They were the best of friends... until that fateful day... that corn came between them.

I was nearly in fits of laughter as Buba and Rio decided to squabble over a kernel of dried corn. In typical Quaker Parrot fashion, their battle was a noisy one, with screams and squawks as each had their eye firmly upon the prize...


First to spot the corn and dig it from the seed bowl was Rio... but Buba was interested straight away, and waited for his moment to pounce on an unsuspecting Rio...


"MUUUUUU-UUUUUUUM! HE STOLE MY CORN!"
Normally I try only to post the best quality of my photos, but while this one isn't in focus, Rio's expression is just too priceless to pass up!
I, of course, am 'Mum' in this scenario. Sadly for Rio, I was laughing too much to help him so he had to take matters into his own hands...


Rio soon snatched the corn back, but Buba is persistent... Princess noticed the commotion and came over to check out what was happening. Wisely, she kept her beak of of it...


"Come on Rio, share!"


Buba is stronger than Rio and wrenches the corn away again, parading it gleefully. A disgruntled Rio goes mining for more in the seed bowl and moments later, he emerges with a second piece of corn. Aha, the world has been set right!


Like all true friends, Rio and Buba never go to bed with an argument still in the air. By end of day when I was doing the evening rounds, Buba and Rio had forgotten and forgiven and her snuggled up together.
(The snuggle, by the way, was made by Buba's breeder especially for him to sleep in :D Rio however is a big fan too!)

For the life of me, there's never a dull moment here in the Birdroom.

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.