Experiences at the kitchen table at 5:00 or so in the morning...
Rocky's come to visit...
Posted 10-17-2009 at 03:29 PM by NotEnoughTime
Rocky, our friend's cockatiel, has come to visit for a few days.
Gari usually stays over at Rocky's place since the family seems to have taken a liking to her. They seem to have fallen for the Green Cheek character. Well... So have I, so I can understand it...
This is the first time that Rocky has had an extended stay at our place. A day or two is the most he's been here before. This time he is going to be with us for about a week.
And this is Gari's place!
When Gari goes to stay with Rocky she's pretty mellow. It is a new place and she's into exploring. She seems to accept that Rocky's extended flock is not her own flock - but is a tolerable substitute for her own family/flock and she gets on well with the young girl (about eight years old) and her parents. She even seems to enjoy being with Rocky. Chatting to him and putting her head down for preening - although Rocky doesn't do anything. He simply backs away...
Rocky is nine years old and has lived with this family for his entire life. He's watched the young girl growing up and he's pretty set in his ways. So having a new bird invade his space seems not exactly comfortable for him. But he takes it in stride.
Having Rocky come to stay at our place for a lengthy stay has given him, and Gari, a new experience. This is Gari's space and she's a Green Cheek - which means that initially the space is defended from an invading bird! For the first day we had to keep the birds somewhat separated. Otherwise Gari would spread her tail, fluff up her feathers and chase poor Rocky about. It was somewhat comical since Gari is about half Rocky's weight... But Rocky doesn't seem to have an aggressive bone in his body...
After that first day the two birds seemed to find their own place. But one very interesting thing happened...
Gari has never really explored the floor - she's always been on the table or on a perch. Floor landings have been accidental. That is accidental up until now.
Rocky is a "floor" bird. He has no trouble walking around the house flipping his toy in front of him. This has lead Gari to land on the floor to try and figure out what is so great... And now she's discovered a new world in her own home... The floor.
Yesterday I caught Gari peeking under closet doors, exploring behind the toilet in the bathroom, and looking under the bed... All because of Rocky. She's also a bit of a challenge for Rocky because she'll come along and steal his "flip toy" and walk away with it. Rocky doesn't seem to know what to do about that...
I should note here that both Rocky and Gari are "flight capable" but Rocky simply chooses the floor as his favourite spot. I don't know why this has happened over his nine years of life - but he doesn't seem to need the safety of heights... And now Gari seems to figure that the floor ain't so bad...
One conclusion I have come to though... One I've said in the forums... Cockatiels are noisy birds. Green cheeks arn't. Gari may squack on occasion but my girl does not produce the constant whooting, whistling and chirping that a cockatiel emits by just "being."
That being said - it is nice to have two birds in the home. Very entertaining!
Gari usually stays over at Rocky's place since the family seems to have taken a liking to her. They seem to have fallen for the Green Cheek character. Well... So have I, so I can understand it...
This is the first time that Rocky has had an extended stay at our place. A day or two is the most he's been here before. This time he is going to be with us for about a week.
And this is Gari's place!
When Gari goes to stay with Rocky she's pretty mellow. It is a new place and she's into exploring. She seems to accept that Rocky's extended flock is not her own flock - but is a tolerable substitute for her own family/flock and she gets on well with the young girl (about eight years old) and her parents. She even seems to enjoy being with Rocky. Chatting to him and putting her head down for preening - although Rocky doesn't do anything. He simply backs away...
Rocky is nine years old and has lived with this family for his entire life. He's watched the young girl growing up and he's pretty set in his ways. So having a new bird invade his space seems not exactly comfortable for him. But he takes it in stride.
Having Rocky come to stay at our place for a lengthy stay has given him, and Gari, a new experience. This is Gari's space and she's a Green Cheek - which means that initially the space is defended from an invading bird! For the first day we had to keep the birds somewhat separated. Otherwise Gari would spread her tail, fluff up her feathers and chase poor Rocky about. It was somewhat comical since Gari is about half Rocky's weight... But Rocky doesn't seem to have an aggressive bone in his body...
After that first day the two birds seemed to find their own place. But one very interesting thing happened...
Gari has never really explored the floor - she's always been on the table or on a perch. Floor landings have been accidental. That is accidental up until now.
Rocky is a "floor" bird. He has no trouble walking around the house flipping his toy in front of him. This has lead Gari to land on the floor to try and figure out what is so great... And now she's discovered a new world in her own home... The floor.
Yesterday I caught Gari peeking under closet doors, exploring behind the toilet in the bathroom, and looking under the bed... All because of Rocky. She's also a bit of a challenge for Rocky because she'll come along and steal his "flip toy" and walk away with it. Rocky doesn't seem to know what to do about that...
I should note here that both Rocky and Gari are "flight capable" but Rocky simply chooses the floor as his favourite spot. I don't know why this has happened over his nine years of life - but he doesn't seem to need the safety of heights... And now Gari seems to figure that the floor ain't so bad...
One conclusion I have come to though... One I've said in the forums... Cockatiels are noisy birds. Green cheeks arn't. Gari may squack on occasion but my girl does not produce the constant whooting, whistling and chirping that a cockatiel emits by just "being."
That being said - it is nice to have two birds in the home. Very entertaining!
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