WOMAN LEAVES $100,000 TO HER BIRDS

A Manhattan woman died and left $100,000 to her 32 cockatiels. Leslie Ann Mandel died in June at age 69. Her will lovingly lists each of the birds — Wheetie, Port, Blackie, Zippy, Tara, Zara, Shasha, Pigeon, Victory, Alie, Zack 12, Dart, Cubby, Max, Baby, Ruthie, Pumpkin, Tattoo, Susie, Tracy, Margie, Sammy, Angel, Inky, Sara, Tundra, Tanteleah, Eva, Cody, Nicki, Avis and Dragon — and asks that the birds “continue to live in the aviary” in her $4 million East Hampton property. As an alternative, they can be moved to “a protected place of similar size and dimension, made of the same materials, without a cage, for the rest of their natural lives,” the will says. Mandel also gave explicit instructions for their weekly maintenance. “It is my wish that the birds be fed and the building cleaned each Monday and Thursday and their food shall be purchased from Avi-Cakes, carrots, water and popcorn,” the will states. Avi-Cakes are a brand of natural birdfeed. A 20-pound bag costs $115.
* All those names. Wait a minute those are the Duggars!
* These pollies get the Ritz crackers, not the knock-off Town Houses.
* Not only did she name all her birds, but they all had nicknames too.
* Great, these birds have a better lifestyle than I do.
* How would you like to be her relatives? “She gave WHAT to the birds?”
* The 100 grand is one thing. The mansion in the Hamptons is another.
* Yes, it says they can be moved to another aviary and you know that’s going to happen around ten minutes after the funeral.