Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.
Where Hope Takes Flight
December 24th Through the Ages at Ruffled Feathers
You know, I’ve been thinking about Christmas Eve lately. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve spent more of them covered in bird poop than not, or maybe it’s just that time of year when a guy starts getting philosophical while scrubbing water bowls. But December 24th has been witness to some truly remarkable moments throughout history, and some equally remarkable moments here at the sanctuary. Sometimes I wonder if the universe is trying to tell us something. This post is part of our ongoing Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers, where December 24 connects world events with life inside the sanctuary.
The Truce Nobody Expected on Christmas Eve
Back in 1914, something extraordinary happened on Christmas Eve. World War I had been raging for months, and the trenches of the Western Front were about as hospitable as… well, as our quarantine room during an avian flu scare. Young soldiers from Britain and Germany sat freezing in the mud, wondering if they’d ever see their families again.
Then something magical happened. The Germans started singing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night), and the British responded. Before long, soldiers who’d been trying to kill each other climbed out of their trenches and met in no-man’s land. They shook hands. They exchanged cigarettes and chocolate. And yes, apparently some of them actually played football, though given the shell craters and frozen mud, I imagine it was about as organized as feeding time in the cockatoo room.
The whole thing lasted barely a day before the generals put a stop to it. But for one brief moment, humanity won. That’s the thing about Christmas Eve. It has a way of reminding us what really matters. Moments like that are why Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers feels tied to the larger story of the world.
Our Own Little Truces at Ruffled Feathers on Christmas Eve
Speaking of unexpected peace, let me tell you about Christmas Eve 2019 here at the sanctuary. I’m not sure what kind of cosmic alignment was happening, but I ended up wrestling an angry raccoon. Now, I’ve tangled with all manner of creatures over the years. Cockatoos having bad feather days, opossums with attitude problems, the occasional confused hawk. But this particular raccoon had apparently decided that Christmas Eve was the perfect time to test my reflexes.
I won. Barely. Merry Christmas to me.
The thing is, every Christmas Eve here has its own story. In 2017, Ray Ray (our magnificent Triton Cockatoo who’s about as subtle as a freight train) was being unusually well-behaved. Tara caught him trying to be good because he knew Santa was coming. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Santa probably wasn’t bringing him the chaos and destruction he truly wanted for Christmas. Moments like this are why Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers feels inseparable from the wider world.
One Small Step on Christmas Eve in History
Fast forward to 1968, and humanity decided to one-up that whole WWI truce thing in the most spectacular way possible. On Christmas Eve, three astronauts named Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders became the first humans to orbit the moon. One billion people tuned in to watch as they broadcast images of Earth rising over the lunar horizon.
Think about that for a second. One billion people, in a world torn apart by war in Vietnam, civil rights struggles, and political assassinations, all stopped to watch three tiny humans floating around our nearest celestial neighbor on Christmas Eve. And what did those astronauts do? They took turns reading from the Book of Genesis.
“And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”
Meanwhile, I was probably busy that Christmas Eve doing something significantly less historic. But you know what? That’s okay. Because while Armstrong and Aldrin would actually walk on the moon the following year, here on Earth we were doing our own small part, even if we didn’t know it yet.
The Birds Who Saved 2015
Christmas 2015 was rough. I mean, really rough. Money was tight in ways that kept me up at night. I couldn’t afford much in the way of gifts, and the anxiety was eating me alive. But then something happened that morning that I still think about.
I was doing my rounds, feeling pretty sorry for myself, when I stopped to listen to Sweety and Nyla. These two little blessings rarely make any noise. But that morning, they were singing. Nothing fancy, just their soft little songs, and suddenly the weight lifted a bit. Here I was, worrying about money and presents, and these two birds who’d been through God knows what before they came to me were just… happy. Content. Grateful for another day.
Bandit and Gizzy came to me wild as anything, and by that Christmas Eve, they were choosing to spend time with me. Choosing. That’s the thing about earning an animal’s trust. You can’t buy it, and you sure as heck can’t fake it.
When Presidents Light Trees and We Light the Way
In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge did something that seems so simple now but was revolutionary at the time. He touched a button and lit up the first national Christmas tree at the White House using 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. Before that, Christmas trees had been decorated with candles, which, as you might imagine, led to some spectacular and terrifying results.
