New Partner... a new friend...
We arrived at the pitch Tuesday night ready to work ... but the skies were against us. So I called Dana and had her check the weather, rain was scheduled for the entire night - not good! It's one thing to entertain in the rain for happy June crowds, but by August the parents are grumpy and generally not as much fun ... I wasn't looking forward to this.
That is when Dana suggested we take the night off and go buy a bird. She didn't need to twist my arm on this one, I've been secretly wanting a new bird for some time, ever since Shooter (my Sun Conure) died. So we loaded everything back into the truck and headed to the pet store.
I spent an hour watching the parakeets, looking for just the right one ... I didn't want the most active one, I wanted the one that paid me the most attention. After about an hour, one of them had caught my eye, sitting still on the perch ... she would chirp every time I whistled. I put my finger in the cage near her when she naturally flew off to the other perch. She then snapped at another birdie to chase him away so she could be the closest bird to me - that was what sold me. I knew she liked me.
So heading home, I now have a new parakeet - the smallest of the parrot family, she will be just the perfect size. Still a baby, I began training as soon as we arrived home. I can tell she is not used to people's hands, but she is learning well. Dana has protested, insisting she should be allowed to adjust to her new environment before I handle her ... but I was able to explain that I don't want her feeling that her cage is "safe" - I want her feeling that I am "safe" - if she has the option of flying to her cage or flying to me, I want her to fly to me.
She has spent the last two days on my shoulder, she is eating well and softly chirping. Her only experience flying is in a cage, but she is beginning to learn how to land. I don't know what to name her yet ... that require some thought. With the right training, she will make a great addition to the act!
Here is a pic of her, she is a real cutie ... Dana isn't looking too bad either:
-JoeJoe
That is when Dana suggested we take the night off and go buy a bird. She didn't need to twist my arm on this one, I've been secretly wanting a new bird for some time, ever since Shooter (my Sun Conure) died. So we loaded everything back into the truck and headed to the pet store.
I spent an hour watching the parakeets, looking for just the right one ... I didn't want the most active one, I wanted the one that paid me the most attention. After about an hour, one of them had caught my eye, sitting still on the perch ... she would chirp every time I whistled. I put my finger in the cage near her when she naturally flew off to the other perch. She then snapped at another birdie to chase him away so she could be the closest bird to me - that was what sold me. I knew she liked me.
So heading home, I now have a new parakeet - the smallest of the parrot family, she will be just the perfect size. Still a baby, I began training as soon as we arrived home. I can tell she is not used to people's hands, but she is learning well. Dana has protested, insisting she should be allowed to adjust to her new environment before I handle her ... but I was able to explain that I don't want her feeling that her cage is "safe" - I want her feeling that I am "safe" - if she has the option of flying to her cage or flying to me, I want her to fly to me.
She has spent the last two days on my shoulder, she is eating well and softly chirping. Her only experience flying is in a cage, but she is beginning to learn how to land. I don't know what to name her yet ... that require some thought. With the right training, she will make a great addition to the act!
Here is a pic of her, she is a real cutie ... Dana isn't looking too bad either:
-JoeJoe
posted by JoeJoe at 3:05 PM
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