Nychsa

Thanks! It almost came off one time before - she got one toe through. I was able to slid it back on. But she's grown since then, and today she got that toe through again, and the only way to fix this was to slid the band the rest of the way off. Her talon is too long now to have slid it back through. I'll hang on to it and keep it with the rest of my documents for her. Thanks! Terri

Hi everyone, Bella's ankle band slid off her leg today. Has anyone had this happen and if so - what did you do? I'm not really sure what these bands are used for other then to identify our birds and document where they were bred. Should I attempt to have this put back on by the vet? Thanks! Terri

Awesome Tracy!!!! Congrats! How's he with the other boys? Does he interact with them?

NO SUCCESS! LOL! I just got pooped on twice - in spite of my darling being quite proficient in going poop poop on command while sitting on her perch. I just can't seem to get her to understand where NOT to go LOL! You know how children go through cognitive phases - I'm sure parrots do as well - Bella is now 7 months - is it too soon to ask her to understand "no poop" versus "poop poop"?? Cheers! Terri

Hi there Spooky, Wow - is it always the same person being impersonated? If so, that person needs to consider taking action. That sounds like it's become an obsession and who knows where that can go. The whole phenomenon around cyber-interactions is still not very well understood. If you think about it, all we really know about each other is what we see here on the screen. The words we read have to travel through our own perceptions which were created by our own experiences and upbringing. You could type a single sentance and 3 different people will react to it in 3 different ways. You can't see body language, you can't see facial expressions, and so all we are really left with is our own interpretations. And that, I believe, is where all the trouble starts with cyber-stalkers. They have this whole "battle" or "issue" going on in their own heads and that can get obsessive. Take a look at the case of this woman who cyber-stalked a 13 year old girl in her neighborhood because she perceived that this girl had slighted her daughter! The 13 year old girl committed suicide. Can you imagine what mind set this woman was in to have imersonated a boy, and then hit on this 13 year old girl, lead her on, flatter her, make her feel good about herself and then crash and burn her? What kind of mind is that? It's a kind of sickness if you ask me. We (our company actually) provide public services by providing brief informational notices around cyber security at home - or better said information security - it goes futher then simply protecting information on the computer. If there is interest, I'd be happy to post those notices on this web site too - maybe under Other topics or News so people can have access to it. I'm particularly worried about older people. My mother, who is on the computer all the time, scares the petudies out of me - but I think she's hearing me now. I digress.... Cheers! Terri

Tracy they are beautiful! I love how they are snuggling there (is that you?) - what darlings! thanks for sharing!

Frankie, Tracy, et. al. I appreciate the support - thank you. While we're on the topic of cyber security - as an FYI for all (and maybe this really is now going way off topic for the AG threads!) when someone cyberly "follows" someone else around, and makes a point of targeting them, harrassing and slandering them that is cyber-stalking. Even though cyber-stalking is something that transpires through the electronic airways, it is evoling in case law as an extention of physical stalking and is considered criminal activity. Recent high profile cases of cyber-stalking (such as the case where the 13 year old girl committed suicide after being cyber-stalked by her neighbor) have placed a renewed level of urgency on curtailing this kind of behavior and providing people with the means to take action and protect themselves. These pre-emptive measures are notlimited to the U.S. - some of the most proactive laws are coming from overseas, such as Australia and Europe where privacy is highly valued. Cyber-stalkers often have a misconception of how the Internet works and believe they are operating in obscurity. You should know in protecting yourself from cyber-stalkers that there is no such thing as having a "hidden" identity on the Internet. There are numerous ways to identify who sent what and it doesn't take long to find out. So, as an FYI - if you do find yourself a victim of a cyber-stalker (and cyber-stalking is characterized as repeated activity, specifically targeting someone, slandering that person, or someone assuming a variation on your name for the purposes of slandering you - any activity that is very specifically designed to terrorize you ) notify your systems administrators immediately. If the behavior continues, you can notify law enforcement and action will be taken. The proper chain of command is to notify your local law enforcement first, but in general, unless you are in NYC or some of the more larger cities that have a cyber unit, your locals may not know what to do. In that case. Here is a link to the FBI's Internet Crime Unit where you can report it www.ic3.gov. The FBI has very good resources, state of the art cyber crime division and they do take cyber stalking seriously as that is indicative of other criminal behavior. This site also has additional information that can help you protect your kids from cyber crimes as well. Thanks Terri<br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2008/01/01 19:23

