Muse

We don't have a TV but we recently put a computer in the birds' 'bedroom' (the room where their cages are). We have quarantine at the other end of the house in what was the 'den' but now serves as my office/dining room/living room (a recliner chair in the corner that may go upstairs to husband's office/man cave). We have files on both computers that we play for the birds. I made a multi-track mp3 of bird sounds that sounds like being in the middle of a forest except the birds are from all over the world. The birds love it. I also play YouTube videos of wild parrots for them. And of course, when we are having birdie fun time, we watch MARNIE the ringneck parrot which really gets the whole flock wound up! If I leave the house I usually put something on, depending on the time of day. At night it is soft mellow music turned down pretty low. I will be working evenings, so that will make it easier on them as they will be asleep most of the time I am gone and it's only for a few hours per night.

This one? http://theparrotuniversity.com/content/aviator-bird-harness That's the one we had. The design is very secure, but you do have to slip it over the head (unlike some others that buckle but don't fit as well). They also sell the 'flight line' (extension line).

My husband and I both adore that smell. I don't get to enjoy it so much now that Mar is gone. I could get a face full with him as he'd cuddle under my shirt or under my chin. I could kiss him anywhere. He'd even lift his wings and let me kiss his "soft spots" (as my husband would say, armpits). Megan would eat my face off if I tried that. Although she is letting me give her scritches now without biting. Has anyone else noticed bird smells seem stronger after the birds have been outside in the sunshine?

Megan is a shredder. She loves that 'shredding tape'- we used to buy it and try to incorporate it into toys. Now we just hang the 'roll' in her cage and let her go to town. Peck loves those birdie bagel toys. I think his favorite is called Olympic Rings. He also likes to shred the paper at the bottom of the cage, so I keep it changed, sometimes several times a day. I also make them goodie bags using paper lunch sacks and wrapping small treats like almonds in the shell, pistachios in the shell, foot toys, etc. in toilet paper then putting them and shredded gift bag papers in the bag and weaving the top through the bars. Keeps them busy ripping the bag open and then unwrapping and throwing paper everywhere. We also use the computer to play videos while we are gone. I have several videos saved that play for them. All of the videos of Marnie the Ringneck parrot from YouTube. I also have an hour-long mp3 I made with layers of bird sounds. It sounds like a noisy jungle except I didn't get too correct with what bird is from where. Some sounds are N. American songbirds, some sounds are parrots, some are other birds. But it sure gets the birds going when it is playing. The sound really seems to help keep them occupied.

Oh that blue jay screech is a killer. Mar had that down to an art and definitely at Grey volume. Megan does a great-tailed grackle ascending whistle with the click-click-click, a dove (though we had to learn mourning here and white wing in Texas), crows (there were a lot of them where we used to live and they would come right up on the back porch, just outside our sunroom where the birds were) and now... CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS. Someone not far from us on the other side of the road has chickens and roosters and she now can sound just like them. We make a game out of it. "How's a (insert name of bird here) go? (insert proper call here). That's a (name of bird imitated)." She will often get them all right but sometimes she's in a mood to be silly and will mix them all up. I believe she does it just to get a reaction. We also play songbird sounds in the house. This reinforces the PLEASANT sounds. Peck does the best red-tailed hawk I have ever heard, and has decided it is the proper way to summon mama. Loudly. Adorable, except early in the morning.

