When John Lege was a boy in the 1950s, he got a kick out of watching his great-aunt's parakeet perch on her head and on her clothesline as she hung laundry. Even when the bird was outside, it never flew away.

The interaction thrilled young John, who said he often was teased by classmates for his bird-watching.

By the time he was in high school, he had saved nearly $200, enough to buy a parrot that a logger had rescued from a rain forest.

Nikki, an African Gray from the Congo region, was not only an early addition to Mr. Lege's bird collection, but also signaled the start of his 27-year mission to rescue neglected and abused parrots.

On Jan. 12, Mr. Lege, 53, who conducts educational exotic bird presentations, showed off eight of his rescued parrots to senior citizens at the Adult Interest Center at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon. Nikki, now 34, was among them.

His hour-long show was part of a series of free programs held Friday mornings in the church's Fellowship Hall for senior citizens.

"I've been fascinated with birds my entire life," Mr. Lege said. He cares for 86 parrots in three aviary-like additions at the North Apollo, Armstrong County, home he shares with his wife, Milinda.

Besides viewing the colorful birds, senior citizens were entertained by the parrots' antics as they dunked tiny basketballs through hoops, flapped their wings and squealed at Mr. Lege's singing and guitar playing.

Those attending also learned about the care and upkeep of parrots, so they are prepared if they want to take up a new, if unusual, hobby.

A crowd pleaser was Crystal, a Moluccan cockatoo from Indonesia, whose owners had kept her caged with no perches, only a chain to hang from, for 16 years. As a result, Crystal is crippled.

"They did not understand a bird's need to chew," Mr. Lege said. He said the owners took out the critically needed perches because the bird kept chewing on them.

Although he never studied birds formally, "I've had my nose in bird books for the last 30 years," he said.

Mr. Lege introduced Opie, a Blue Crown conure, a small parrot from South America, and Sophie, a Ducorp's cockatoo, a small white bird with a distinctive blue eye ring that is specific to the Solomon Islands.

He said he obtained both birds after their owners were arrested for drug trafficking. They had stashed drugs in the false floors of the birds' carriers.

"He is so in tune with birds," said Dolores Frank, 74, of Mt. Lebanon, after the show.

Audience member Frank Hynds, 75, of Mt. Lebanon, said he was fascinated at how intelligent the birds are.

Mr. Lege was caring for rescued birds as a hobby eight years ago when a preschool teacher asked him to bring a trio of birds to school to help pupils learn about birds.

As part of his presentation, he relayed some basic information, then sang a short tune about them while strumming his guitar.

"It went over great," he recalled of the impromptu show. He then developed a more formal presentation and started to get bookings for birthdays and other family celebrations.

Initially, Mr. Lege worked as a regional manager for Sterling Industries, headquartered in the World Trade Center in New York City. But after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the company folded.

At a career crossroads, Mr. Lege decided to pursue his passion for birds as a full-time gig, which affords him quality time with his favorite feathered friends.

"For the most part, it's me and my kids," he said.

Upcoming programs in Southminster's Adult Interest Center series are: Mending Broken Hearts tomorrow, with free heart screenings for women who attend; From L.A. to PA on Jan. 26; the Covert Jazz Trio on Feb. 2; and an accordion soloist on Feb. 9. No reservations are necessary.

For more, call 412-343-8900.

To contact Mr. Lege for a presentation, call 724-478-2016, or visit: www.budwings.com.