First came a parakeet. Next, a cockatiel. And on it went.
Now, if you visit Chris Key's Lutherville home you might be surprised by the transformation of her living room, but don't expect to see precise placement of beautiful new furnishings there. What you'll find instead is a space designed as a home for the exotic animals Chris has become passionate about: parrots.
Chris' enjoyment of these feathered friends goes well beyond loving and caring for the seven parrots that walk freely through her house. Chris wants to educate people about parrots and make sure that those interested in owning one understand what that entails, for the person and the parrot.
"They are loud, they are messy, and they bite," Chris says of the birds. "It is not a matter of if you get bit, but when."
Chris adds that parrots are intelligent, free-thinking creatures who bond with their partner for life.
"They are not an instant-gratification pet like a dog or cat, but if you are willing to put in time and effort, they are wonderful."
"They talk to me more than my teenagers do," Chris jokes.
Since they can live up to 90 years, it is unusual for parrots to spend their lives in one home. "The bigger the bird, the longer they live," Chris says.
"It's difficult for them to go from home to home because they look at their owner as their partner," she adds, explaining that some birds pull out all of their feathers when their home has been broken up.
"Birds pick their person," Chris said, when speaking of the African Grey parrot who gravitated to Chris' husband, David, and rarely leaves his side. Chris also shares how each evening, one by one, the birds walk from the living room into the family room to join Chris while she watches television.
Along with wanting to teach people about the realities of parrots as pets, Chris has another objective. She and her friends, Yvonne Lanting, of Phoenix, and Terri Riordan, of Lutherville, plan to open a rescue facility for parrots, with the goal of finding a compatible, happy home for any bird that comes to the shelter.
The friends started a nonprofit organization called Parrot Rescue of Maryland and are hoping to have a site for hosting birds within three to four years.
For now, Chris and her partners take their birds to schools, libraries, festivals, pet expos, and even events for pirates.
If you would like to learn more about parrots, to catch some of Chris' passion for them, or to request a visit from parrots, contact her at chris.key@comcast.net.