Toby was born with a serious wing deformity that does not allow him to flap at all, thus causing him to fall head over heals should he falter. He is also a bit of an aggressive bird and while at the pet shop got few second glances from prospective buyers.

Visit after visit Marc would ask the proprietor of the shop to give Toby to him only to hear, "No." Finally, after two years of "No," the shop owner gave in and Toby came to Foster Parrots in 1994 to live with a Green Cheeked Conure named Purrah. Purrah had lost two thirds of her lower beak when she was bitten by a Hyacinth Macaw. A special platform was made for Toby and Purrah who now share the small Conure room with several other friends.