Inara

....you collect plastic silverware from take out places. Not because *you* like to use them, but because they make perfect disposable poop scrapers for the cage bottom grill.

It is too bad that there is no standardization of banding codes. You really can't tell the age/birthdate of your bird from its band. It's hard enough just to figure out who the breeder is/was. Here is an old list of breeder band info: http://www.pamperedpeeps.com/bandsbreeders.htm for anyone who is interested. I managed to get Inara's hatch paper at least from her first people, and that had her birthday, band number, and sex on it.

The photos of your and Tinkerbell's adventures riding about on the scooter, having lunch, doing recalls were just wonderful to view and I enjoyed them very much. I also enjoyed, vicariously, your travels. I'm sure Tinkerbell is appreciative of the wooden perch you placed in her cage in the factory, as well as the time that she got to spend with you. It was no doubt, too short for you both.

Hi Alyson and Hero, and welcome! Loved the video of your adorable guy. It is so heartwarming to know that Hero and Hamlet both went off to college with you, rather than becoming "Craigslist Birds" due to the "I have to move, go to college, change apartments, etc." excuse. It speaks so well of you, Alyson and your true love for your companions. If I was within reach, I'd give you huge hugs, and pass out parrot cookies!!

Agree 200% on the natural sunshine, and fresh outdoor air. Now that it's warm enough, Inara goes outside with me for between 20-30 minutes in her travel cage. We both soak up a bit of natural vitamin D, and she gets a really nice change of scenery to boot. We have her old full sized cage that we had intended to move outside onto the deck. My only hesitation, is that we have tons of wild birds that come to our trees and deck and I'll have to rig some sort of cover for it when she is not actually in it, to protect it from any wild birds perching on top of it and leaving droppings in it. I may just roll her permanent cage in and out, and that would solve the problem. Her old cage is downstairs in our sun room (we have a solar home) and gets loads of sunlight. It's easy to raise the windows on nice days so she can get the unfiltered sunlight. Isaac is looking smashing! He's doing so much better, and no doubt will continue to do so over time. He sure is your lovebug!

What a nerve wracking event! Like Acappella, I hope that this morning shows that the glue held overnight, that Cotay is doing better, and that calm is restored. Yikes!

Hello Mods Just a note to say that I can now no longer upload photos to my albums. I get the popup window as usual, but it is now blank with just a dark grey background and no buttons, etc. Thanks in advance for looking into this.

FUn and FUN!

Richard, I looked and only have a couple of lefts. Of all weird places, take a look on Etsy.com and see if there are any there. I've seen full sets of Grey feathers there before. Inara's current (and many previous) cousins are falcons, and I'm up close and personally familiar with the positive side of imping. When feathers repeatedly get broken as they try to come in because there is nothing in place to support them, it can become a perpetual cycle. My brother (a master falconer) suggests that if you can, have your vet do the imping at the very end of the day so that Timmy can go into a restful state afterward and have all night to be calm with the new feathers. Wishing you and Timmy a very positive outcome.

HRH Inara, when she is feeling particularly pleased, will fluff all of her feathers up then gives fast and furious tail wags at the same time. She also does a little happy dance and sings a little song that she made up that goes "doop doop doop." She just gives off a 'sense' of being happy. When she is content, she sits quietly and grinds her beak softly. She's engaged with her humans and her environment; is active and playful; eats well, grooms herself and bathes herself regularly, and doesn't shriek for attention; she chats animatedly and seeks interactions. Those are all signals to me of a well adjusted and happy bird (and/or human for that matter).

What is beyond her that she can see? She doesn't appear frightened or upset. Is there any type of food, or activity behind you that takes place at about that time every night? Since she knows how to go out of her cage, that doesn't seem to be an issue. I would take a look around and see what if anything has her attention off behind you at that time of night, and see if there is any pattern. Also, what is going on before she begins, and how long does it last?

Welcome, Chris and flock! What lovely companions you have. Congratulations on your new friend Mama Mia. She has landed in a lovely home.

