the simple joys of birds

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Yesterday was a great bird day for me, even though nothing extraordinary happened. As far as my own birds, I'll just say that they received their daily attention (sounds a bit cold, but I don't want to get side-tracked).

First, around noon I went to the kitchen to get some lunch. I was watching the doves, sparrows, juncos, and cardinals feeding in the falling snow (wishing I had a camera to share the view with everyone) when a chickadee landed just outside the window. He just sat there watching me for half a minute or so then flew off, but finally seeing one that close really made the day worth living for. He was maybe 2 feet from me at the most, and was even cuter than a chickadee has ever been at 10 feet.

Around 5:00 I was reading and writing on here, but had to pause to watch a red-tail soaring in circles out the window. Nothing too spectacular, but I always wish I could just spread my arms and float around like that. So I watched for about 5 minutes, then spent 5 more minutes watching in case he circled back into view.

Around 5:30 Tim and Neil showed up. I've been wanting to trick Neil into going to Birds Exotic for about a week now, so we finally made him go yesterday "to get some seeds for Monkey." For the record, Neil's an only child, and I don't think he's ever had any pets; and he's 21 (just so you don't think he's a little kid :icon_mrgr ). So we get there at "scream time," which might've turned Neil off to ever having a parrot. But before leaving I picked up Sam (a CAG who's always out, and quite friendly) and turned Neil into a perch. He looked a bit apprehensive (especially when Sam walked up onto his shoulder), but I hope that he'll thank me some day. But later he confessed that holding a bird that size was "unnatural," and that he really doesn't know how to interact with birds. Heck, I don't really know how to interact with birds larger than lovebirds, but that's the real reason to going to that bird store. I've gained a few scars, but every bite just increases my love of those wonderful creatures.

Oh, and one of the guys working there told me I need to get a "real bird," like a GW or a CAG. I agree, but mom doesn't. And while I'm all for honoring my mommy's wishes, the main reason I don't already have a larger parrot is my lack of income. I know mom does "not want one of those big birds," but as soon as I can afford it, her opinion won't matter much at all. Plus, I know she'll probably "steal" it from me anyway.

So after several more hours of LAN partying and reminding myself why I shouldn't do stupid things, I went to bed. (Just so you know, if a pocket knife blade looks like it might be a saw, don't try it on your finger. You will cut yourself, then you won't be able to play your guitar for a week while it heals.)

Then this morning I woke up with memories of another dream. This time I got a baby BG for the bargain price of $38! But once I got it home I realized that I didn't have money for housing, food, and everything else. So maybe my brain is telling me what I'm gonna do once I get a job?

And thus ends this post. A chickadee, a red-tailed hawk, a CAG, and a BG macaw. I'm sure there are plenty of better stories out there, but I think if I knew one was coming it wouldn't feel as good to me. I'm just reminded once again how much I pity those who don't enjoy and appreciate those wonderful darlings we call birds. Oh, and not to run sharp edges across my fingers, but I'm sure I'll forget that as soon as my finger heals.

[Beaks]

Originally Posted by Peregrine Harlequin

Yesterday was a great bird day for me, even though nothing extraordinary happened. As far as my own birds, I'll just say that they received their daily attention (sounds a bit cold, but I don't want to get side-tracked).

First, around noon I went to the kitchen to get some lunch. I was watching the doves, sparrows, juncos, and cardinals feeding in the falling snow (wishing I had a camera to share the view with everyone) when a chickadee landed just outside the window. He just sat there watching me for half a minute or so then flew off, but finally seeing one that close really made the day worth living for. He was maybe 2 feet from me at the most, and was even cuter than a chickadee has ever been at 10 feet.

Around 5:00 I was reading and writing on here, but had to pause to watch a red-tail soaring in circles out the window. Nothing too spectacular, but I always wish I could just spread my arms and float around like that. So I watched for about 5 minutes, then spent 5 more minutes watching in case he circled back into view.

Around 5:30 Tim and Neil showed up. I've been wanting to trick Neil into going to Birds Exotic for about a week now, so we finally made him go yesterday "to get some seeds for Monkey." For the record, Neil's an only child, and I don't think he's ever had any pets; and he's 21 (just so you don't think he's a little kid :icon_mrgr ). So we get there at "scream time," which might've turned Neil off to ever having a parrot. But before leaving I picked up Sam (a CAG who's always out, and quite friendly) and turned Neil into a perch. He looked a bit apprehensive (especially when Sam walked up onto his shoulder), but I hope that he'll thank me some day. But later he confessed that holding a bird that size was "unnatural," and that he really doesn't know how to interact with birds. Heck, I don't really know how to interact with birds larger than lovebirds, but that's the real reason to going to that bird store. I've gained a few scars, but every bite just increases my love of those wonderful creatures.

Oh, and one of the guys working there told me I need to get a "real bird," like a GW or a CAG. I agree, but mom doesn't. And while I'm all for honoring my mommy's wishes, the main reason I don't already have a larger parrot is my lack of income. I know mom does "not want one of those big birds," but as soon as I can afford it, her opinion won't matter much at all. Plus, I know she'll probably "steal" it from me anyway.

So after several more hours of LAN partying and reminding myself why I shouldn't do stupid things, I went to bed. (Just so you know, if a pocket knife blade looks like it might be a saw, don't try it on your finger. You will cut yourself, then you won't be able to play your guitar for a week while it heals.)

Then this morning I woke up with memories of another dream. This time I got a baby BG for the bargain price of $38! But once I got it home I realized that I didn't have money for housing, food, and everything else. So maybe my brain is telling me what I'm gonna do once I get a job?

And thus ends this post. A chickadee, a red-tailed hawk, a CAG, and a BG macaw. I'm sure there are plenty of better stories out there, but I think if I knew one was coming it wouldn't feel as good to me. I'm just reminded once again how much I pity those who don't enjoy and appreciate those wonderful darlings we call birds. Oh, and not to run sharp edges across my fingers, but I'm sure I'll forget that as soon as my finger heals.

Nice little story, good visual.

John

[greyburd]

That was a fun story, Luke. I'm sorry to hear that Neil doesn't seem to want any birds. I wish I had a suggestion for you.

[LMPego]

Luke-
Loved your story, but BOO to anyone that says only a big bird is a "real bird". Believe me, a lovebird has just as big of a personality!
Here's my little bird story for you:

Sunday morning my boyfriend came and made me get out of bed to "come see something". There were two mourning doves sitting tail to tail on my balcony railing watching my Cory who was sitting on her gym by the window watching them. It was so sweet. I went to get my camera to try to get a shot of Cory watching them, but she flew away. I did get pictures of the doves, though.

[Skyebirdsmom]

I love your post and agree so much about how rewarding life is with birds...wild or home birds. At my kitchen window are 3 bird feeders hanging from our overhang below the roof. So the feeders are about 12" from the window. I keep a small basket on the window sill so my Parrotlet, Skye, can sun himself and watch the birds too. He loves it, watching House Finches, Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Sparrows, Thrashers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and BLue Birds. Plus Sea Gulls(though not at the feeders!), Starlings, Black Birds, Crows and Cow Birds. It's all very interesting to watch, and I'm always learning more about them. Skye loves to watch and when they are close enough to him at the feeders, he is very attentive and watches every movement. When the larger birds swoop down to the feeders(Blue Jays, Cardinals, etc) he ducks a bit and has his beak wide open...better watch out wild birds!!! LOLOL
They are pure joy and I also pity those who do not know the joys of birds!
Linda & Skye~