Oh my gosh Dan he shredded the corn like that?? What a riot! I think I need to get with the program - I cooked the corn and then sliced it off the cob for Bella I should have just given her the uncooked cob the way DB sugested! Well! That's why I'm here! To pick up all these little tricks. Cheers! Terri

When I only had my conure Jiggy, I did cover his cage, even though that was drama ever night - he hated the cover and woudl attack it vehemently. When Bella came home, she'd never had a cover and the breeders said they preferred the birds react to the natural light as far as their sleeping habits went. So, initially I tried to cover her cage as well as I was concerned about drafts, but she would chew on the cover. Then my partner read some where that a Cockatoo chewed and swallowed part of the cover and died, so I freaked out about that and since then have left the covers off. They seem to be fine, they know when it's bed time. They sit with me and the dogs in the evening until about 9 pm, and then I put them to bed. By then Bella will have fallen asleep against my chest with her head tucked under my chin, and Jiggy will have exhausted himself picking at everything. The only thing I've always wondered about, particularly as it relates to Jiggy, is if they should have like a little nesting box or something. When I let them hang out with me in my bedroom to watch TV, Jiggy instantly makes himself a "nest" in my covers and would stay there all night if I let him. Bella seems to like the covers as well, even though she prefers to stay snuggled with me. I tried giving Jiggy a little nest, with cuddly stuff in it, but he tore it up and threw it out :unsure:

Oh my Frankie, that does sound like a major headache and I certainly can appreciate what you're going through. When I was on active duty with the Navy I had to transfer stations 4 times in 7 years, and two of those moves were to and from Spain - and that with young kids This year we're looking to expand our west coast presence and from the looks of it, I have to head to CA for at least a year. My partner and I are going back and forth re: what to do with the real estate situation. I know I'm going to keep the house here in Maryland, but we're completely at odds as to what to do in CA. I would prefer to buy something in CA and he's totally jumpy about the real estate market out there. It's totally volatile, but I also think there are tremendous deals to be made right nowin real estate - we can sit it out until 2011, I think by then the prices will be stable again. He wants us to rent and I just don't see paying off someone else's house! I talked to a realtor in CA and he feels the market is going to bottom out in the summer. My mortgage banker feels it already has. But the realtor has a good point - he pointed out that in CA foreclosures only stay on people's credit records for 2 years. So someone who is in a $500K house takes a look down the street at a fabulous upgrade that came available for $300K - they buy the $300K house, and just let the $500K house go to foreclosure! Is that wild or what!!! So the realtor is feeling there are a bunch of those kinds of deals still unfolding creating more trouble in the market. So LOL! I feel your pain!!! Can you rent out your place until it's sold? I know there are plenty of people in NYC who are doing contract work and need a place for a certain period of time - there are brokers who deal with chort term leases as well, execuitve stay brokers? Take care and hang in there! This too needs to pass (at some point!!) Cheers! Terri

Wow !! How old is Peaches? That's awesome!

LOL I guess it is exotic Spooky! It's a state of enlightenment (but not quite enlightenment) where one's aspirations and thoughts are dedicated entirely to the well fare of all sentient beings - it's a selfless kind of way of abiding. The Dali Lama is a Bodhisattva for example. At least that is how we see him Such a person has taken a vow to always dedicate everything they do to others. That's why I say "Aspiring" I have a LONG way to go!!!

Super - thanks Spooky! That sounds like an interesting idea - the circle. I bet if that goes on often enough the birds get to know each other too. Do you use the Aviator harness when you take Nikko out? I had my first success in putting it on Bella. She was unsettled putting it on, but once we got it on and went outside, she was SO curious about everything. She did dig her talons into my shoulder though - she usually doesn't do that - she's usually really gentle, so she may have been a little anxious.