Megan and Mar were clutch mates and would often go together into either cage. They usually went together though. Rarely did one go to one cage and the other to another. Peck and Megan are still keeping their distance, although they are co-existing on the kitchen play stand, which is small. Alex and Maks are a bonding pair who *used* to have separate cages - Alex being a sun conure and Maks being a cockatiel, I never had the idea to mix them thinking they wouldn't get along. Haha. They, however, had other plans. Alex is gay. He was having a torrid affair (yes, that kind of affair) with Conner, the male green cheek conure who fathered my grandbirdies. Conner decided to go straight once spring came and it was time to make babies. Conner died in what we believe to be a tragic accident. Alex mourned for a while and then began slowly making up to Maks. Suddenly, they both started going in the same cage, and even eating simultaneously out of the same bowls. Sometimes Alex would go in Maks's cage, but often they would go in Alex's which was slightly bigger. If I tried to separate them, they would raise such a racket that I ended up putting them back in the same cage. Finally I gave up and got them this: http://www.wayfair.com/AandE-Cage-Co.-Small-Split-Level-House-Bird-Cage-with-Divider-PC-4226D-AEC1021.html - it works perfectly. Once in a great while, Maks will get hateful and I will 'send him to his room' by putting the divider in, but overall they are together most of the time. They preen each other (more Alex preening Maks), share toys, treats, food from the same bowls, and space on my shoulder. (Because Maks can't sit on the OTHER shoulder - he has to be wedged between Alex and my face). The green cheeks also share but they are a family - mama and three offspring. Even our budgies have been sharing a cage. I let them out in the playroom and inevitably find both in one cage even though the front is open and they could be anywhere in the room. I, for one, am glad the sharing thing seems to have caught on because it is easier on me than trying to be a referee!

Please help Marden's Ark welcome Rasa, the double-yellow-headed Amazon, and Captain Jack, also known as Jack (or Blindy), a mitred conure. Jack, being very shy Rasa, letting me know he'd love to bite me if he could Their stories: Jack was originally rescued from "a bad situation" by a friend of the woman who brought him here. The friend was living in an apartment at the time and the neighbors were not amused by Jack's loudness so the woman who brought him in took him from her friend to keep the peace. He is blind in one eye. You can see that the eye is smaller and does not look normal. I am unclear as to whether this was from birth, but he does not seem to let the blind eye deter him. He perches well, climbs well, and bites well. (So far they have been 'attempted' bites.) I believe she said Jack was around ten years old. Rasa is around twenty five years old, and was dumped on this same woman by a breeder. The breeder asked if she'd take Rasa for "a week or so" and then made herself very scarce. The breeder evidently did not treat him well, and he was confined to living in a typical breeder cage. He killed one mate and seriously wounded another before the breeder decided to dump him. He's been with the woman who brought him here for eight years now. She worked very hard to try to give him a good life, but after about six months he became extremely aggressive, attacking her face at every opportunity. She even went so far as to hire an animal communicator to try to figure out what he was being so aggressive. The communicator asked only his age and name, but was not told he was a wild caught bird (although from his age it might be easy to guess that and be correct). She said that he told her that his family (which she explained probably meant his flock) were all captured and many of them died as a result. He said he is very angry with humans because of this -humans in general - but he did say he absolutely hated the breeder. (Can't say I blame him.) The woman who brought them here is someone I buy eggs from for our flock. When she found we were starting a rescue, she asked if I could take in some of her birds. She is now moving and needs to downsize to just her own personal birds as a matter of having less space. She's taken very good care of all of them and they all look super healthy and have good sized cages and lots of toys. Rasa is in a large macaw cage. She stated that for the first six months, he was okay but then became violent. We will have to wait and see how he progresses here. He is probably not a candidate for rehoming as a pet bird. I'd really like to see this bird in an aviary setting because I think that is what he needs and deserves. I want to see those wings catching air. I doubt he's flown hardly at all since he was captured. He's not clipped but does not come out of his cage. That will soon change. I am sure of it. He had a shower tonight and went crazy for it, hanging nearly upside down, spreading and fanning those beautiful wings and tail and making the sweetest little noise. His colors are magnificent and he LOVES a good shower! He's the second shower bird here (Alex the sun conure also loves showers) and it makes me happy to no end to find another bird who enjoys the shower instead of flying away from me over it.

