LindaMary

Hey folks, I know I haven't been on here for a few days, and I just wanted to pop in to say all is well. It's been a very busy week! With my mother back in town, I spend a couple of hours after work preparing and serving a civilized sit-down dinner (Mary and I usually just snack at dinnertime), and then I have also been spending extra time with Tanner and Maxi, both before and after work. So instead of being on here, I've been hanging out with our fids and other family! Tanner's vet visit on Wednesday went well - he squawked all the way through it :pinch: (no surprise). His blood work came back just fine, and either next week of the week after I should know whether "he" is really a "he" or a "she". His wing clip is way too drastic - also no surprise - this store does that - but I am planning to let him fledge now and we will see how that goes. After the indignity of being manhandled by the vet, when I got him home I just let him crawl up onto my shoulder and hang out there for about an hour while I talked to him and scratched his head and we listened to Christmas music on the radio. He was a total cuddlebug. It was really relaxing for both of us, I think! He seems to make a little progress every day in adjusting to our home. He's quite interested in all the fresh foods I'm giving him, and seems to try just about everything at least once. I'm starting to use bananas as just treats now, though - that seems to be his favorite. He's made up a game I call "Look Ma- no hands" - where he hangs onto the side bars of his cage with his beak, lets go with his feet, and just flicks his wings a few times. He got a laugh the first time he did this, and immediately learned to use that to get my attention. He's starting to play the same holding-my-fingers-snuggling-his-head-in-my-palm game with me again that he was doing in the store - it's a little harder to do balancing on a perch than standing on the floor grate . Still not planning on coming out of his cage onhis own yet. The vet suggested that I give him a couple of weeks to settle, just talking with him and visiting, with the cage door open, but then after that to start taking him out regularly, about the same time each day, so he can start learning that this is an expectation and the world does not end when he's out of his cage. That makes sense to me, so I think that'll be our strategy. I can't wait till 30 days is up and I can move him into the same room as Maxi and the bunny. It's the biggest room in the house, and bright, and I think he'll like it there. I think he'll especially like not being by himslef all day (or even until Mary gets hoem from school). She sits in there and does her homework, at least he's got someone to say "Hello" to over and over! Sorry this got so looooooong, folks - I'll try not to be such a delinquent with in the coming week!

Prayers coming your way for her and her birds. This almost sounds like the hard part of a fairy tale. I pray it will have a happy ending.

So glad to hear it's not more serious, Pat! What a stately lady Tyco is, my goodness. Aren't you glad you went on and took her to get checked out? Now you can put your mind at ease. Thanks for keeping us updated!

What a handsome fella! Maxi's whistling.... Great shot, Jen!

ANd thanks for the homemade toy idea, too, Pat. I think Max would actually like that one, too - she loves shredding paper of any kind!

That's a good idea, Erika - worth a try! Tanner's cage is one I could do that with. I'll keep you posted!

Very nice, Dave. I'm glad this has been made into a sticky.

Why Pat, that is downright devious of you - and I mean that in the nicest possible way!:lol: I'll bet Gizmo IS wondering what is going on. So you are putting the ball in his court, so to speak, and letting him take the initiative. Keep me posted on how that is working! I have been somewhat undecided as to the best way of approaching Tanner's shyness at this phase. Most of what I have read on cage-bound behavior emphasizes how important it is to to let the bird come out of his cage on his own, and that makes sense to me. Now that Mary and I have seen what a snuggler he is once he's out of his cage, it's hard to resist pushing the issue, but today I insisted we hold off. He readily allows me to put my hand in his cage now, and he is spending time exploring his three perches and his three toys and the interesting things in his fresh food dish. He says "hello" again now, and today when I left for work and said "Seeya later alligator - byebye sweetie-pie", he squawked again. Like - how many times have I gone in and out of that room in the last 48 hours, but he remembered that those are my goodbye words, so he knew he wouldn't see me for awhile. Anyway - I have an appointment for a baseline physical with the vet on Wednesday, so of course I will have to insist he come out of his cage that morning, but otherwise I'm thinking maybe we should just hang out with him with the cage door open and chat with him for now. He clearly enjoys our presence - the more time we spend just sitting by the cage, the more relaxed he becomes. What do y'all think?

Thanks for that link, Jen! Dr. Pepperberg and Alex were the beginning of the whole saga for me, certainly - I can still remember sitting in my little gable apartment in Germany in 1981, reading the article about them in one of my science magazines, with my jaw hanging open for the whole article!

Your car runs so efficiently on Schroeder's poo that Exxon is suing you for unfair competition. I wish I could sleep only two hours a day and be completely rested.

Erika, I don't think this is a weird question at ALL - but a very caring and responsible one. The two reputable sanctuaries I know of are on opposite ends of the continent from you. One is Mickaboo, in California, and the other is Foster Parrots, Ltd. on the Connecticut/Rhode Island border. Both have websites you can look at,and I believe even some additional links. I'm right in the process of thinking about the same things myself, and also need to go through the step Pat has mentioned of actually establishing a separate fund for my fids' support, if I should get hit by a truck. Mary is planning to take them both over from me eventually, and her legal guardian (my brother) is also on board, but I still think that I should have another safety net under them as well, especially now that we have two feathered charges and Mary is only 13. I think realistically that might be a little more than my brother could handle well if I should vanish next week, you know? This is an excellent question, and an important thing to think about.

I'm so glad I have you treading this path ahead of me, Pat. I listen to every word you say!

