Saturday, January 28, 2012

A few more Photos...

Business as usual in the Birdroom. The Green Cheek Conure trio get bossier by the day - if not by the hour - and are trying to boss everyone else. Princess has the common sense to keep away from them, but the Galah and Rio and Buba the blue Quakers don't see why they ought to knuckle down under these colourful yet pushy little monsters! Buba is getting around well with his one foot - he's incredible, he just keeps trying until he gets to where he wants to go!


Buba and Rio!


Princess, Queen of her castle!


She's such a little showoff.


And here's the bossyboots themselves, Pineapple Green Cheek Conures, as large as life as ever.


The baby Galah tries to follow in Princess' footsteps but he's not quite as sure of said steps yet!


And this is Bob, the newest addition, a female Rainbow Lorikeet. She was called Bob before her owner knew she was a boy. What a character... so much energy she quite literally bounces off walls!


Yet another show-off for the Birdroom!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Making friends

There's been some new friends, some goodbyes, and some old faces this past week in the Birdroom. Princess, is still with us and she is still trying to befriend every bird who comes into the Birdroom - with the exception of the Green Cheek Conures, who try to intimidate everyone!


Standoff!


Princess watches a young olive Musk Lorikeet eating his morning nectar mix...


"Now this is quite tasty."


"It's okay, I was finished with that." Little Musk has gone to his new home, where he doesn't have to share his brekfast with a pushy Princess!


Princess is lovely girl. Though, for a handraised bird, she is independent, she has a charm all her own. She won't approach people for company often, preferring to do her own thing; it's amazing to observe her antics and intelligence, seeing her investigate every little thing.


Princess with the Lutino Scaly. She too has just gone to her new home, where she has a male who'll hopefully become her mate - she's been a breeding before before she came to the Birdroom so I think the family life will suit her!


This is Pearl, a handraised year-old cockatiel. She has a lovely nature, as soon as anybody comes near her, down goes the head, asking for a scratch!


Pearl with a young Galah, who is just as fond of a scratch!


"Food tastes so much better if you stand in it."


And this is Rio, a baby blue Quaker with a very endearing personality.


Rio - he knows he's handsome!


Rio's new best friend, Buba - who lost his foot as a young chick after his parents brought some nesting material into the ox which wrapped around his foot. He gets along incredibly well, using his leg as a prop, stepping up, climbing, and playing. All the while, he's so content with his little world. He and Rio were fast friends within minutes of being introduced, snuggling and preening together.


Few things are as incredible to witness is two new best buddies bonding.


Rio and Buba, underneath the tent Buba's breeder made especially for him to sleep in!


"Oh yeah? Is this what we are?"

In sadder news, Alex the Alexandrine had become very unhappy as the store bird and was beginning to develop some bad habits - lunging and biting at staff and customers. After two weeks of everyone working with him trying to see some improvement, the decision was made to sell him. I think he's going to be a lot happier with the one-on-one, stable attention he'll get from his new owners. While everyone misses him very much, me included, the last thing I wanted was to see Alex so unhappy with the situation he continued to lash out at everyone. Another goodbye to another special bird... Alex, we will miss you a great deal.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Foliage Fun

Did a little trimming at home and gave the birds some greenery. This is a really great form of enrichment, very easy to do - only important to make sure plants are bird safe, and not sprayed with chemicals or heavy fertilizers. I use some pretty common plants, mainly Hibiscus as I have big bushes that grow madly and Eucalyptus because I have several trees, but there's also Norfolk Island Pine and some cuttings from Petunias and Spider Plants.

Everyone in the Birdroom had a great time. In particular, by the evening, the Grass parrot aviary which is also home to Canaries and Java Finches had every leaf stripped from the branches!


A Lutino Elegant parrot eyes off her new greenery.


Pied Java Finches, lining up to inspect a branch!


The Chestnut Breasted Manikins don't stay still long enough to photograph!


"This would be perfect camofluage... if I were actually green?" - Lutino Scaly Lorikeet.


The curious Green Cheeks were into everything - here one checks the taste of sivlerbeet.


Snacking on some pine needles!


Mmm-mmm.


Green Cheek Conure apparently thinks pine is tasty.


Lutino Kakarikis hop right on over to check out the greenstuff!


A young budgie investigating.


Alex came into the Birdroom for a while - usually he lives in his cage by the register - to share in the fun. Princess of course wanted to be friends and Alex, who isn't aware he's a bird, freaked out an ran away from the 'savage beast'...


"Get awaaaay!"


Princess gives the nod of approval!


Princess claims a pile of greenery.


Princess, in the middle of flying the half a foot between the playstand and the cagetop. Such a lovely girl she is - independent for a hand raised bird, but certainly a character.

Tomorrow we have a few new arrivals - including two hand-raised cockatiels and a Musk Lorikeet. Hopefully they'll all settle in well and get along with everyone! More to come soon.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

I feel I'm setting a precedent...

...In that I am beginning the year 2012 with three little monsters that chew, chatter, and confront every other resident in the Birdroom. And yet, they're still adorable... yup, no surprise, it's three Green Cheek Conures, pineapples, to be exact. I think they may be the naughtiest conures I've met, I've got my job cut out for me teaching them some manners!


Innocent faces!


"Come on in!"


"Are you sure?"


*splash splash splash*


Hiding under a sibling's tail... silly babies!

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's :)