Life is never dull with HRH Inara. The way her brain works just tickles me grey. Some of you will recall that one of her favorite tunes is "Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles. She sings the "wallllk" part and the "way oh way oh" parts. Well, apparently she has put together what the word "walk" means. As if a light bulb went off in her pretty head about a week ago, every time I walk to the kitchen she sings.... "wallllllllk." Naturally I tell her that the lyrics are, "walk like an Egyptian, NOT wallllllk to the kitchen." She is has kept this up for a week, several times a day without fail. We now do "yoga" together. In the mornings when she gives me her bowed head with her wings stretched high behind her, I bow down with her, and say --- yohhhgah. She now does it when I say yohhhhgo and bow down with my arms behind my back. She gets so excited and we do it about three times together a couple times a day. She always finished with a flourish of fluffing, shake, and tail wiggles. Too keewt. Further on the exercise front, we've been working together on recalls, and increasing her intentional (not startled) flight distance. She is loving it, as evidenced by her voluntarily flying from her play perch to the footstool, to my knee, to the table, etc. and back and forth. All short distances, but with confidence and apparent joy as when she lands she singer her own personal made up "doop doop doop" song and does a little happy dance. Yes, still besotted with her, and expect to continue to be so for a lifetime.

Richard, if you private message me your address, I'd be happy to send along any from Inara. I will look through some that I've collected and see what I have.

Congratulations on your new companion! You must be so delighted and excited, and we are for you! It's natural in our excitement to want to jump right in and begin doing all sorts of wonderful things with and for our new Greys, but unlike dogs and other companion animals birds are different. Bella has just left her home of origin and everything is new to her and also can be confusing. It is a great sign that she is seeking your affection, just watch and read her. She's made it known that in her cage is fine because she had the bit of a barrier between you. Remember, birds are prey animals and every other creature to them can be considered a predator -- even ones with well meaning intentions. What you do now, will set the pace for you and Bella in the future. Slow down a bit. Give Bella some time to settle in. She's got lots of new surroundings and stimuli to figure out, including you. Be matter of fact, nonchalant, and low key with her right now. Personally, I'd hold off on the misting for a bit until you've established more of a rapport with her. When her cage is open and you're reaching in to pet her, she may be perceiving that as you trying to take her out of what to her right now is her secure surroundings. Just ease up a bit, make overtures and like Loveparrots suggested, read, read, read. So delighted for you!

Love this!! We call them crawdads where I'm from, I love the different regional names for them. What a gorgeous Grey and what a super fun piccie!

Wishing you and Sukei a speedy end to the red tape, and safe journeys together.

May I suggest keeping a close eye on your picnic baskets?

I just use my kitchen scale that weighs in grams -- here is a link to it on Amazon -- I set it on the kitchen counter, and Inara steps down upon it with no problem daily, perhaps because it is very thin and flat so looks a lot like part of the counter top.

In the jungles and rain forests, red can often mean poison to predators. So perhaps with our little ground foragers, when their heads are down foraging in the biomass on the ground, their red tails are up and can fool predators into thinking "poisonous creature," while the Greys are at their most vulnerable. Greywings, I love the legend of how they go their red tails -- thanks for the link!

Loved looking at the photos of such a beautiful pair Top it off with the great news of Mr. Peck's clear blood work, and you've made my morning!!

Rick, that just had to be such a nerve wracking experience - 1) the unexpected water issues and 2) to top it off, having to leave your beloved Cosmo for a few days. Soooo glad that he came through it like a trooper.

Wonderful video! I, too, love the way Solomon says his name. Too cute! He certainly is a happy guy. It was great to see the house sparrows flitting around. Can't wait for more vids/pictures.

It had to be really hard for you to find a long-term nanny for Maggie. I imagine you had lots of mixed emotions about having to leave her. Many people would have simply placed the, "we are having to go overseas and need to sell/rehome our bird," advertisement, and she would have lost you forever. Certainly she will remember you and since the three of you "left home" at about the time where she might normally do that in the wild, it will be interesting to see how she views you now, and you her. Has the 'bird lady,' kept you updated frequently? Is it possible for you to Skype with Maggie a few times before you see her, as well as after your initial visit? That might help re-establish some connections prior, and then interim until July. Wishing you all the best possible outcome.

What a blast to hear and see; everyone having so much fun!