I think about that every time we string up lights at the sanctuary. We’ve come a long way from open flames near evergreen trees, but the sentiment remains the same. We’re all just trying to add a little light to the darkness.
Christmas Eve 2016 was a good one for that. Bethany shared a photo of her son with Neiko, calling it “A bird and his boy.” The picture was from 2014, but it captured something timeless: the bond between a child and a bird, both trusting each other completely. Shazam wished everyone Merry Christmas. Sky looked so festive I had to share her picture. And Marsha posted an “Extreme Bird” riddle about a bird once suspected of espionage, because of course we did.
That same year, someone calculated the bird count in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Twelve partridges, 22 doves, 30 hens, 36 blackbirds, 40 pheasants, 42 geese, and 42 swans. That’s 224 birds total. I can tell you from experience that managing even a fraction of that number is enough to make anyone question their life choices. But on Christmas Eve? Worth every feather.
Brain and Pinky Take Over Christmas
By 2022, our resident mouse (goffin’s cockatoo) Brain had clearly been planning something big. I posted on Christmas Eve that he was hitting the food bucket hard. World domination is tough work, after all. Pinky approved the message. If you don’t get that reference, well, you probably had a more productive childhood than I did.
But here’s the thing: even our mice have personalities. Brain isn’t just a random cockatoo raiding the food stores. He’s Brain, the ambitious one with plans. And on Christmas Eve, when the whole sanctuary settles into that particular quiet that only happens late at night when even the cockatoos are too tired to scream, I sometimes wonder what all our residents are thinking. What are their dreams? What would they wish for if they could?
The Difficult Christmas Eves
Not every December 24th brings joy. In 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, Australia, destroying over 70 percent of the city’s buildings on Christmas morning. In 2014, I posted a video tribute to Koda, a loss that still stings. And in 2021, I was honest with everyone: Christmas is a hard time of year for many of us, including me.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to acknowledge that. You can be grateful and grieving at the same time. You can celebrate while also remembering those who aren’t there to celebrate with you. In 2017, Tara posted about missing family members that Christmas. Her aunt Zorada was sick, and we asked everyone to keep her in their thoughts. That’s what community does. We hold space for each other.
The sanctuary has taught me that healing isn’t linear. Some of our birds come to us so traumatized they can barely function, and watching them slowly learn to trust again is like witnessing a small miracle. Christmas Eve has a way of amplifying everything, both the good and the painful. But maybe that’s the point.
The Sound of Christmas Morning at Ruffled Feathers
In 2018, I posted a simple message on Christmas Eve: “They sing the most beautiful songs. Have a great Christmas Eve everyone.” I was talking about the birds, of course, but I could have been talking about those WWI soldiers singing carols across no-man’s land, or the Apollo 8 astronauts reading Genesis while orbiting the moon, or Tara’s favorite unnamed chicken clucking around the yard.
That same year, Tara asked for name suggestions for her favorite hen. I don’t remember if she ever settled on one, but I love that we were worried about naming a chicken on Christmas Eve. It feels right, somehow. While the rest of the world was focused on big things, we were focused on one chicken who needed a name.
We also shared information about the Montezuma Oropendola that year, because apparently we can’t go a single day without educating people about birds. Even on Christmas Eve. Especially on Christmas Eve.
The Pigeon Waterers from China
Let me tell you about Christmas Eve 2018 and the pigeon waterers. I’d ordered these things from China, and they arrived that day all taped up on the porch. Now, I could have waited until after Christmas to deal with them. Any reasonable person would have. But I’m not any reasonable person. I’m the guy who runs a parrot sanctuary, which means I have a complicated relationship with the concept of “waiting.”
So there I was on Christmas Eve, unwrapping pigeon waterers like they were presents, which I suppose in a way they were. The pigeons certainly thought so.
A Scarf, A Sanctuary, and Goodwill
One of my favorite Christmas Eve memories is from 2017, when Tara received a handmade scarf from Leah at Knit N Crochet by Leah. It’s such a small thing, really. Someone taking the time to make something for someone else. But that’s what the sanctuary community is all about.
