Sunny Days

[sunnyshine]

Just thought I'd give an update on Sunny's progress. He is an Eclectus and my first experience with birds... I've had him for 4 weeks this Sunday and he is 4 months old. He was unweaned when I bought him but was weaned, very smoothly and happily (his own choice!) within the first week we had him. He started out with a lot of screaming, and I've come to realize it is a hunger scream. He usually does it when I say "wanna eat?" and I get his bowl for a meal until I come back with it and then stops. He tries pretty much anything I put in his bowl and loves to eat, especially papaya and corn on the cob! He is getting more pleasant to be around as now he will usually respond to talking with a pleasant sound rather than screaming. Usually when I open his cage door or go near him when he's in the cage, he steps back a little to try to get away. Yesterday when I went out to see him and started talking to him while he was on the other end of the perch, he walked all the way across and stood right up against the bars right by me! He doesn't usually seem to want to step up and will sometimes threaten me with his beak and nip. But once I get him to step up he is fine. I take him in my room as it gets dark out and hold him. He'll walk up and rub his beak on my arm, and sometimes climbs up my shirt to try to get to my necklace. He seems to enjoy my company for the most part now, just not physically, and I think our trust is building up as he often starts the blinking game on his own now. He loves being vocal and is a really good listener. He listens to music all day and looks at me very intently when I talk to him, usually answering with some sort of soft noise. He sits around mumbling and chattering all day. Usually can't understand him, but it's so funny to listen to! In the month that I've had him, he can say "hi", "hello", "huh?", "elmo", "lala", "step up", "oh", "uh oh", and "good boy". I really want him to enjoy being held and to want out to see me, but he is progressing and I hope soon he will want to be with me more. Other than that I think he's adjusted pretty well. He seems really happy and comfortable here. I just wanted to update on how he's doing, and thank everyone who's helped me out so far. I'm really new to this and it's not easy but so far it has been worth it. I'm really looking forward to our time together and I want to do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and happy.