Garfio, the One-Eyed Parrot Who Lost Ruby

In the rehabilitation area of Fundación Loros, where the birds that once shared a roof with humans make their home, there lives a Mealy Amazon — Amazona farinosa — the largest parrot in Colombia — whom everyone calls Garfio. His original name was Scar, but someone decided that nickname didn't do his story justice, and Garfio fit him like a glove: his left eye is damaged, and with the right one he watches the world with a mixture of pride and loneliness that doesn't go unnoticed. Those who were there tell the story — Garfio wanted what people these days call an open relationship, and he made the mistake of setting his sights on Ruby, Paco's chosen mate. Paco was neither the largest nor the loudest parrot in the group, but he was the most respected: one of those who never needs to raise his voice because his presence alone says everything. The fight was short and decisive. Garfio came out defeated, one eye lighter and with a lesson that no parrot in the group would soon forget. Since then, Garfio lives alone. Not because the females shun him for his missing eye — as the people around here like to say, love is blind, or at least one-eyed — but because it's hard to trust someone who goes against his own nature just for the sake of ego. Meanwhile, Paco and Ruby remain together, and Garfio calls out "lorito" to them from a distance, waiting perhaps for a rematch that no one is ever going to give him.