Inara

OMG she is so stinking cute! She really is losing that baby dinosaur look and is looking like a fluffy little TAG. HRH Iara says she is beautiful!

This is timely information and easily adapted to each family's situation. An excellent reminder to not wait until it is too late. Three summers ago we were in a firestorm in our state and our home was in the ready to evac area. This time of year especially, preparedness is forefront in our minds. It is also good to have some type of sticker or sign on the window of a bird room or kennel area so that in the event you are not home and your area is evacuated, fire personnel can see at a glance that there are pets in the house. If concerned about birdnappers, you can always put a picture of a great Dane or something with the words "pets inside." Thanks for taking the time to share the blog post.

Thanks Karen and Sterling for the info! Giannine, that is where I got Inara's three years ago. It has held up beautifully. However, it was tricky to put together. If you order one, pay super close attention to the pictures and how things are oriented because once snapped together it is very difficult to undo. Voice of experience...

HRH Inara loves this time of year when she can supervise my outdoor chores! My neighbor couldn't see her, but apparently was curious as to whom I was talking with because they walked over after hearing me say, "Yes, I am watering the flowers," and "Yes that dog is great danger," (as another neighbor walked by with a dog she gave her danger sound) and were hearing her say, "Yeah," and "Very good," and "Oh care!!" and whistling. She always tells me, "Very good," and/or "Good girl," when I am cleaning her cage in the mornings.She recently has taken to saying, "Oh care," when I move to clean her cage or get water, etc. I think it comes from me saying to Joe, "Time for me to take care of the birdy stuff." Apparently her "encouragement" now extends to the outdoor chores too. It is nice, though that she expresses a sense of letting me know that I'm doing a good thing. She loves her little clear roaming cage and cheerfully hops right into it every morning. This year I am seriously considering getting her a birdie backpack. I have said it for a couple of years now, but I believe this will be the year. She loves hanging out with me outside so much, and a harness is not an option with the many raptors we have in the area. She is such a happy little gal and I want her to have as much outdoor time as possible. Winters are long up here and she loves the breezes blowing through her feathers, and the warmth of the sunshine. I know that with a birdiepack that she won't get the same feeling, but she will get to go hit the trails with me. She can always go into her little "sunroom" still during morning chores. Who all here, have birdiepacks? And what size would you recommend for a Timneh? Her average weight is 283 grams.

Words always fail me at times like this. My heart is broken for you and your beloved little Spy.

What heartbreaking news. The special bonds we have with our nonhuman companions are like no others. Spy had a wonderful and loving companion in you, and could not have asked for better. My heart aches for you.

HRH Inara wants the name of Greycie Mae's tiara designer

I just LOVE this little guy!

I also made soap for years using the lye method when I had my wild caught CAG and Amazon. Like Timbersmom I lived in a big old drafty house. However, I always did the mixing outside. For scent, after the soap was cured, I would tuck the bars into a box of natural potpourri that I made from lavender, rose petals, etc. As for the candles, beeswax ought to be OK for the making part, and if you are just giving them away as gifts you could drop a few drops of essential oil onto a cotton ball, polish the candle with it then wrap the candle with tissue paper to encase the scent. Naturally wash your hands well afterward. If you are making them for home decoration, then just leave them unscented. A major danger from commercial candles is that many have a lead center in the wicks that make the wicks stiff. When burned, the lead goes into the air. Also many of the scents are chemicals etc. so those are released into the air when burned. I don't burn candles because HRH Inara flies around and I would never forgive myself if there was a fire incident. The melt and pour for soaps with a few drops of all natural scent ought to be OK if you are making it another well ventilated room. I have always worn high grade all natural essential oils as perfume and all of my birds led very long lives and were not affected at all. Cheaper oils...I could not vouch for. Really, just use common sense. There are essential oils that some homeopathic vets use to calm anxious birds and animals for aromatherapy. There are some tree and bark based ones in particular that can cause irritation in humans as well as animals. When in doubt ask an avian vet about any concerns. A quick phone call won't cost anything, and will give you confidence in making choices for you and Babs. Happy creating!

Adorable!!!

You have been been given great advice, and with time Oliver will become more accustomed to life with you and Andy. So often our natural tendencies is to want to make friends right away, handle as soon as possible, surround with new and wonderful toys, change to new food etc. All of these things while well intentioned are stressors for a new companion. Just allow Oliver to be what he is....a bird. Hang out around him and go about your day. If he attacks you when you are not trying to interact with him, then only be around him while he is caged and don't approach his cage for awhile. Just give him a nice whistle when you come in and out of the area and have it be the same one every time so that he begins to identify that sound with you. Always move calmly and slowly (but not creepily slow) when you are around him. Fast movements trigger escape instincts. Most importantly, relax. Oliver is a long term commitment and over time, and it may be a long time, he will become used to you. For now it appears that Andy is his guy so just enjoy watching their interactions and don't take it personally. Eventually in a few weeks start dropping a wonderful treat into Oliver's dish when you walk by and give him your personal whistle when you do that. He will start connecting good things with you and your whistle. Allow him to interact with you in his own way and time. It will pay off. Adjust your expectations and enjoy living beside this wonderful creature Kudos to you for welcoming Oliver into your home and lives. We are all here to help you, and any advice or opinions comes from our hearts so never feel nervous about asking. There are many excellent books and articles on bird behaviors on Amazon or from your library as well as tons of great threads to read here in the forums. Keep an open heart, don't take Oliver's behavior personally, and know that time goes a long way with our companions.

