Inara

Am loving reading all of these!! Oh those wolf whistles, definitely can cause quite a stir! And I love that Sukei is American!!! How adorable is that??! And Phenix "roaring" in a little boy voice, too cute! And that Timber, just knows that mama needs rescuing from that darned phone. LOL HRH Inara will say, "OK we love you, bye!" then makes the 'boop' sound of the phone disconnecting. I *always* explain to people that I don't know (like business calls, etc.) that I have a parrot in the background and so if they hear anything odd, *she* is the one saying it!!

YAY!! So excited for you, and for Gracie. It is always so heartwarming to know that a bird in need will have a patient, loving home. Definitely start a thread, I agree, so that we can all tune-in! xoxo

Isn't that the truth!!! Now you see why I call Inara HRH (Her Royal Highness!!!) Giannine, true! Never a dull moment around here. Just way, your Poppy will be following suit as she continues to grow. What a lovely profile picture of her!!! Love those baby eyes *sigh*

Birdhouse, this response just choked me up. So well said!!! ' And agree, LisaChristine, that your Rosie is one adorable and beautiful girl! I love love the expression on her little face in your profile pic.

Daily, HRH Inara likes to go to her tree at about 4-ish in the afternoon, where she hangs out until the sun starts to set then she makes her way back into her home and wants to be covered and hit the sack. Yesterday, I headed off to soak my aching back in a hot bubble bath at about 3:30 PM, not thinking about the time. I had just settled into the steaming water, with a cup of coffee and a good book, thinking how relaxing this was when a voice popped up from the other room: "Hey sweetie bird, I want to go to the tree." Me: I am in the shower (shower/bath is all the same to her). Inara: OK about 3 minutes later--- Inara: Let's go to the tree, alright? Me: You need to wait one hour, I am in the shower. a couple of minutes -- Inara: I want to go to the tree out there. Me: Sorry, but you will have to wait. Inara: I will go to the tree. Whhhhaaaaaaaaaat? (long and drawn out with the upward question inflection at the end) the TREEEEEEE!!! (drawn out and vehement!) The -- "you dullard, don't you understand what tree means???" was implied I'm sure!! I burst out laughing (because I often will ask her "what" something is), hauled my dripping self out of the tub, wrapped a towel 'round and let her out so she could go to ---whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? The Tree! This is not the first time that she has implied that I am a bit slow on the uptake.......

Agreed! I used to keep a log of HRH Inara's vocabulary, and then just dropped it, as she continues to just keep on going and definitely in context! "Talk to the meatloaf" just slayed me!!

My own experience with abused wild caught birds is too long a story to go into here (some is in my introduction post) and this post is about you and your Rosie. There is a special place in my heart for humans whose hearts are big enough to share love with these wonderful companions no matter where they come from, or what state they are in when they land in our nests. I don't have to know you to know that your heart is huge, your loyalty is unquestionable, and that *you* have also landed in the right place with the right feathered girl! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving her. She *will* continue to respond over time more and more and more. When all we ask of them is that they be nothing more than what they are, birds, and love them unconditionally in a relaxed way, they respond in their own ways and in their own time. Some nearly immediately, others over years. HRH Inara also ramps up when I am going out the door. She used to make a huge racket and it is natural, when you think of it. It's not a tantrum, it's just a "HEY!!! We're flock buddies, and you're taking off without me, and I want to get past these bars and come with you. There could be danger out there with you by yourself." With Inara, I began giving her a cracked walnut in the shell right before I head out the door, and like you I tell her the same words each time -- in my case, "I am going bye-bye to work, and I will be back. I love you!" Now, when I pick up the keys, drop off her walnut, she says, "OK go bye-bye to work!" How wonderful that Miss Rosie makes your car sounds and apparently is looking forward to you coming in the door. You have won her heart fair and square! Is she actually plucking, or is she just periodically molting and so is leaving small piles of "snowflakes" (down) on the bottom of her cage with the occasional flight, and or tail feathers mixed in? You likely know the difference, but you'd be surprised at how many people do not and think this is plucking. If she is plucking, she may surprise you and eventually cease. Your attitude is wonderful, and the two of you sound as if you are truly meant for one another. Cheering you on, and giving you both a warm welcome!!