We’ve built something here over the years. Not just a place for birds, but a place for people too. People who understand that animals matter. People who send handmade scarves to other people they’ve never met in person. People who post pictures of their birds being good for Santa, or share fun facts about how many birds are in Christmas carols, or ask for name suggestions for their favorite chicken.
What December 24 History Has Taught Me at Ruffled Feathers
Here’s what I’ve figured out after all these Christmas Eves: the big moments and the small moments aren’t really that different. Apollo 8 orbiting the moon was monumental, sure. But so was Bandit and Gizzy choosing to spend time with me after coming in wild. The Christmas Truce of 1914 was historic. But so is every moment of peace we create in our own lives, in our own sanctuaries, in our own hearts.
In 2010, Christmas Eve brought snow to Kentucky, and I posted about how beautiful it could be. It also brought a sick baby to work with me because there was nothing else I could do. That’s the reality of this life. Beauty and hardship, wrapped up together like those pigeon waterers from China. Taken together, this is Christmas Eve history Ruffled Feathers has lived through, quietly and year after year.
To All of You on the Good Earth
So here we are, another Christmas Eve. The birds are settled (mostly). Brain is probably plotting something. Ray Ray may or may not be on Santa’s nice list. And I’m thinking about all the December 24ths that came before, both here at the sanctuary and throughout history.
To the soldiers who sang carols across the trenches in 1914, to the astronauts who read Genesis while orbiting the moon in 1968, to Calvin Coolidge lighting that first electric Christmas tree in 1923, to everyone who’s ever fought a raccoon on Christmas Eve (just me?), and to all the birds and beasts and wonderful weirdos who make up the Ruffled Feathers family: Merry Christmas.
And to borrow a phrase from Apollo 8: God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.
Even the raccoons. Grudgingly. This is what Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers looks like when you zoom out far enough.
From all of us at Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary, we wish you a Christmas Eve filled with small miracles, unexpected truces, and maybe a song or two. Even if it’s just from the birds.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Sunday, December 24, 2023
Merry Christmas to one and all. Brain is hitting the food bucket hard this Christmas but who can blame him it’s been a tough year. World domination is a rough business these days. Pinky approved this message.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Saturday, December 24, 2022
Merry Christmas everyone. This is a hard time of year for many including me but I’m still so grateful for all the…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2021
Merry Christmas everyone. I went to my family Christmas and forgot to take very many pictures. Maybe I can steal some…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Christmas isn’t ever done until you have fought an angry raccoon and won. lol Merry Christmas everybody and I hope…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2019
These pigeon waterers came in on the slow boat from China today. It was on the porch all taped and wrapped up and it…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Monday, December 24, 2018
Birds of South America: Montezuma Oropendola The 88 species making up the New World oriole family, Icteridae, occupy a…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
This is my favorite chicken. I haven’t named her yet. Any thoughts? -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
They sing the most beautiful songs. Have a great Christmas Eve everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
Ray Ray is trying to be a good boy. He knows that Santa will be here tomorrow. We hope you are having a great night! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
I received this scarf in the mail yesterday! Leah from https://www.facebook.com/KnitNCrochetbyLeah/ made this for me. I…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
It’s Christmas Eve and we have a big day ahead. We are going to miss a few family members this Christmas. Our aunt Zorada is sick. Please keep her in your thoughts! Have a great day! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
In case I don’t get on Facebook much tomorrow I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We got to spend time with…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Sunday, December 24, 2017
"A bird and his boy" This is an older picture (2014) but one of my favorites of my son and Neiko. From our family to yours, We hope each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season -Bethany
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Shazam also wishes everyone a very merry Christmas this year as do all of our birds. Don't forget we are taking it easy…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
I thought Sky looked kind of Christmas like so I better share her today. Lol enjoy your Christmas Eve everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Merry Christmas to you as well sweet Lola and mum. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Was once suspected of espionage! Can you name him?? – Marsha
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Merry Xmas everyone – Sherry
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Last minute shopping yesterday. Don't worry it was work related. Lol we had to go to Home Depot instead this time…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Casper would love to wish all of Ruffled Feathers members a Merry Christmas and we look forward to viewing your…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
It's Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas everyone. For those that don't celebrate we hope you have a great day too. We will…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Just a fun fact! Here's the bird count in the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for you to hum about! lol – Marsha 12 partridges 22 doves 30 hens 36 blackbirds 40 pheasants 42 geese 42 swans
