful to hear a positive outcome
This is just wonderful! Animals are truly amazing, intelligent and compassionate creatures. (Not all of them, but lots of them.) What a treasure this bird is! I had a cockatiel in the past who, unfortunately, got away. He was so smart and truly loved me. He had a real personality and would hiss at me or ingnore me if I was gone away too long. He also tried to sing opera when I would play a CD. God bless the birds and animals. I feel we should treat them kindly, as they give so much to us.
Congrat Willie the HERO! Quaker parrots are loud, fun, adorable, playful and loving pets.
I LOVE them….