Hi David, Lucy, and Ava and a big welcome! By now, Ava has arrived at her new home with you and you must be delighted. Your approach sounds just right. Would love to hear more about how she came to you as well as any antics and proud brags. We are like a flock of aunties and uncles and we never tire of hearing about each other's greybies so don't be shy.

I remember seeing the NBC peacock fan its tail in color -- it was a huge thrill on our first color TV. I remember when Captain Kirk would have rather slapped himself than ever have a Klingon on his Bridge. I remember how thrilled I was when I bought my first computer, a Commodore 64. And I remember the Internet before graphics, when it was all text-based and there was no spam and no advertising. Every email was a treat and much welcomed. Definitely miss *those* internet days!

Such great news to hear that Ollie is feeling so great!

It doesn't surprise me at all that you understand Isaac's language, you two are so attuned to one another. HRH Inara and I like to play call and response too. It is so fun, although it seems to always escalate to a point where she throws a super complicated one at me that there is no way I can do!! You and Isaac are best pals for life and I can't ever imagine you two apart. Isaac has stolen my heart through your stories of that wonderful fellow. This just made me smile. I actually have a very charming bratty little sister whom I adore! So you have given me the perfect picture of Charm. Now whenever I hear about her, will picture my sis! LOL

Cuteness in spades! The 2nd photo looks like he's standing at attention and ready for inspection like a little soldier. Precious!

Am so glad that you contacted the vet and now you can relax a bit. Another plus is that you now have established a relationship with the vet clinic and they have baseline data for Spy. Everything sounds promising which was a relief to read this morning. Please do keep us all posted. I look forward to many more Spy stories as she gets back to her self.

What a wonderful tour that was! Such a lovely place, and it's so apparent how happy everyone is to be there. I honestly felt very relaxed after watching the video. The beautiful colors of the fids, the plants, the sunshine... you've made such a wonderful habitat. Hugs to you and many karma points for all that you do!

Hello Jcrowsom. It must have been very hard on your wife to leave her long time companion, even to move to such a beautiful place. Here is a resource that you may find helpful about the steps necessary to bring your 'too to Bali. Am not sure how to find reputable breeders in Bali for a grey, though. Wishing you the best of luck! http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/indonesia-bali.cfm

What a lovely video and a delight to watch! Some of the sounds reminded me of my beloved and departed wild-caught Lestat! Brought back some wonderful memories. xo

You know your bird (no matter how young it is) better than anyone. If I'm interpreting what Dave, Nancy, and Judy are saying it is that in their experience this is something that generally would not warrant a visit to the vet, but they're not suggesting that you not contact your vet if you have concerns. Sometimes it is simply worth a phone call to your vet to see if s/he thinks the bird needs to be brought in. None of us here are avian vets, we rely heavily on our combined experience when offering advice, and frankly I trust the advice of many people here more than I do a generic non-avian vet. It's likely that your vet will tell you over the phone that it is not necessary to come in, but you can put your mind at ease. Birds definitely have various periods when they are quieter, but a very marked and continued change in vocalizations over a period of several days is something that (for me) I would want to chat with my vet about over the phone, as that is completely out of the norm for my current bird. It was not, however, out of the norm for my much less chatty fellows (r.i.p.) that I had in the past. A lot depends on the individual bird(s). When it comes to living with any companion, trust your instincts. Since Spy had gone quiet for about 3 days when you posted, and it's now been about 5 days since Spy went quiet, how is she doing? Back to normal I hope!

Is her weight staying within its normal range? Is she getting the usual amount of sleep? Has it been rainy or stormy? (Many birds will instinctively go more quiet during stormy weather) Has something changed in the house? (Number of people, etc?) It is always worth a phone call to the veterinarian. They may suggest bringing her in, or at the very least this they may put your mind at ease. Prey animals are good at masking symptoms and a major change in vocalizations is a very good reason to phone the vet. I would encourage you to call. Please give us an update. Will X fingers that there is just a simple explanation.

Nancy, Sophie says more with just a twitch of her feathers than most humans. I love hearing about her and I think it is the sweetest thing ever that she has her favorite bedtime books. Neoow, Alfie is such a love. It has to feel great to come home after a long day to someone who makes it known that he is happy to see you. OY those loud squeaks close up...they can make a human's ears ring, that little stinker!

'too funny!!! hahaha Awwww... sweet Bongo. Bet your heart just melts when he starts that whistle! Love it that you know that he's calling you to come play! A very sweet example of how our fids don't have to speak human to communicate with us if we listen and tune in. Wow!! I honestly don't know many humans (other than sheepherders) who can call individual dogs w/out using each dog's name. Amazing is right!! Charm is absolutely brilliant! And why do I have visions of her thinking of them as her minions...... Outstanding! Charlie is already wanting to communicate with you. Now is definitely the time to mimic what sounds he gives to you so that he knows you have heard him. When he does the door noise, you might want to then say something to him (always the same thing) like, "The door! You are right! Someone is here and will come in the door!" Then when they leave say "Going out the door." As you are going about your day, talk with him and describe what you are doing in simple terms - like "I'm going to the kitchen to get water." Or "I am exercising!" or "Good morning," whatever. Name objects and foods that you give to him. He will listen listen as a young child listens and learns. He may or may not grow up to be a talker but he will definitely communicate if he knows that you pay attention when he has something to share with you, in his own time and his own way. It is very cool no matter what "language" they use!

Giannine, how exciting! I'm sure that the wait for August to get here seems like a long time, but well worth it. Nice to know that you feel confident about the breeder and that you're building a good relationship. Yes, HRH Inara really is a character -- much like every greybie here! They all have so many things in common but yet are as unique as Sting albums and snowflakes. I love the name "Poppy!" It will be so fun to see how your new little one grows into the name