oblivion

Whether jealousy or "training" by example, don't over-analyze it nor look a gift horse in the mouth. One of the few times Spencer (TAG) asked me for scritches was right after Anya ('tiel) had a long session of Daddy time. It only 'worked' that once, but it did seem to be a motivating factor. BTW, I like seeing the picture of your Ball. I had one back in high school/college. I got it as an adult and had it for about 8 years. I'd kind of like another, but my wife isn't keen on snakes (though my daughter is) and they are technically illegal in my town.

Thank you so much for saying so. Of course I put my best face forward here, but my kid likes me and my wife puts up with me, so I think I'm doing OK. Thanks again, that was very nice to read.

Yeah, I look big and tough - for some reason even when I smile it doesn't look like it - and can be an ass, just like everyone, but when it comes down to it, I'm pretty sensitive and empathetic. I just want people and creatures to be happy and get along. As for who copies who, it's sometimes hard to tell for sure. I couldn't imagine if I lived where there were mockingbirds. The only bird calls I know for certain is my Anya - she only makes two sounds, not at all like typical cockatiel chatter. I don't know why, she's been around others and was as a baby, but she just doesn't make much noise unless I walk out of the room (single loud squawks), or scratch her head (squealy chatter).

I was being generous with the "two days." So you're a Jekyll and Hyde, too, huh? I've gotten much better since being a father - have to parent by example, right? And perhaps also since having Spencer. But all patience has limits. As for the beak thing, Spencer LOVES checking out what sounds things make when he taps his beak on them. Glass and plastic bottles, mugs, plastic buckets, a metal colander - anything new has to be 'thumped.' Also, if he can put his head INSIDE the item, he'll do that and make some clicks or grunts to see what those sound like 'from the inside' as well. Funny stuff. Question about the almonds - do you give them in the shell? Can he open them? I've given Spencer a few nuts in-shell, but he doesn't seem to know what to do with them. Even ones I crack for him, more times than not, he'll toss the nut and play with the shell. Turkey.

No, I have never had a macaw. My TAG, Spencer, is my first 'big' bird. I first held a B&G at Disney World when I was about 6 and was pretty enamored. Then in my teens my parents had some friends who had an amazon, scarlet, hyacinth, and Sulfur-crested and rose-breasted 'toos and that's when I was truly hooked. I've been researching and debating since then (I'm 38 now - that's how seriously I take bird ownership) but the time has never been right. We're at a point in our lives where we're trying to figure out how our human family is going to round out. Once that settles and I get a firm buy-in from the missus, I'll start visiting the local rescues in earnest. Honestly, I only have Spencer now (never planned on a Grey) because my budgie had died and he needed a home. The same COULD happen with a macaw and I'm sure we'd get along fine, but for marital harmony I should stick to my plan.

You never know how people are going to react, Bran, and I generally let such things go (as much as they peeve me ), but I'm glad you took it as intended. As for the sound, I get that. I'm sure that space had a ton of echo. We do what we can with what we have. And what you did turned out GREAT. Also, glad to hear about the vet-checks. Sounds like a well-organized, responsible group. And I loved even the subtle film references. The invite cards should be bars of aloe-based soap.

Yeah, you can find a clip of that on YouTube. In fact, they even use the term 'shag.'

Glad I amused you guys. Your Oliver stories have very mixed effect on me - they make me want a macaw even more, but REALLY make me question if my wife/marriage could handle one.

Ah, my dream/one day bird! What an amazing story/price - sounds like fate. I hope the settling-in goes smoothly.

The good thing is that since the toys are arguably 'kid safe,' they could get handed down to the birds, too. Well, at least the ones without batteries/noise makers. Thanks for the well-wishes. It's funny how liberating losing one of the meds is. Only one in the a.m. and 2 in the p.m. now. It's the little things. I think for next week, they're planning on another blood panel, a Lupron shot, and another radiograph to see how her suspected calcified shell gland is doing. Good thing I planted that money tree. It should be blooming any day now. Any day . . .

I first heard about them in the Douglas Adams (yes, THAT Douglas Adams) book _Last Chance to See_. It's a great/funny/depressing read. Sadly, one of the other species featured, the Yangtze River Dolphin, has likely since gone extinct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baiji

So, here in the Midwest, we're getting some LOVELY early-Spring weather and I have my office window open for the first time. I just heard a bird outside and it triggered my 'budgie' senses. I thought, "THERE'S A LOST PET OUTSIDE WHO NEEDS ME!!!" I slowly got to the window and looked outside expecting to see a bright green or blue bird in one of the bushes. Instead, I saw a couple sparrows chasing each other around. I guess I'd forgotten that my old budgie, Nimue, mimicked a lot of outside birds, and having been shut in all winter I'd forgotten what they sounded like. LOL. Yay, Spring!!!