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 23, 2016
Birds of Africa: Marabou Stork Relatives of the Indian adjutants, Marabous are huge African storks which feed largely…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Just Ray doing some spins and being crazy this Christmas Eve. Enjoy and have a great evening everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
This little guy is Frankie bird. Although he is not ours and only a foster that doesn't mean we love or treat him any…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Tis the season because this bird has the hardest-working parents. Can you name it? We hope everyone has enjoyed guessing the Extreme Bird this year and we hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
These two little blessings are sweety and Nyla. I love to hear them sing even though they very rarely make any noise at…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Merry Christmas eve! Who wants to put jingle bells and santa hats on these two? They need them!:) -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
These two little blessings are bandit and Gizzy. Both were wild when they came to me and now both love to spend time…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
I saw this on another page and loved it. Our members are from around the world with many different cultures and…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Good morning. It's Christmas Eve I guess we better get out of bed and get started on our Christmas shopping. Lol this is…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Gunner is so pitiful with his "Zombie goose" noises, as my husband calls it. Poor Zombie goose! -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Ohh poor baby Gunner! He's just so done with these blasted feathers already! -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Oh what a great day for smiles and hugs. This Christmas was pretty rough in the money department so I didn't have a…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 24, 2015
For anybody that knew him.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
My Movie about KodaMade with Windows Live Movie Maker (http://download.live.com/).
Posted by Brad Harmon on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
On Sunday I went to church and the sermon was about true joy and how giving money to the church could bring it to u. I…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I think I have everything done for once this year. I think I got all my old people taken…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Our sweet baby is so sick I had to bring her to work with me today! I feel so bad for her and there is nothing I can do…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
It's starting to snow here could be a beautiful Christmas!
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
I'm up far to early for Christmas eve or did I even sleep I can't tell with all the tossing and turning I did! The only…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.
Where Hope Takes Flight
December 24th Through the Ages at Ruffled Feathers
You know, I’ve been thinking about Christmas Eve lately. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve spent more of them covered in bird poop than not, or maybe it’s just that time of year when a guy starts getting philosophical while scrubbing water bowls. But December 24th has been witness to some truly remarkable moments throughout history, and some equally remarkable moments here at the sanctuary. Sometimes I wonder if the universe is trying to tell us something. This post is part of our ongoing Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers, where December 24 connects world events with life inside the sanctuary.
The Truce Nobody Expected on Christmas Eve
Back in 1914, something extraordinary happened on Christmas Eve. World War I had been raging for months, and the trenches of the Western Front were about as hospitable as… well, as our quarantine room during an avian flu scare. Young soldiers from Britain and Germany sat freezing in the mud, wondering if they’d ever see their families again.
Then something magical happened. The Germans started singing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night), and the British responded. Before long, soldiers who’d been trying to kill each other climbed out of their trenches and met in no-man’s land. They shook hands. They exchanged cigarettes and chocolate. And yes, apparently some of them actually played football, though given the shell craters and frozen mud, I imagine it was about as organized as feeding time in the cockatoo room.
The whole thing lasted barely a day before the generals put a stop to it. But for one brief moment, humanity won. That’s the thing about Christmas Eve. It has a way of reminding us what really matters. Moments like that are why Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers feels tied to the larger story of the world.
Our Own Little Truces at Ruffled Feathers on Christmas Eve
Speaking of unexpected peace, let me tell you about Christmas Eve 2019 here at the sanctuary. I’m not sure what kind of cosmic alignment was happening, but I ended up wrestling an angry raccoon. Now, I’ve tangled with all manner of creatures over the years. Cockatoos having bad feather days, opossums with attitude problems, the occasional confused hawk. But this particular raccoon had apparently decided that Christmas Eve was the perfect time to test my reflexes.
I won. Barely. Merry Christmas to me.
The thing is, every Christmas Eve here has its own story. In 2017, Ray Ray (our magnificent Triton Cockatoo who’s about as subtle as a freight train) was being unusually well-behaved. Tara caught him trying to be good because he knew Santa was coming. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Santa probably wasn’t bringing him the chaos and destruction he truly wanted for Christmas. Moments like this are why Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers feels inseparable from the wider world.
