Dear Mayor, officials and people of Seville: These birds are intelligent, sentient, emotional, complex creatures of the highest order. To cause them undue fear, pain and suffering leading to death; is unethical, morally wrong and unforgivable. These two species of parrots were imported legally into Spain as pets and through human carelessness, fear mongering and bias; have become the social pariahs and scapegoats for anything and everything that can be blamed on them. Yes, they may be noisy, but for those of us who recognize and appreciate each meaningful nuance in their different calls, their sound is music to our ears. Many tourists and locals know and love these .birds as the Parrots Of Seville, and to them and us they are not “Just a bird”.

"JUST A BIRD" - Author unknown

From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up it’s just a bird”
Or, “That’s a lot of money for just a bird”.
They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent or the costs involved for “just a bird.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a bird”.

Many hours have passed when my only company was “just a bird,” but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a bird,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a bird” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you too think it’s “just a bird” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise”.

“Just a bird", brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure unbridled joy.

“Just a bird”, brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of “just a bird”, I will rise early and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me it’s not “just a bird” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future; the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a bird” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a bird”, but the thing that keeps me from being “just a human"..

So the next time I hear the phrase “just a bird” I am just going to smile because they “just don’t understand"...

Thank you for your support everyone, please KEEP sharing!