These are cracking me up! Love "Viewer Discretion" !! I think my all time favorite of HRH Inara's is instead of WTF she says, "What the quack?!!" She made it up herself (thank goodness!) one day after hearing my Joe for the scrillionth time stop himself at "What the..!!?" Here is a quick vid (I'm still learning Sterling!) in cartoon mode of her most fun/funny things she does. She insists on listening to "Walk Like An Egyptian" by the Bangles every morning. She calls it "Way Oh," and gets irritated with our Amazon Alexa when she demands, "Alexa! Way Oh!" and Alexa comes back with, "I can't find the selection Way Oh, but here is a song you might like by Kenny G." Here is a link to her dancing/rockin' out to Walk Like An Egyptian this morning

great post, Kevin, and should be made a "sticky" so that it's easy to find.

Awww...LOVED the pics of Sukei! He does look right at home and unphased by the transport and import. Sometimes I think that is the way of the wild-caughts. After all they have been through being nabbed, any place that is calm with food and water seems like a huge step up. And since Sukei had you for so many years, he has experienced that not all humans are jerks. Am so very very very thrilled for you and Sukei! Welcome HOME, to you both and to your family!! With warmest regards, Jane and HRH Inara

Hi Sam, sorry I can't help you in the breeder department, but no doubt someone will likely come along who may be able to lend a recommendation. Have you thought about adopting a young bird? Hand rearing a baby isn't necessarily a guarantee that you and your chick will bond forever, in fact it's natural for them to want to "leave the nest" and look for a mate rather than parents after about age 2-ish. (Hence the 'terrible twos). There are scads of Greys out there who need good homes, and if you take care and are diligent in finding just the right match for you, you can wind up with the love affair of a lifetime. If you are a first time parrot person, there is a lot of homework to be done but there are many people here who would love to help you with questions to ask about potential adoptee birds. Is your heart set on a chick, or on finding a good companion? In either case, you're in the right forum. One way to start might be to find an avian veterinarian in your area and ask them if they know of any reputable breeders. A good breeder will have a good avian vet looking at their birds. Cheers, and jump in and tell us more about yourself. Welcome to the forum!

Awww, thanks on her behalf. It is such a little "munchkin" voice and is all her very own. Am glad the link is working!

Okies -- I've tried a direct link to my Facebook page, and made it public so that you should be able to see it. This was one that I had managed to upload from my tablet in Dec 2015. Facebook compressed the heck out of it so the video is not so great -- hence why I gave up trying to post any others of her on Facebook. Will try to get more recorded, edited, and then youtubed. Sterling, I echo Birdhouse's sentiments. My 1st CAG (wild caught abused rescue) was quiet as a clam except for wild noises until one night we scared the crap out of each other when I was coming in at 2:30 a.m. and this voice in the dark piped up with, "Hey whatcha doin' there?!" and I wend, "EEEEEEEK!!!!" and he went, "SCRAWWWWWWKKKKK!!!" after that he eventually opened the floodgates of things he had heard and been exposed to -- but was not the conversationalist that HRH is. He was mimic only basically. Loved him beyond the beyond and wouldn't have cared if he was mute forever. I loved his wild noises more than his words -- spine chilling hoots and growls and howls and calls. *sigh* Fixed the link above but here it is again -- let me know if it works https://tinyurl.com/HRHsquirrels

YAY!!!!! SOOOO excited for you! Worth the wait, eventually anyway, and now let the wild rumpus begin! Can't wait to see pics after you and the flock are all settled in! Sending congrats and much love your way!

