I love my babes!

[Monica]

To watch a bird take a bath in its own water dish, or a large pan, just splashing about, flapping wings, squawking, and tossing water all over the place, a warm feeling just runs over your body, you are just so delighted! It's quite fun to watch Noel bathe herself, dipping her beak into the water, flapping her wings, shaking herself off, and doing quite a lot of 'unusual things'! Funny thing is, the only spot that is ACTUALLY WET is right under her beak, and the surrounding area! lol



Well, today since I haven't been busy (been trying to stay away from work, including school-work as its been getting to be just too much right now), I took Noel and Casey outside. I went back inside, grabbed a book, grabbed the camera, switched one of the batteries, caught Cosmo and Smurf (who were previously clipped only a few days ago) and took them outside to where Noel and Casey were on the tree. Noel was quite happy to be outside, and the budgies weren't quite sure what to do (chirping to the wild birds, exploring a bit, or staying away from those pesky ants). I took a few photos and a couple of movies, but then the batteries completely died on me so I resorted to reading the book I brought.

After a bit, I decide that I'll take them in, but before doing so, I'll see how they all take to getting a bath (even though I knew Casey will love it!). I retrieved the hose with sprayer on it, turned it on to mist, and gave them a good mist. Smurf went and huddled up to Cosmo, and Noel nearly clumbered down to where Casey was, who was beginning to enjoy the water. Noel seemed to enjoy it some (as she occasionally does), and the budgies more or less sat where they were (odd as how they usually love to bathe).

Noel moved back up to where she had come slowly, and I misted them a bit longer. I was about to turn the hose off, when I decided to switch it over to shower. That's when the real fun began! The budgies were still quite the same, Casey was struggling between preening and bathing (would start to preen her back, then lean forward to bathe, yet stop to preen again) and Noel was in the sun getting quite a bit of the water. Within a few minutes, Noel was sprawled out on her branch, covering the leaves and branches under her with her body and wings (just imaging a bird that has become very wet and tired from a storm, or one that has been injured and took flight, and is now tired so is laying on the ground with wings spread open panting... minus the panting, and add quite a bit of joy up in the branches, and you've got Noel!). This has only been the third time that Noel has done this, though the first and second were during rain, while the second wasn't really all that 'enthrolled'. You could tell by the way she acted that she was enjoying this!

The batteries had charged up a bit for the camera, so I took a few 'wet' photos, and brought the birds back in! It really pleases me to see Noel enjoying a bath, even though after having her for over 3 years (okay, she has me!) I have yet to actually figure her out!




On a side note, Noel really does have me baffled more than ever! This morning and yesterday morning, she has been squawking. I make sure she has food and water, so no worries there, but she still squawks. I pick her up and handle her, yet still more squawks. I try some one on one attention, though she's not really a person bird, so doesn't enjoy that type of attention very much... I set her back down and she continues to squawk. Puzzled, and after I leave the room, what does she do? She's quiet... she's not squawking... Nothing really different, nothing missing, nor nothing added, and she's only doing this squawk in the morning. (okay, so you may say that conures tend to squawk in the mornings and at dusk, but not this gal! so this is unusual for her to do). I'm waiting to see if this will continure for the next couple of days... I guess Noel really does know how to make me feel like a new bird owner!

Other than that, I think I should probably update with some photos and a couple movies! (and a question will be asked after uploading one of the movies)...

[Crebain]

Originally Posted by Monica

To watch a bird take a bath...a warm feeling just runs over your body, you are just so delighted!...

"Life's simple pleasures are the best!"

[Tiki]

Birds sure know how to take pleasure in the simple things in life-we should all be more like them!