I realize this is an old topic, but one that bears revisiting. Our eventual goal is to have a veterinarian as part of the rescue. Birds would be fully vetted (labs, baseline weight, etc.) before leaving the facility. We do a full vet check near the end of quarantine. The reason we wait is because I like to see the bird and observe for any signs or symptoms of illness so I can report anything to the vet that might be missed by seeing the bird too soon when neither myself nor the vet knows much about them. In our future plans, our on-site vet would do a work-up on the bird after adoption proceedings begin but before leaving to join their new family. In the case of bonded pairs, I assure you will will bend over backwards to make it more affordable as far as adoption fees and possibly even sending a 'kit' home with adopters with new bird essentials. In lieu of high fees, a substantial screening process including home visits and follow up visits would be mandatory. I have done rescue with other animals and have found time and time again - high "rehoming" or "adoption" fees absolutely DO NOT mean the animal will get good care. Look how many people pay pet store or breeder prices for animals only to neglect and abuse them. Charging them several hundred dollars to adopt is not going to buy you any happiness-insurance. I think part of being a rescue is not just warehousing birds, but working with both families that need to surrender (yes, even abusive or neglectful ones - as hard as that is) and families that want to provide a home. And the old excuse that "well if they can't afford a thousand dollar adoption fee, how are they going to afford vet care, or proper diet?" does not sit well with me. The answer is, they can better afford both if they aren't spending a thousand dollars. That said, we do plan to do more work as a refuge for the ones nobody wants then a rescue that is constantly playing matchmaker with parrots. If one comes in that is just not happy in a flock setting, then they may be more a candidate for integration with a human family. But there are some birds that don't do well in home settings (mainly ex-wild caught birds that are fearful or angry with humans). Those are the kind of birds we would like to strive to save. There are all kinds of rescues geared towards "pet" parrots and not so many who will take the "un- handle-able" ones. Many of these are pair bonded if they are surrendered together as ex-breeders and I would never break that bond. Even pet birds bond to 'mates' and yes, separating them is cruel. Even for the reason of getting them each into a home. I love Murfchck's example of putting the parents in two nursing homes. It's very appropriate and spot on.

One thing I'd like to add is in reference to the advice you got from your "woman who breeds them" - that is a myth, just as much as the myths "birds won't concentrate on breeding if you have toys in their cage" and "hand-fed babies make the best pets." I happen to have three grand-birds that dispel all three of those myths to prove what I say is true. Many breeders are, pardon the pun, parroting what they have heard from whoever they learned about breeding from. That makes these myths pervasive and very hard to dispel. I will tell you this. My male Grey was a hand-fed baby bird and was just three years old when we lost him this past January. He'd already been through TWO cycles of getting hormonal by that time. Everything from getting extremely aggressive towards his most favorite person in the whole world - his daddy, to doing the Congo African Grey version of the humpty dance complete with the most pathetic begging sound I have ever heard in my life. His attentions were all for Megan, our girl. I think had she been old enough to return his interest, he'd have been "adapting" very well and at an extremely young age. Our Green Cheeked Conures were both hand-fed, and they had a cage just full of toys. He even had a bromance going with our gay Sun Conure. But when spring came, he suddenly did a 180 and hooked up with the female he'd long spurned in favor of the Sun Conure's company. Of course, that led to mating, mating led to eggs, and I couldn't bear to destroy them knowing they were fertile. So we gave them a box and let nature take its course. He was VERY young, though she was almost two years old. Despite that fact, and despite them being "hand-fed" they had no problems figuring out what to put where to make the babies, how to incubate the eggs, and how to raise the chicks. We co-parented. I spent time with the babies every single day, but mom and dad raised them and they fledged naturally from the nest. About wild-caught CAGs straight from Africa, Peck was never a breeder, but he was caught in the wild and brought to this country as a young bird. He acts VERY much like you describe John Wayne. Peck was purchased as a pet and kept by the same family but different members of the family over his 22 years. He's been with us since April 11th. He does many of the things you describe. He's so gentle when taking a treat. But other times he will strike the bars of the cage like he's trying to lash out at me. He pretty much stopped that for a while, but lately he has been doing it again. I think the fireworks over the holiday upset him because he's been far more aggressive since. Also, he always gets hatey when I put him back if he's not ready to go. If he is ready, he goes with no fuss. I personally believe *any* animal can learn to trust with the right person and the right environment. It takes time, love and patience. Lots of patience. I, too, would recommend at least getting a cage for him to stay in when you leave. They may be fine, but then again, he could get startled by a sound outside or a hawk flying past a window and you could come home to a badly injured or even killed bird. There are many things that can trigger aggression and birds can redirect the aggression to the nearest being if they can't get to what is causing it. You can put the cages side by side and they would still have the same long-distance relationship they are enjoying now. Best of luck with your birds and keep up your good work with Mr. Wayne.