One Small Step on Christmas Eve in History
Fast forward to 1968, and humanity decided to one-up that whole WWI truce thing in the most spectacular way possible. On Christmas Eve, three astronauts named Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders became the first humans to orbit the moon. One billion people tuned in to watch as they broadcast images of Earth rising over the lunar horizon.
Think about that for a second. One billion people, in a world torn apart by war in Vietnam, civil rights struggles, and political assassinations, all stopped to watch three tiny humans floating around our nearest celestial neighbor on Christmas Eve. And what did those astronauts do? They took turns reading from the Book of Genesis.
“And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”
Meanwhile, I was probably busy that Christmas Eve doing something significantly less historic. But you know what? That’s okay. Because while Armstrong and Aldrin would actually walk on the moon the following year, here on Earth we were doing our own small part, even if we didn’t know it yet.
The Birds Who Saved 2015
Christmas 2015 was rough. I mean, really rough. Money was tight in ways that kept me up at night. I couldn’t afford much in the way of gifts, and the anxiety was eating me alive. But then something happened that morning that I still think about.
I was doing my rounds, feeling pretty sorry for myself, when I stopped to listen to Sweety and Nyla. These two little blessings rarely make any noise. But that morning, they were singing. Nothing fancy, just their soft little songs, and suddenly the weight lifted a bit. Here I was, worrying about money and presents, and these two birds who’d been through God knows what before they came to me were just… happy. Content. Grateful for another day.
Bandit and Gizzy came to me wild as anything, and by that Christmas Eve, they were choosing to spend time with me. Choosing. That’s the thing about earning an animal’s trust. You can’t buy it, and you sure as heck can’t fake it.
When Presidents Light Trees and We Light the Way
In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge did something that seems so simple now but was revolutionary at the time. He touched a button and lit up the first national Christmas tree at the White House using 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. Before that, Christmas trees had been decorated with candles, which, as you might imagine, led to some spectacular and terrifying results.
I think about that every time we string up lights at the sanctuary. We’ve come a long way from open flames near evergreen trees, but the sentiment remains the same. We’re all just trying to add a little light to the darkness.
Christmas Eve 2016 was a good one for that. Bethany shared a photo of her son with Neiko, calling it “A bird and his boy.” The picture was from 2014, but it captured something timeless: the bond between a child and a bird, both trusting each other completely. Shazam wished everyone Merry Christmas. Sky looked so festive I had to share her picture. And Marsha posted an “Extreme Bird” riddle about a bird once suspected of espionage, because of course we did.
That same year, someone calculated the bird count in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Twelve partridges, 22 doves, 30 hens, 36 blackbirds, 40 pheasants, 42 geese, and 42 swans. That’s 224 birds total. I can tell you from experience that managing even a fraction of that number is enough to make anyone question their life choices. But on Christmas Eve? Worth every feather.
Brain and Pinky Take Over Christmas
By 2022, our resident mouse (goffin’s cockatoo) Brain had clearly been planning something big. I posted on Christmas Eve that he was hitting the food bucket hard. World domination is tough work, after all. Pinky approved the message. If you don’t get that reference, well, you probably had a more productive childhood than I did.
But here’s the thing: even our mice have personalities. Brain isn’t just a random cockatoo raiding the food stores. He’s Brain, the ambitious one with plans. And on Christmas Eve, when the whole sanctuary settles into that particular quiet that only happens late at night when even the cockatoos are too tired to scream, I sometimes wonder what all our residents are thinking. What are their dreams? What would they wish for if they could?
The Difficult Christmas Eves
Not every December 24th brings joy. In 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, Australia, destroying over 70 percent of the city’s buildings on Christmas morning. In 2014, I posted a video tribute to Koda, a loss that still stings. And in 2021, I was honest with everyone: Christmas is a hard time of year for many of us, including me.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to acknowledge that. You can be grateful and grieving at the same time. You can celebrate while also remembering those who aren’t there to celebrate with you. In 2017, Tara posted about missing family members that Christmas. Her aunt Zorada was sick, and we asked everyone to keep her in their thoughts. That’s what community does. We hold space for each other.