I keep refreshing this thread hoping someone chimes in with some advice. So I guess this reply is a bit of a thread bump for you along with some mildly-educated guessing. My suggestion is to get her to a vet if you can without major crisis. If nothing changed environmentally that you can think of, I'd say it's time to bring in the big guns. Perhaps there's a dietary/uptake deficiency or some other underlying problem causing irritation. I would at least CALL one or more of the 'local' vets, explain your concerns about getting her there, and see what they say. It's not entirely out of the question that one might make a house call for a special case. Good luck.

He's probably staring at it thinking, "Man, this is the longest 15 minutes EVER!!!"

That's very reassuring to read. I do appreciate that my pets and daughter can all 'roll with it' when things are out of sorts - traveling, odd routines, etc., and that's something I wouldn't easily trade, so it's good to hear that it's a bit a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence. I will say that BIG changes, like weekends or even weeks out of town, have never seemed to upset him to where I'd noticed feather damage (aside from his tail getting grunged up from being in his small cage). So he's really not fragile with regard to change. But other than the time change, or the lengthening days themselves, I couldn't really think of why the minor (perceived) relapse to picking some feathers. Again, I might just be watching him too closely and making something out of nothing. Feathers come out of their own accord and so far, other than perhaps some chest feather damage, it's not much more than that. We'll see. We had another morning where he eagerly got into his small cage for downstairs breakfast and also hung in while I took a shower. He was less eager to join than he has been in the past, so he just hung out in/on his cage. Anya wasn't thrilled with getting wet this morning, either, so perhaps it just wasn't a shower day in birdland. Afterward, as I got dressed, the two of them just hung out in the room with me - neither making a sound, barely moving to shift weight occasionally. With the windows open to the sounds of distant trains and spring peepers, it really was a bit of heaven. I just sat on my bed and soaked it in for a few minutes. Then a straight-pipe Harley shattered the stillness and I herded them into their cages so I could get to work. You are so right about the small increments. I forget that for the first year and a half, I got very little interaction from him at all and that this, now, is leaps and bounds ahead of how we started off. It's all good.

A sign of excellent parenting - Happy Meal toys . . . . I'm kind of surprised Anya didn't go after it.

What a wonderful update. I know that in two days you may be posting about a grump again, but anything we can get from these guys is awesome.

Good for you! It's a silly show that kind of satirizes some of the Portland subcultures. You're not missing anything, for sure.

Heh, I've got one of those, too!!! BTW, I hope it doesn't seem like I was second-guessing your decision to take them out. You didn't seem to take it that way, and I'm glad. I know we all do what we feel is best for our birds and no one online can know what that is. My point in mentioning these things is so that others who read the threads are fully aware of what the dangers are if considering doing the same with their birds. *thumbsup*

You missed an 'h,' Dave. No, luckily they do not do THAT.

That's pretty cool. LOVE all of those macaws. Surprised I didn't see one scarlet among them. I wonder (do you know?) if people have to submit vet records of any kind or if everyone is just on the honor system as far as health issues. PDD, Psittacosis and the like scare me. I have two little nit-picks if you're open to constructive criticism. One, the music was cool, but I would have loved to hear some of the cacophony that surely must have been going on with that mix-up of birds. Not through the whole thing, mind you, but at least one or two spots. Two, both here and on the linked page you put an apostrophe "photo's," though it's plural, not possessive. I know it's a minor, silly thing to criticize, but thought I'd mention it since it appears more than just once. Minor points, both. The video is great and I thank you for sharing it.

There's a bit of an echo in here.

Heh. And then don't get me started on the two dogs . . .

Some of us sit quite comfortably on fences. My 'tiel is a shoulder bird - the most damage she does is when she squawks RIGHT IN MY EAR. As if my tinnitus wasn't bad enough. Spencer (TAG) isn't even a hand bird, but that's his choice, not mine. If he wanted on my shoulder, he'd have to earn it. I used to have a budgie that there is NO WAY ON EARTH I would allow on my shoulder. She was a terror. It really is a person-by-person, bird-by-bird thing. As for poop, I'll throw a hand-towel over my shoulder if I think of it. If not, oh well. I have a daughter. She's subjected me to far more disgusting things than any bird could do.

Yay for more bunny people!!! Our first was a NZ white - we're not sure how old he was when he died, but he was around ten. Our other bun, a B/W Dutch is at least 10 herself now (both adopted a year apart back in 2001/2). Don't fret the slow welcome. This group is VERY active, but not always on Tuesdays. Had you jumped in on a Saturday or Sunday, I'm sure you'd have been swarmed. Myself, I often just check the threads I've been active in. If, after that, I have spare time, I check the new/recent threads (which is how I found this). It's truly nothing personal. Enjoy your stay. Read the archives, ask tons of questions and when in doubt, post pictures. BTW, my wife and I just started watching Portlandia the other day. What a silly show. I've only been to Portland once for a wedding, but loved the area.