Ming Toy received his name after a discussion between his caretaker Emily Leatrice, her son and her daughter. Emily said the little bird reminded her of a parakeet painted on a silk fan she had bought in New York's Chinatown. Everyone agreed that he did look like the bird on the fan. The name was also a play on words because Ming loved to play with all the toys in his cage from his very first day with the family.
As long as Ming had his toys, mirrors, ferris wheel, bells and honey treat sticks he was a happy bird. When the stress of her divorce began to affect the home environment surrounding Ming and the other family bird Jade, Emily began to visit the shop where her daughter bought the birds from. Ming bonded from his fist day with Emily rather than her daughter and she responded by caring for him whole heartedly. From Mrs. Virginia Belmont, the owner of the Belmont Bird and Kennel Shop in Rockefeller Center, Emily learned in depth the emotional needs of birds and how to detect signs of illness.
To keep Ming happy during the day when she was out at work, the radio was left on very low with the soft, instrumental music Ming and Jade responded best to. Her sweater and slippers were left near the table where the birds' cages were during the day. At night Ming would begin twittering and playing, often dancing back and forth on his perch. His favorite treat was a piece of a tea biscuit stuck into the bars of his cage. There were days he preferred the tea biscuit to his honey stick. But if you took the honey stick away for too long he'd get grumpy.
Ming contracted pneumonia in January 1985. Emily nursed him back to health following the instructions of the vet but he never recovered his sprightly ways. In September 1985 he had a relapse and passed away in early October. Emily's father Sam, gave her support and comfort during the days after that. He buried Ming under the hydrangea bush in his garden.
As long as Ming had his toys, mirrors, ferris wheel, bells and honey treat sticks he was a happy bird. When the stress of her divorce began to affect the home environment surrounding Ming and the other family bird Jade, Emily began to visit the shop where her daughter bought the birds from. Ming bonded from his fist day with Emily rather than her daughter and she responded by caring for him whole heartedly. From Mrs. Virginia Belmont, the owner of the Belmont Bird and Kennel Shop in Rockefeller Center, Emily learned in depth the emotional needs of birds and how to detect signs of illness.
To keep Ming happy during the day when she was out at work, the radio was left on very low with the soft, instrumental music Ming and Jade responded best to. Her sweater and slippers were left near the table where the birds' cages were during the day. At night Ming would begin twittering and playing, often dancing back and forth on his perch. His favorite treat was a piece of a tea biscuit stuck into the bars of his cage. There were days he preferred the tea biscuit to his honey stick. But if you took the honey stick away for too long he'd get grumpy.
Ming contracted pneumonia in January 1985. Emily nursed him back to health following the instructions of the vet but he never recovered his sprightly ways. In September 1985 he had a relapse and passed away in early October. Emily's father Sam, gave her support and comfort during the days after that. He buried Ming under the hydrangea bush in his garden.
Ming Toy received his name after a discussion between his caretaker Emily Leatrice, her son and her daughter. Emily said the little bird reminded her of a parakeet painted on a silk fan she had bought in New York's Chinatown. Everyone agreed that he did look like the bird on the fan. The name was also a play on words because Ming loved to play with all the toys in his cage from his very first day with the family.
As long as Ming had his toys, mirrors, ferris wheel, bells and honey treat sticks he was a happy bird. When the stress of her divorce began to affect the home environment surrounding Ming and the other family bird Jade, Emily began to visit the shop where her daughter bought the birds from. Ming bonded from his fist day with Emily rather than her daughter and she responded by caring for him whole heartedly. From Mrs. Virginia Belmont, the owner of the Belmont Bird and Kennel Shop in Rockefeller Center, Emily learned in depth the emotional needs of birds and how to detect signs of illness.
To keep Ming happy during the day when she was out at work, the radio was left on very low with the soft, instrumental music Ming and Jade responded best to. Her sweater and slippers were left near the table where the birds' cages were during the day. At night Ming would begin twittering and playing, often dancing back and forth on his perch. His favorite treat was a piece of a tea biscuit stuck into the bars of his cage. There were days he preferred the tea biscuit to his honey stick. But if you took the honey stick away for too long he'd get grumpy.
Ming contracted pneumonia in January 1985. Emily nursed him back to health following the instructions of the vet but he never recovered his sprightly ways. In September 1985 he had a relapse and passed away in early October. Emily's father Sam, gave her support and comfort during the days after that. He buried Ming under the hydrangea bush in his garden.
As long as Ming had his toys, mirrors, ferris wheel, bells and honey treat sticks he was a happy bird. When the stress of her divorce began to affect the home environment surrounding Ming and the other family bird Jade, Emily began to visit the shop where her daughter bought the birds from. Ming bonded from his fist day with Emily rather than her daughter and she responded by caring for him whole heartedly. From Mrs. Virginia Belmont, the owner of the Belmont Bird and Kennel Shop in Rockefeller Center, Emily learned in depth the emotional needs of birds and how to detect signs of illness.
To keep Ming happy during the day when she was out at work, the radio was left on very low with the soft, instrumental music Ming and Jade responded best to. Her sweater and slippers were left near the table where the birds' cages were during the day. At night Ming would begin twittering and playing, often dancing back and forth on his perch. His favorite treat was a piece of a tea biscuit stuck into the bars of his cage. There were days he preferred the tea biscuit to his honey stick. But if you took the honey stick away for too long he'd get grumpy.
Ming contracted pneumonia in January 1985. Emily nursed him back to health following the instructions of the vet but he never recovered his sprightly ways. In September 1985 he had a relapse and passed away in early October. Emily's father Sam, gave her support and comfort during the days after that. He buried Ming under the hydrangea bush in his garden.