The sanctuary has taught me that healing isn’t linear. Some of our birds come to us so traumatized they can barely function, and watching them slowly learn to trust again is like witnessing a small miracle. Christmas Eve has a way of amplifying everything, both the good and the painful. But maybe that’s the point.
The Sound of Christmas Morning at Ruffled Feathers
In 2018, I posted a simple message on Christmas Eve: “They sing the most beautiful songs. Have a great Christmas Eve everyone.” I was talking about the birds, of course, but I could have been talking about those WWI soldiers singing carols across no-man’s land, or the Apollo 8 astronauts reading Genesis while orbiting the moon, or Tara’s favorite unnamed chicken clucking around the yard.
That same year, Tara asked for name suggestions for her favorite hen. I don’t remember if she ever settled on one, but I love that we were worried about naming a chicken on Christmas Eve. It feels right, somehow. While the rest of the world was focused on big things, we were focused on one chicken who needed a name.
We also shared information about the Montezuma Oropendola that year, because apparently we can’t go a single day without educating people about birds. Even on Christmas Eve. Especially on Christmas Eve.
The Pigeon Waterers from China
Let me tell you about Christmas Eve 2018 and the pigeon waterers. I’d ordered these things from China, and they arrived that day all taped up on the porch. Now, I could have waited until after Christmas to deal with them. Any reasonable person would have. But I’m not any reasonable person. I’m the guy who runs a parrot sanctuary, which means I have a complicated relationship with the concept of “waiting.”
So there I was on Christmas Eve, unwrapping pigeon waterers like they were presents, which I suppose in a way they were. The pigeons certainly thought so.
A Scarf, A Sanctuary, and Goodwill
One of my favorite Christmas Eve memories is from 2017, when Tara received a handmade scarf from Leah at Knit N Crochet by Leah. It’s such a small thing, really. Someone taking the time to make something for someone else. But that’s what the sanctuary community is all about.
We’ve built something here over the years. Not just a place for birds, but a place for people too. People who understand that animals matter. People who send handmade scarves to other people they’ve never met in person. People who post pictures of their birds being good for Santa, or share fun facts about how many birds are in Christmas carols, or ask for name suggestions for their favorite chicken.
What December 24 History Has Taught Me at Ruffled Feathers
Here’s what I’ve figured out after all these Christmas Eves: the big moments and the small moments aren’t really that different. Apollo 8 orbiting the moon was monumental, sure. But so was Bandit and Gizzy choosing to spend time with me after coming in wild. The Christmas Truce of 1914 was historic. But so is every moment of peace we create in our own lives, in our own sanctuaries, in our own hearts.
In 2010, Christmas Eve brought snow to Kentucky, and I posted about how beautiful it could be. It also brought a sick baby to work with me because there was nothing else I could do. That’s the reality of this life. Beauty and hardship, wrapped up together like those pigeon waterers from China. Taken together, this is Christmas Eve history Ruffled Feathers has lived through, quietly and year after year.
To All of You on the Good Earth
So here we are, another Christmas Eve. The birds are settled (mostly). Brain is probably plotting something. Ray Ray may or may not be on Santa’s nice list. And I’m thinking about all the December 24ths that came before, both here at the sanctuary and throughout history.
To the soldiers who sang carols across the trenches in 1914, to the astronauts who read Genesis while orbiting the moon in 1968, to Calvin Coolidge lighting that first electric Christmas tree in 1923, to everyone who’s ever fought a raccoon on Christmas Eve (just me?), and to all the birds and beasts and wonderful weirdos who make up the Ruffled Feathers family: Merry Christmas.
And to borrow a phrase from Apollo 8: God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.
Even the raccoons. Grudgingly. This is what Christmas Eve history at Ruffled Feathers looks like when you zoom out far enough.