Good morning, fids and fidfam! OK...amy attempting to share a wee video link https://tinyurl.com/HRHsquirrels of HRH Inara saying Hi to the squirrels outside that she sees through the window. Will see if this works. I so love her little "munchkin" voice! Will work at editing some longer vids and uploading. (EDIT: It is on my Facebook, but you do *not* need a Facebook account to see it, I set the permissions so that it is viewable. Just tell Facebook "not now" if you get the pop up asking you to sign in. )

Kevin, yep, just eat your peas, say thank you, and count yourself and Sukei lucky at this point. Suxxors, but there is plenty of time in the future to iron things out and the primary goal will have been achieved which was not having to have left Sukei behind. In a few hours, he will be home safe and sound with you all due to your heroic efforts and tenacity. CELEBRATE! Sounds like you have a good lawyer, so breathe easy as the original mission was accomplished. My son is in the Dallas area and he always just says "Dallas" too!

HRH Inara has been molting, so while not cranky, she is not wanting to hangout on me as much as usual.

iiiiiiiiii |:H:a:p:p:y:| __|___________|__ |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| |:B:i:r:t:h:d:a:y:| | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A bit late -- but it's never too late for cake!!! Happy Birthday Corky!!

What terribly sad news!! Dave007 forgot more about birds and greys than many will ever even learn in a lifetime. He was a colorful and knowledgeable character who so generously shared his experience and knowledge. I just can't imagine this forum without him. My heart goes out to his family and to his flock, he will be sorely missed.

Too funny!! Let's hope that Isaac doesn't leave you any "styling product!!" "...... when he gets real desperate he will try to balance on he Bong and mate." Danmcq did you mean Bong or Boing with Dayo? Funny either way!

HRH Inara loves walnuts, pecans, and almonds in the shell. I crack them to get them started for her and she gets 1 whole nut per day right before lights out. I have never been concerned about fat in my birds' diets as just like hoomans it is necessary for healthy skin, etc. and to carry fat soluable vitamins. Fat from nuts is quite different than fat from French Fries, etc.. She turns her beak up at sunflower seeds, and Baily's Papa and Luvs ... she just won't go for pistachios either (???!!!). Can't say that makes me sad, though, as it leaves them all for me me me! Kasperhm, your Jason may change his mind over time. What our companions turn their beaks up and snub at at one point in their lives, can easily become their latest favorite down the road.

Oh my Lady Gaga!! LOVE the photos, and agree with Sterling that I'd want to be kissy kissy-ing that little face big time! It can be a mixed bag of feelings when naming a pet and/or a child after a deceased loved one. There are many reminders along the way, and in other ways it is such a lovely way to honor the departed loved. Almost as if a whisper bit of their spirit lives on in their namesake. No reason to feel guilt about loving your new companion with all of your heart, in honor of Django The First. Our hearts have the capacity to expand even when we think they are already filled to the brim. Enjoy Django II and, be mindful of comparisons. Just like people each companion has her/his own personality and traits. It looks from the great photos that your heart is already wide open and welcoming D2. <3 <3

What a joy to watch! A great place for flying, and safe to boot, can't be beat. Other than parrots, I shared my life for 28 years with Afghan hounds (AKA 42 mile an hour couch potatoes). In the days before dog parks, I used to take them to fenced in baseball fields or football fields, close all the gates and let them run their hearts out a few times a week. GreycieMae just tickles me with how she loves to do whatever it takes to taunt you. hahaha Big question, when finished, how did you get them all back down? HRH Inara is generally good at coming when called (in the house) but am not sure how she would do in such a big area and way up high.

Great chipping job, Dorian! If times get tough, you can switch him to colored paper, sweep up the remnants, take pics, post on Pinterest then sell on Etsy as exotic beak-crafted confetti! :D HRH Inara would love a box chipping date with Dorian. She is not much on thicker toys, but love loves loves snipping away at cardboard rings, paper towel tubes, junk mail, and all things paper or cotton rope. The mess is definitely worth it, agreed!

Your Rosie is soooo darned cute!!