sandra902

because they needed us. when merlin came home, aunty bonnie said i had room for 3 birds in the aviary. so that is what came to us! all of our 3 are rescues Peetey the cockatiel (when in doubt, the answer is 'no') Milly the conure ('rowdy clown' is right!) and of course Bird #1 Merlin

i get those kitty whiffle balls with a bell inside then i put drinking straws thru the holes til it looks like a sputnik. a little twine thru the straws with pony beads knotted at the ends and lots of parroty fun. plus merlin loves to oversee mamma's toy-making efforts.

oh man i think i posted about a year ago when merlin gave mamma a fat lip. i don't know who was more damaged - me or him for having a howling flapping mamma whilst he was hanging from my lip not knowing what to do next. i learned a valuable lesson that day. i think he did too.

the joke in the Monkey House is that Mamma is the Trainable Human.

ah lambert, i am standing by awaiting your report. and Good Name! merlin. my CAG is merlin. he is a rescue and #1 birdy here at the monkey house. i have a 'tiel that is a re-home. but i am friends with his former mum and the deal is she could call me up in however-many years and ask for him back and back he will go. and you know what? she did the right thing for him turning him over to me. makes it easy for me to do the right thing also by turning him back to his original mum should conditions warrant. i like him just fine and treat him as my own knowing he is not really. and that is fine. after all are we not merely custodians anyway for the short times they are here? each little soul that finds its way through the monkey house is cherished and adored to the best of our ability in the time given us. so some stays are long, some are short. we do with what we get. you may have this quality also but one never knows until one gives it a try. being a gushy sort of person i never thought i would have the ability to let a little one under my care move on. it is surprisingly easy once one gets accustomed to it. when you accept that you are a tiny piece of the big puzzle it puts it all into perspective. and really, is it about me? nope. it's about me AND the little ones. big difference. the joke here at the monkey house is that i am the Trainable Human. so those are my thoughts on the matter! do well, enjoy your visit, and come home either empty handed or not depending on what your path should be. -s

i just read a good article in this month's Bird Talk re: fostering. anyone else read it?

oh my! good for YOU. go and keep an open mind. we foster puppies at times. people think one cannot give up a pup that one has fostered, but i sure can. it is wonderful to teach them their basic skills and to see them off to their new forever homes. i bathe them and love them and teach them all i can in the little time i get. it is a fabulous link in the chain and an honor and a joy to be a part of. of course there are tears! you have earned each sweet salty one. but look at the invaluable service you are rendering to that forever home. you've given that little soul a really good start on the path to a wonderful life. so go go go and let us know every little thing. if you are meant to help a wee one on to their forever home -- again, what an honor. i'll be watching for your report! -s

'you have GOT to be kidding' 'whaddya call THAT' (merl actually says that too in case you are wondering.) 'maybe you humans call that breakfast. i do not call that breakfast. come back with some decent breakfast. a banana! grapes! something! not dry toast for cryin out loud - put some butter on that thing'

hello miss karina! big fat kudos to you on your upcoming Big Adventure! is this your first birdy? my merlin (CAG) is my first birdy. the best thing i can tell you is this: 'parrot time is next to eternal' meaning: with my dog i expect rather immediate results, but with those kraaazy birds, wellll.... so slow and steady does it. i found that playing soothing music was helpful. well maybe just for me to think i was making a difference. bless their little birdy hearts, they watch and observe everything. so just move slowly, and talk sweetly and keep the atmosphere gentle at first til you get signals from your bird. what's her name? each little soul is very different and you might have a shy one or you might have a real clown on your hands, or anything in between. she'll let you know in a few weeks who she really is. my merlin loves daddy-man and preens his beard and lets him give a head scratchy. to me and everyone else he gives a good sharp bite. but he and i are working on 'touch nice' so maybe one day i'll be able to handle him. i do get to stroke his beak through the bars when he allows me to. and i can give him a little kissy too if he is agreeable. but only through the bars, he and i both found out THE HARD WAY that boundary is the best for now! here are some good goodies to have available so she learns that The Hand brings good things: pine nuts! nutri-berries (merlin likes the el-paso sombrero ones, no substitutions allowed!) GRAPES (i cut them in half) popcorn (watch the butter and salt) we also like goldfish crackers and animal crackers. and boy oh boy is it Big Fun when it is banana eating time in the aviary! lots of good info on the site, i am sure you are browsing around here. but firstly and most importantly may i make a polite mention of a couple environmental factors you will want to be aware of: smoking non stick cookware scented candles plugin air fresheners air freshener spray microwave popcorn. there is an abundance of information on these important factors so i will not belabor the point. do consider keeping a journal. i know i was terribly discouraged so many times with mr merlin but having a bit of a journal really helped me see that we are truly making progress in our own way. i will be looking forward very very much to your reports! and photos photos photos... -s

here is the inventory at the Monkey House: 2 humans (overworked)(we try to keep up) 1 GSD with gray muzzle (lover of all small creatures except other dogs) (puppies acceptable) 3 katz 1-20 yrs old, 1-full of the devil, 1-accomplice 3 birdys: Merlin (daddy's boy) CAG Milly (mitred conure) mamma's pretty girl Peetey (cockatiel) he disapproves. happy anarchy! -s

peetey my tiel i give the parakeet/budgie fruit blend. he likes the smaller size kibble. milly (mitred conure) and merlin (CAG) get the harvest feast or the spicy one with the dried peppers. i used to give them the fruit blend too which they like well enough but those look too much like fruit loops for my liking. but that's just me. to be fair, i wish they offered a kibble-only product as my little outlaws do not go for the pumpkin seeds and dried peas and peppers and such and i (frugal soul that i am) dislike throwing the filler out each day. but i just chalk it up to spoiling our little ones and only mutter a little bit under my breath. i used to feed harrisons, but i was throwing out way too much for my liking. it is pretty boring looking stuff after all, as is the roudybush. i don't think i would like to eat beige food either. wonder if it has any flavor at all. -s

i leave the classical channel on for the birds. every now and then big daddy will sneak in and change it to the jazz or blues channel.

my merlin (CAG) is a feather plucker, as is miss milly (mitred conure). would i like them to not be? yes of course! but do i love them every day just as they are? yes indeedy. so i used to be a nail biter. why? i dont' know there are lots of theories why people bite their nails. nail biting in humans i kind of see as a parallel to feather picking in my birds. perhaps that is incredibly unscientific but it is my opinion. this dear birdy seems to be very fond of you and what a shame it would be to pass up the joy you two would share just because of feather plucking. you have a lot of love to give, as does birdy. do let us know the outcome, we are all standing by! -s

i like to sing 'good nite merlin' ('good night ladies') at lights-out. a couple weeks ago merl really surprised me by saying his name right at the part of the song where it belonged! hasn't done it since though.

the best way i can describe it in human language is if you whispered the word 'wheat'