From all of us at Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary, we wish you a Christmas Eve filled with small miracles, unexpected truces, and maybe a song or two. Even if it’s just from the birds.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Sunday, December 24, 2023
Merry Christmas to one and all. Brain is hitting the food bucket hard this Christmas but who can blame him it’s been a tough year. World domination is a rough business these days. Pinky approved this message.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Saturday, December 24, 2022
Merry Christmas everyone. This is a hard time of year for many including me but I’m still so grateful for all the…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2021
Merry Christmas everyone. I went to my family Christmas and forgot to take very many pictures. Maybe I can steal some…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Christmas isn’t ever done until you have fought an angry raccoon and won. lol Merry Christmas everybody and I hope…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2019
These pigeon waterers came in on the slow boat from China today. It was on the porch all taped and wrapped up and it…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Monday, December 24, 2018
Birds of South America: Montezuma Oropendola The 88 species making up the New World oriole family, Icteridae, occupy a…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
This is my favorite chicken. I haven’t named her yet. Any thoughts? -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
They sing the most beautiful songs. Have a great Christmas Eve everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 24, 2018
Ray Ray is trying to be a good boy. He knows that Santa will be here tomorrow. We hope you are having a great night! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
I received this scarf in the mail yesterday! Leah from https://www.facebook.com/KnitNCrochetbyLeah/ made this for me. I…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
It’s Christmas Eve and we have a big day ahead. We are going to miss a few family members this Christmas. Our aunt Zorada is sick. Please keep her in your thoughts! Have a great day! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 24, 2017
In case I don’t get on Facebook much tomorrow I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We got to spend time with…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Sunday, December 24, 2017
"A bird and his boy" This is an older picture (2014) but one of my favorites of my son and Neiko. From our family to yours, We hope each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season -Bethany
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Shazam also wishes everyone a very merry Christmas this year as do all of our birds. Don't forget we are taking it easy…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
I thought Sky looked kind of Christmas like so I better share her today. Lol enjoy your Christmas Eve everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Merry Christmas to you as well sweet Lola and mum. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Was once suspected of espionage! Can you name him?? – Marsha
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Merry Xmas everyone – Sherry
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Last minute shopping yesterday. Don't worry it was work related. Lol we had to go to Home Depot instead this time…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Casper would love to wish all of Ruffled Feathers members a Merry Christmas and we look forward to viewing your…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
It's Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas everyone. For those that don't celebrate we hope you have a great day too. We will…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Just a fun fact! Here's the bird count in the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for you to hum about! lol – Marsha 12 partridges 22 doves 30 hens 36 blackbirds 40 pheasants 42 geese 42 swans
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 23, 2016
Birds of Africa: Marabou Stork Relatives of the Indian adjutants, Marabous are huge African storks which feed largely…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Just Ray doing some spins and being crazy this Christmas Eve. Enjoy and have a great evening everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
This little guy is Frankie bird. Although he is not ours and only a foster that doesn't mean we love or treat him any…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Tis the season because this bird has the hardest-working parents. Can you name it? We hope everyone has enjoyed guessing the Extreme Bird this year and we hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
These two little blessings are sweety and Nyla. I love to hear them sing even though they very rarely make any noise at…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Merry Christmas eve! Who wants to put jingle bells and santa hats on these two? They need them!:) -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
These two little blessings are bandit and Gizzy. Both were wild when they came to me and now both love to spend time…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
I saw this on another page and loved it. Our members are from around the world with many different cultures and…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Good morning. It's Christmas Eve I guess we better get out of bed and get started on our Christmas shopping. Lol this is…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Gunner is so pitiful with his "Zombie goose" noises, as my husband calls it. Poor Zombie goose! -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Ohh poor baby Gunner! He's just so done with these blasted feathers already! -Seeairuh
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Oh what a great day for smiles and hugs. This Christmas was pretty rough in the money department so I didn't have a…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 24, 2015
For anybody that knew him.
Posted by Brad Harmon on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
My Movie about KodaMade with Windows Live Movie Maker (http://download.live.com/).
Posted by Brad Harmon on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
On Sunday I went to church and the sermon was about true joy and how giving money to the church could bring it to u. I…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I think I have everything done for once this year. I think I got all my old people taken…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Our sweet baby is so sick I had to bring her to work with me today! I feel so bad for her and there is nothing I can do…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
It's starting to snow here could be a beautiful Christmas!
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
I'm up far to early for Christmas eve or did I even sleep I can't tell with all the tossing and turning I did! The only…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 24, 2010
Where Hope Takes Flight
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