The very sad part is, little is ever done in most cases. I used to run a newsgroup, and one of our most bitter arguments was over someone defending some drunken idiot who threw LIVE KITTENS INTO A FIRE to get back at his girlfriend. I believe he got a year and a half which was then SUSPENDED except for the time served (134 days). It amazes me how evil some humans can be. I just pray people like this get what is coming to them.

He has been letting me give scritches now. He even let me give some on the stand the other day. Usually he only does that when the cage bars are between us. So far, no "sucker-punch" with me, though he did that to daddy. He's been a bit more aggressive this week, and I am not sure why. Maybe all the fireworks noise. We have some neighbors that did way too much celebrating with the fireworks and have dragged it out several days now. They went outside yesterday and he was doing a very loud red-tailed hawk call. He had the wild birds freaking out and diving for cover. What a stinker. We have this bedtime routine. I sing softly to him and he 'sings' along. No words, but he makes soft little singing sounds along with what I am singing (Teddy Bears' Picnic) and bobs his head in time to the song. So then when I get ready to go, I put my face right next to the cage, and make a kiss sound. Usually he makes it right back. Tonight I did that, and instead of imitating my kissing sound, he made a sound that reminded me of someone very loudly breaking wind! I said "Wow, that was a really odd sounding kiss!" The next sound he made sounded suspiciously like a laugh.... ornery bird!

She rarely comes if I am calling Peck. She knows I am calling Peck (or Alex, or Maks) and not her. They all respond fairly accurately to being called by name. But yes, she often completely ignores me if she is not in the mood. Now, daddy can call her and she is instantly flying to him. Me, not so much. LOL.

Oh, wow, does that sound like our crazy cockatiel. He thinks he is four feet tall. He actually attacks the Greys. Mar gently 'redirected' him a few times. Peck, however, goes after him with murder in his eyes. I did find out that the mommy voice freezes Peck in his tracks though. I have a blanket near Peck's cage to throw over while Maks is being moved from cage to playroom.

That is an amazing little girl you have there!

Poor Megan - she is on daily showers. I was using that Soother spray daily, but didn't like daily use of the quaternary ammonium which can build up and requires being showered off regularly. It was a screaming, biting fight to get her sprayed and another challenge to thoroughly rinse her at least twice a week. We are still using it, but not as often. It involves a small half-bath with the toilet lid down and the lights off, a towel and lots of screaming. She's actually very strong for barely a pound of bird. So recently I started making my own spray - strong brewed chamomile tea (pure chamomile with fresh rosemary) and aloe vera juice with only a little water. SMELLS wonderful! Megan disagrees. Spraying down a fully flighted bird is a real challenge, and often the floor is soaked as is anything else she is on or near. She hasn't learned to say "No" yet but we are working on that. Not that I want to hear "NO!" every time I want to shower her, but I'd rather hear that than get a bite any day! She hasn't plucked or snipped any feathers for about a week now! Hopefully this is helping.

Thanks to all for the kind words. I will show these posts to my husband, who is a bit shy about his photography skills. I am sure it will make him feel very good!

That's so awesome! Soon he will be making demands and giving commands, lol.

That reminds me of when Megan learned to say "Step up" - I would try to get her to step up and she would refuse. I would say "Step up" in a normal voice. Then in a firmer tone. Then in the "mommy voice" appended by "right now" - they all know when I say "right now" it is no longer a request. (Most of the time, I don't make them step up if they don't want to but there are times when a step up is needed). Megan would perfectly imitate tone of voice and inflection - all in one go. "Step up, step up. Step up RIGHT NOW!" She even had the little growl in the mommy voice down pat. It's funny, she will substitute proper names in the command. But though she knows many nouns, she's never said "step up, apple" or "step up, chair." It's always a creature (sometimes Riley, lol - I want to see that one!). And "C'mere" also. I am in awe that she applies these only to proper names and knows when using them is appropriate. I am so amazed at how smart these birds can be!

She is SO smart! Wow. What an amazing girl you have.

