Friday, July 21, 2006 | 7:49 a.m.
About three Saturdays ago, Brent Barrett was working on his new home at the Lakes and spotted a young mockingbird nestled in a stack of blocks. He gently scooped up the bird and made off for the Gilcrease Bird Sanctuary to see just how to care for an obviously young (about two weeks old), displaced bird that could not fly.
Barrett was given a list of instructions: Feed the bird specially formulated bird food mixed with water from an eye dropper every three hours, keep him indoors and protected from the elements for two months and - most important - do not become attached.
This bird, who on Thursday morning was perched on Barrett's head and shoulders and even pooped on his shirt, was given no better than a 50-50 chance of survival.
Barrett also gave the bird a name, Buster. Buster Barrett.
"And I don't even like birds," said Barrett, who for five nights a week swaps the lead role of the Phantom with Tony Crivello in "Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular" at the Venetian. Maybe so, but it's clear while watching Barrett take Buster into his hand and carefully feed him his breakfast of Kaytee Extra bird food that he likes at least one bird.
"You become attached really fast," Barrett said, whose face became stricken when a spooked Buster heard the click of a camera shutter and clumsily flew into the kitchen window. "And they become attached to you, just like a child would. He's so affectionate to me."
Sometimes, too much so. When Buster feels he is not getting enough attention, he pecks at Barrett's face. A few days ago he poked Barrett in the eye, forcing Barrett to call his friend Mike Karagiozis ("Dr. Mike" from KVVU Channel 5) for treatment. It was Barrett's left eye - the one not covered by the famous "Phantom" mask - but the injury was not serious.
"That would have been tough to explain, missing shows because my bird pecked me in the face," Barrett said.
Barrett will probably let Buster loose in two weeks. He is considering tagging his leg to identify Buster if he returns "home."
And if Buster doesn't want to visit?
"I'd need a bigger cage for him," Barrett said. "You know, Pier 1 has some great cages ..."
NoteMart
Barrett and Crivello appear today (via tape-delay) with Dave Berns on "State of Nevada" on KNPR 88.9-FM. The interview was taped Thursday and airs at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. One highlight is Crivello reminiscing about his stint years ago as a ring announcer for a kickboxing card on ESPN2. Attempting to make fight fans forget Michael Buffer, Crivello boomed, "Let loose the dogs of war!" Crivello's turn as the Phantom is far more, shall we say, distinguished My favorite mind-reader, Gerry McCambridge, frequently name-checked in this column, called Thursday with an explanation of his ticket prices at the Stardust Theatre. When McCambridge's move from the Hypnotic Lounge to the theater was announced, his listed ticket prices were $34.95 and $39.95. That was inaccurate. The actual price never changed; McCambridge, who performed for free during his 47-week stint at Addison's Lounge in the Rampart at JW Marriott, did not want to raise his prices at the Stardust. The base ticket price - $27.95 - is the same as it was in the lounge ...
The date for the Las Vegas broadcast of Clint Holmes' PBS special (on KLVX Channel 10), which was recorded in March at Harrah's, is Aug. 7. PBS taped three performers in Las Vegas for its "Great Performances" series: Barry Manilow at the Las Vegas Hilton, Andrea Bocelli at Lake Las Vegas and Holmes. "I'm in good company," said Holmes, whose last show at Harrah's is Sept. 30. Then he's off to London to launch his musical, "Jam." ...
Deftly segueing into other automotive news, on Thursday morning the Harrah's Foundation donated a $60,000 International flatbed truck to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. The 24-foot-long rig will be used by the Mission to pick up and transport donations of food and materials from residences and businesses and deliver them to the shelter. As Ken Sprenkle, the Mission's executive director, noted, all of the Mission's trucks have been out of commission for the past two months ... Time to resize those wreaths, kids: As part of its 40th anniversary celebration next month, Caesars Palace has planned a toga party of significant size and scope. The entertainment that night (Aug. 2) will be Otis Day and the Knights, the band that added a comic musical tilt to "Animal House" ...
And you think the collection of candidates for Nevada's political offices is offbeat: Running for mayor in the Australian city of Gold Coast is an entity known as Dean Vegas, who is that country's top Elvis impersonator Sometimes the best material is in your own back yard: U.S. Senate candidate Jack Carter visited the Las Vegas Sun newsroom on Thursday and happened into the sports department, where he was met happily by columnist Ron Kantowski. Offering praise for Carter's father, former President Jimmy Carter, Kantowski said, "For lack of a better term, your father has had a long shelf life," which drew a hearty laugh from Carter the Younger ...
We have found the ideal person: A woman driving a green Ford F-150 has the vanity plate announcing, IMIDEAL.
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