:P - yes y'all are right, I think underneath those new-home nerves, Tanner's thinking "Heyhey look at me folks, I got 'em to take me home!":P Day 2 has been fun so far and I figure I'll update now because I may not have time to get on here later. Between Mary and me, one of us has been in Tanner's room for most of the day, reading, doing homework, or just chatting to him, listening to the radio or a tape. He really likes the tape I have of jungle birds - no surprise! He also likes bananas (both fresh & dried - neither of which Maxi likes) so of course his new nickname is Tanner Bananner - (it doesn't take us long around here... ) And edamame pods. Around noon I insisted he come out of his cage, and though he wasn't crazy about it, he didn't bite me, and once he was out he spent the next two and half hours sitting either on me or Mary. :) He definitely wants to be right up next to your head, preferably a little behind it, snuggling into your hair. (A pet robin I had once used to do that too.) But at one point he just parked himself high on my chest, kind of where you would pin on a brooch, and just flattened himself in, with his head hooked over my shoulder - and just stayed like that for a while as I walked around. It was TOO cute! He is definitely going to be our cuddle-bird, which of course has Mary just tickled pink. We also worked on some step-ups, and although he would really rather be on shoulders, he tolerated it and seems to be getting used to how they work, and to switching hands. I've been rewarding him mostly with lots of praise. I tried him out on a walnut piece a few times, Pat, and so far they aren't what he wants most - banana chips seem to be more likely to get him interested. I really don't know what he has ever had in the way of fresh foods either, so the pallette is completely open - I'm feeding him and Maxi the same things, and curious to see what he likes. Going to call tomorrow and see when I can get him in for a well-bird check. So far so good. I really am falling in love - I am so happy he seduced me into bringing him home!

That's great news, Pat! I'm sure you are looking forward to introducing him to the rest of your flock! I can't wait to hear how he integrates with your gang there.

We do pretty much the same thing with coffee filters. They also work well as a foot toy.

I will most definitely do that, She! Yes, mums ARE great, and mine is definitely a hard act to follow!

I am so happy to hear of this decision! Sending all the best to all of you !

Thanks for all your warm welcomes for our new baby!B) He ate well tonight, and he seems to be adjusting. He must have heard Maxi whistling from the next room, and I'm sure Maxi heard him "speak" a few times today, but neither of them seems to be too worked up over it. Between me and Mary there were peaceful goodnights all around. Erika: my mother kind of has one foot in Portsmouth and one in Connecticut - still hasn't totally moved to the apartment we bought two blocks from me here in town. She kind of spends a few weeks here and then a few days-to-weeks there, depending on what's going on. She has never had a bird herself - her grandmother had canaries - my father was the natural "bird person" of the two of them. My mom reminded me today that my father's sister had a cockatiel at one point (not in my lifetime) and she thought if my aunt had had the resources she would have had a larger parrot, too. (I think my mom is now seeing a new way in which I am like my aunt (who died 7 years ago). It's certainly true that I fell off my father's side of the family tree, as it were - always has been.) Right now Mother seems to be enjoying this whole new parrot line of the family tree immensely, if vicariously through Mary and me. (She has been really delighted that Maxi is stepping up on her more this visit, for instance.) I know that she would love to have Tanner snuggle up to her, too, when (s)he is ready, as he has done with Mary and me. I will probably have a hard time keeping her from visiting that blue-front amazon in the days to come, tho I feel like I really need to stay the heck out of the bird room for now myself, you know?:whistle: I am so obviously a soft touch! And BTW: I will relay your message about amazons, Erika! We are so happy to have Tanner Logan under our roof - finally! And now I must go to bed so I can make good use of my Sunday to share between Maxi and him! {Love-000200BF} to all of you, our supporters!

You know Erika, I think he did know it was time to go. The Boss Bird Lady had to towel him to get him out of his cage, but once he was out, he was just making kissy noises and totally submissive. Now my mother (in the background in one of those pictures) is getting her heartstrings tugged by the amazons we left behind...so she totally understands how we ended up being a two-parrot household!

Those would be Tanner with his newly-chosen security person, Mary (aka MarytheTweet), whom he climbed right up onto out of the carrier from the store, and didn't want to leave! After a couple of hours of reading to him, she put him in his new cage here, and we are just letting him chill and get used to things now. Of course, he's very nervous right now (been through lots of new stuff today!) and now that he's in his cage, he doesn't want to come out again. But he has stepped up (after some work) for both Mary and me already and I think he is going to be a wonderful addition to our little flock! I am so thrilled that he has latched onto Mary now, too - I think it's all that hair he can hide behind and snuggle into and preen.

Okay, folks, here are a few first pics at home.

That looks lieka really happy little family!

I couldn't stand it any more. His cage arrived Monday, I got it put together, his bowls are sterilized, the guest room is ready for him for his quarantine period. When I went to visit him Wednesday, he spent most of the time either snuggling his head in my palm or showing me how well he can hang by one foot from his ceiling and do 360s. My mother has asked me if she can give me the remaining 1/4 I owe on him as a combined birthday and Christmas gift (which helps her - takes shopping off her mind), and she has also opined that she thinks I should just go get him and save the gas $ visiting him all the time. (I come from practical people - wonder what happened to me?) So I've called the store and told them they can expect us in a couple of hours. Gotta clean Maxi's cage, move a lullaby chair into Tanner's room, do my grocery shopping...then it's off to pick up our new charge! I'm so excited!:silly::side: :silly:

Maxi's a TAG and 260 g.

I'm at work, taking a five-minute mentalbreak from adjusting a traverse network through a construction site. Yep, pretty tedious - but better than being out in the cold Maine rain today, I think...B)