Thanks Spooky - I was baffled by his attack as well, so I did a search on my screen name wondering what on earth he saw - maybe I have an evil twin or something??? All I came up with were posts from AOL and Beliefsnet where we discuss religious texts - ah yes - I'm a Buddhist so... maybe that's the offense? We were also discussing Gnostic texts?? No one there seemed to be upset by it?? My AOL profile does have a different occupation listed - Aspiring Bodhisattva LOL! It takes all kinds to make the on line world go round!

Dan Thank you. I rarely tell others that I work in the IT security field as most of the time it is like painting a bulls-eye on your forehead, but I didn't want people here getting the wrong impression about IT Security professionals, or how IT security should be handled. I have no idea what is going on with Ziggy, and as I mentioned in my post to him - I'm simply going to refer this to the admins. They seem to be rather quick in quashing personal attacks and I don't see this as anything other then a blind, personal attack. Again - thank you. Terri

Boy Ziggy - you really seem to have issues! What kind of person would make up some story the way you have and post it about someone else??? What is wrong with you? Ziggy - I have no intention of engaging in this level of conversation with you. I'm going to refer this to the site admins. Have a nice life and know that telling lies about other people can get you in hot water.<br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2007/12/31 22:19

Thank you for sharing Dan! I was looking around the net for pictures of greys in the wild. I really appreciate you sharing this. Interesting that they are foraging on the ground isn't it. Bella does that here at home, she likes to walk around on the ground. I read somewhere that greys can mimic communications so well because they are ground foragers and need to negotiate food with other animal species. I can't wait for more studies to find out how they actually exist in the wild. Cheers! Terri<br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2008/01/01 17:11

LOL remind me not to ask you anything any more! LOL! She says it in MY voice! :woohoo: That's true - what the hell is kind of a mild potty mouth thing, I just better be careful that not to much of my Navy past slips out LOL!<br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2007/12/31 21:34

Now how do you undo a potty mouth!! Bella seems to have picked up that "what the hell" is something to say if you are startled by something and displeased with it! Hard to say who taught it to her because everyone around here says it! Yesterday morning and today I had the audacity to give Jiggy his breakfast first - Bella ran over to her empty dish holder and exclaimed "What the hell!!" She is like a little tape recorder!!

LOL Thanks Dan! You wouldn't believe some of the things I've seen in my time! Unfortunately some of the wierdest things I've seen from my own flippin people!!! I recall one time our team received a young, bright eyed newbie who was all ready to become a pentester (that is an ethical hacker). He was like an apprentice, so we ketp him away from some of the more lethal techniques until he knew how to get himself back out of trouble once he got into it! I came into work one morning, earlier then usual, and I saw his legs sticking out from underneath my desk and he was working away on my desk drawer. When he realized I had come in, he was so startled he wacked his head on my desk. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was practising some of the techniques he'd read up on to open drawers, but my drawer was giving him such a hard time. I walked over to the drawer, and pulled it open - it wasn't locked LOL!!!! I also love the one where the toy network (toys - as in hacking tools) crashes, and everyone all of a sudden is studying the lights in the ceiling! I go around and ask - "ok, what happened?" and of course NO ONE touched their computer! Hmm, how did the computers get turned off??? Magic???? LOL! I've got some stories! Cheers! Terri

Thanks Dan. As an FYI to anyone who's not dealt with IT security people before - I'm sorry it was presented to you in such a contentious manner. IT security, should never be presented to users or system owners in a contentious manner. It should be informative, and should be presented in a manner to create an open environment for communications and an exchange of real information. This problem is too vast for IT security professionals to handle on our own without the informed help of users and system owners. It needs to be an initiative that involves everyone - i.e. people taking responsibility for their own information. Only then can a safer computing environment be achieved. I'm sorry I'm on my soap box, but when ever someone ruffles feathers around security, it makes the job of security professionals 10 times harder because then we have to fight negative perceptions before we can have a real information exchange with people. Thanks for listening (reading??) Cheers! Terri

San Diego is as far west as I've ever gone. Maybe I need to make a New Year's resolution to go a little further!

Oh no kidding Spooky! What kind of places are these? Health certificates would be an idea re: getting them together.

Well shoot, I'd rather call you Ceasar's Dad, not Frank! LOL I think its a hoot how we sometimes are more associated with our birds rather then with ourselves!

You must be totally in love with your little one! How can one not love such a face!! Do you live close to the breeder so you can visit?