We were practicing recall with Megan and daddy had his camera right there so I told him to try to get some pictures. Unlike our other birds, she will recall to daddy without any treats so he could take the pictures as she was flying to him. He managed to get this shot off just as she launched from my hand.

Thank you so much! Unfortunately his "prowess" cost me a hair clip today. I had (OF COURSE) my very favorite clip in my hair, it's clear plastic and kind of lacy looking. He landed on my head and I heard a "snap" and the sound of plastic hitting the floor. *sigh* I let him stay up there and he preened my hair for a bit. He does real good at first, but then gets kind of intense and pulls rather hard. Then he started on my bangs, which meant pulling the hair just at the edge of my forehead. Ouchie. I stayed perfectly still, but when he tugged too hard, I'd let out a shrill "yipe". It only took a couple of times of me letting out the noise for him to realize he was hurting me and he got very gentle. He rode around on my head for a couple of minutes. I am so proud of him. He did give me a little bite when I took him back, but I think it was more a grab because he was losing balance on the stick so I wasn't too hard on him. I did show him the blood and say "Now look what you did to mommy. That hurt." He got me right on the skin that stretches between thumb and forefinger. It doesn't hurt but boy did it bleed like crazy! He's been such a good boy, though. Tonight we had out time in the kitchen again, and he kept flying up to the basket on the fridge and peering down at me. I was taking stuff out of and putting stuff in to the dehydrator - which is next to the fridge in the opposite corner as the play stand. I guess he felt he needed to be closer to me. It's nice to see him want to follow me and be near me. His beak is open because he was whistling calls back and forth with me. The little flirt.

This is too funny. I thought I was the only nut that did that. Their food is prepared using aseptic technique (Nancy will appreciate that term ... ) and on cutting boards that have been sterilized in the dishwasher. If a piece falls off onto the counter, it's unusable for birds so mama eats it. I am not so sure about the floor. Maybe if I washed it first, but the dogs lick the floor if something falls that they find especially tasty. Maybe the day after the steam mopping.... hahaha.

Odd thing is, when he is in the mood to play the "flying" game, he's usually refusing nuts - even PINE nuts. (Strange bird, I know!). It's like he's so focused on getting to me that he doesn't want to be bothered by food. I really think he wants to ride around on my head, and we are working on that. Part of the problem is his foot, I believe. He doesn't perch as well because of his misshapen toes and then uses his beak to grab hair to stabilize himself. My sister said I need to fashion a hat with a stick perch on top. I really feel like he's hesitant about the arm because he senses fear in me. And I will admit, I do fear him landing and then taking a chunk out of my arm. We both need to work on trusting each other and that comes slowly. He used to chase my hands around the cage lunging wildly and striking the cage. I couldn't move the cage or add toys without dodging an attack. He doesn't do that any more. I have actually stroked his tail and his head outside the cage and he's not even so much as moved towards me. Does he understand that he's helping me learn to trust? I like to think so. Maybe it helps having Megan recalling. I know he usually goes for my head when he sees her flying up to perch on daddy's head. He watches them SO intently when they are interacting. I think he wants that kind of relationship with me but isn't sure how to get to that point. We will, of that I am sure. It's just going to take time, love and patience. But it will be SO worth it. I know he's bonding with me. He wants to follow me everywhere. I was so elated when he finally stepped up, even if it was on a stick, because it meant I could take him all over the house with me! And that allows us to spend even more time together, which is helping with our relationship. These birds are so amazingly complex and intelligent. I suspect someday science will discover even they have greatly underestimated them. But most Grey owners already know that.

This was another quickie upload. I plan on editing some of the flights into a mini-movie. He's really enjoying the fly-time. He does most of it in the kitchen but there are times he's out in their bedroom and he will lap the room a couple times. He's really changed. His former mom said he never flew unless he was spooked. I am so glad he's now found his wings. Makes life a bit more work, but I don't care! He's a happy bird.

Megan's first sort of word was "Ow" (as in the sound daddy made when she chomped down on his ear - "OW OW OW!" But right after that she said "What're you doin'?" Which is something the breeder said to them when he'd pick them up to feed them. She was around three months old.