Incoming!

In our home, one must always be ready for an "incoming" bird. Here Joey is coming to join Ernie.

Footbirds

They came, they conquered, and it tickled! You try soft little feathers and scritchy little toes on the bottom of your foot sometime!

Bathing Birds (Again)

Warm water, and a little bit of sunshine makes for some very happy little birds.

Is a carnation as sweet as a rose?

Answer: Yes. And, all the better for landing on without those pesky thorns.

Where's Ernie?

Unfortunately for Ernie, his plumage is not exactly of the "camouflage" variety!

Apples, Peaches, Brocco-pie!

So far, I have been able to get my birds to eat one vegetable - broccoli. If only carrots and beets were shaped like little trees, perfect for shredding and flinging.

The Early Bird

My hair is often a little wild when I first wake up... that is why my hairstylists, Joey and Ernie, come to the bedroom every morning to put every hair back in its place. They are very good at what they do, and all they require in exchange is millet, broccoli, and grapes.

Appropriately, for this morning shot, I am wearing my "Early Bird" t-shirt from threadless.com.

Birdie See, Birdie Do

While I was selecting some stori

es to read to Julian (since I haven't had a chance to pick up some new books from the Library), the birds came to investigate what I was up to. They quickly figured out they could sit inside this new little "hidey-hole" in my littlest book case behind the sofa. I don't know why, but the birds often become fascinated with new spaces. Two days in a row, one of the first things the birds have done when they have been let out of their cage in the morning is fly over to the book case and check it out.

Puzzle Piece Tag

Joey has introduced a new game into the family.

First, Joey sneaks down and grabs a puzzle piece. This phase can take awhile, because we usually catch him and shoo him away before he can get a piece into his beak.

Second, Joey quickly and adroitly works to seperate the upper "picture" layer of the puzzle piece from the lower "cardboard" layer.

Third, as soon as we notice, we chase Joey around the living room trying to get the puzzle piece back before he can do too much damage. This phase continues until one of us can trick Joey into dropping the puzzle piece - usually on the bottom of his cage once he is cornered inside.

I must say, that although I do not relish the idea of having my puzzle shredded into little bits... it is actually kinda fun chasing Joey around the room, and I usually find myself laughing as I chase my little Bandit Bird.

Hey! Stop Stealing my Balsa!

I was experimenting with the camera when this little squabble over the balsa wood broke out between Ernie and Joey. Lesson learned, never have the camera on B&W when shooting the birds... they look so much better in full colour!

Ernie was being greedy again, grabbing the stick and pulling it away from Joey. Luckily, Joey knows how to asset himself... I love the foot in the air - it's like "HEY! Give that BACK, or I'm gonna take it!"

Balsa Wood Bandits

Darren gave the birds a piece of balsa wood for their chewing enjoyment. Ernie and Joey spent the next 15 minutes happily shredding it all over Darren and the floor. We are considering going into the wood chip business.

Puzzling Birds

Last Night the Evers girls ended up coming to visit. While Darren helped Gracie with her math, Abi decided she wanted to do a puzzle. The birds were soon enraptured with puzzling... turning over the pieces in their beaks, skattering them around, and trying to pull the pieces apart. I soon found myself chasing Joey around the living room trying to get a piece back before he destroyed it. If there is a piece missing when the puzzle is done, I will know who to suspect.

Ernie is trying to decide which piece to munch.

Tactile Toes

Please note how the lovebird (Ernie) wraps his toes around the curtain as he makes his descent head first. Lovebirds have amazing feet. The two toes forward, two toes back design is part of what designates lovebirds as "parrots" and makes them such agile climbers.

Ernie is Stripping Again

Strips on the floor, strips on my desk... who needs to pay for an electric paper shredder when you have an Ernie?

Two Heads Are Better Than One

While Ernie and Joey were chewing a catalogue on my desk, their heads merged together into one fantastic paper shredding machine.

3rd Place Finish!

I am excited to annouce that Joey and I placed third in the ALBS contest! Joey is so cute, it is no surprize!

http://www.africanlovebirdsociety.com/pets/results_2006.html

Cute Photosites

www.cuteoverload.com can always be relied upon to get the oohs and ahs going. Yesterday they took it to a new level with a photo of a little lovebird sleeping in the palm of someone's hand (shot by Roy Berger). The lovebird photo was actually part of a gallery on this website:
http://www.pbase.com/parrothouse/parrots

Birds and Babies

Last year was a year all about birds. This year I would like to expand this blog a bit to talk about some very important babies! Charlie's first birthday is fast approaching in April and then there is baby Spencer (due in May), baby Reddekopp (due in July), and baby Chow (due in July). I am very much looking forward to the births of all these babies, and will be needing to squeeze in some baby holding time in between working away at my Master's.

Winter Morning Haiku

As groggy eyes open

Happiness is found with birds-

New Light greets Plumage.

Ernie in Flight

Darren managed to capture a shot of Ernie in flight. You may notice his face looks a little funny- this is because he still wet from his bath with Joe. Although it is a little bit blurry, I love how the picture captures the "curving" of the wings mid-flap. I realized that flight must be as much about the open/close of the wing curve as it is of the up and down movement of the wings.