So I've had an enjoyable and relaxing two weeks off and have now returned to work. I think I should take holidays more often, since half of my birds were sold while I was away!
This week I'm going to do a nice big bird order and hopefully there will be some interesting ones available! The weekend was a long on here in Queensland, so we had three very big days that have left with with virtually no budgies, cockatiels or canaries, plus half of the finches I had in stock have gone so I sorely need to refill the birdroom.
Sandy is still with us, but she's been sold and will probably stay no longer than a week more before her new owner takes her home. Max the blue quaker is still there, and I have two very sweet little hand raised cockatiels, but otherwise it's pretty quiet in the Birdroom right now. More news on new birds soon!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Big Goodbyes
There were some pretty big goodbyes said in the Birdroom today. Baby, the little olive rainbow lorikeet, was picked up this morning by his new owners. I knew form how strongly he ate and how much he'd thrived, developed and grown in new feathers in just a week that there wasn't reason to keep him any longer. I'm sure the little sweetie will bring a lot of joy to his new owners.
Today I said a difficult goodbye - to Cam, the cockatoo who'd been with us over a month now. He was sold to a lovely couple who'd recently lost their bird and I hope he will behave himself for them! He's such a cheeky young fellow at times.
I will miss him dearly, though I am glad he was sold before my holidays which are coming up in a few weeks. Other staff members than me interact with the birds, but I'm the main one as they're in my care, I'm the one who gets to know them. I was worried that not seeing me for an entire two weeks would be a difficult adaption for Cam, but now he has two loving new owners to entertain with all his tricks and little ways!
Some more photos coming up in the next post!
Today I said a difficult goodbye - to Cam, the cockatoo who'd been with us over a month now. He was sold to a lovely couple who'd recently lost their bird and I hope he will behave himself for them! He's such a cheeky young fellow at times.
I will miss him dearly, though I am glad he was sold before my holidays which are coming up in a few weeks. Other staff members than me interact with the birds, but I'm the main one as they're in my care, I'm the one who gets to know them. I was worried that not seeing me for an entire two weeks would be a difficult adaption for Cam, but now he has two loving new owners to entertain with all his tricks and little ways!
Some more photos coming up in the next post!
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Plesant Surprise
Had a very welcome surprise today. I got a young Alexandrine in! Usually, you see brand-new hand-raised Alexdandrines at the end of the year, with maybe a few in January, as this coreesponds with their breeding season and subsequent handrearing period. This young male, Aj, is around a six-month old bird. He was brought as a newly hand-raised bird from a local breeder but his owner had other time constraints and decided to sell him. He's is lovely young bird, very happy and healthy. Only having arrived this afternoon he's understandably a little nervous yet, cautious and a bit wary. But he's already exploring his cage, playing with small foot toys (pegs and pen lids fall into this category for an Alex!) and came out for the last hour of the day to ride on my shoulder, where he transferred his curiosity to my hair-clips and earlobes.
Also have some photos of Bird, the lovely rainbow lorikeet (He was sold and went home yesterday) and Baby, the very little olive rainbow lorikeet. He is still with us, and will remain so for the next week while I maintain he's eating properly on his own and strong enough to cope with a move.
Also have some photos of Bird, the lovely rainbow lorikeet (He was sold and went home yesterday) and Baby, the very little olive rainbow lorikeet. He is still with us, and will remain so for the next week while I maintain he's eating properly on his own and strong enough to cope with a move.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Some New Lorikeets
It's been a fairly typical week in the birdroom. Buddy, the whiteface cinnamon pied cockatiel was sold this week, but the rest of the hand-raised birds are still with us. The conures are still a little nervous with all the action but are coming out of their shell with me. They've been on lunch with me several times - and let me tell you it's very difficult to eat with two curious conures perched on your shoulder trying to take food from your lips!
I got a few more hand-raised birds in, too. At Christmas I had two rainbow lorikeets in, memoable for their bright red chests, when most rainbows show a mix of gold and red. One of the customers I sold one to had a change of employment where he's no longer stationary and realized he would have to part with his pet.
So, on Thursday I welcomed back "Bird" the rainbow lorikeet, who has learned a wonderful collection of whistles and is a real little character. I also received a new hand-raised cockatiel (another whiteface cinnamon) and a very baby olive mutation rainbow lorikeet. He seems a sturdy little fellow for his age - as soon as I had him out of the box and into his waiting cage (which turned out he'd be sharing with Bird) he was digging into his nectar mix. He's still got some of his baby down feathers and such a tiny tail, he's a real little cutie! I'll have to hold onto him for a couple of weeks, since even though it's eating independently I like to have confidence they can fend properly for themselves before going to a new home.
I'll have to come up with a name for this little guy too. Will also take my camera in Sunday, and get some photos of everyone.
I'm off to enjoy my weekend :) Keep flying!
I got a few more hand-raised birds in, too. At Christmas I had two rainbow lorikeets in, memoable for their bright red chests, when most rainbows show a mix of gold and red. One of the customers I sold one to had a change of employment where he's no longer stationary and realized he would have to part with his pet.
So, on Thursday I welcomed back "Bird" the rainbow lorikeet, who has learned a wonderful collection of whistles and is a real little character. I also received a new hand-raised cockatiel (another whiteface cinnamon) and a very baby olive mutation rainbow lorikeet. He seems a sturdy little fellow for his age - as soon as I had him out of the box and into his waiting cage (which turned out he'd be sharing with Bird) he was digging into his nectar mix. He's still got some of his baby down feathers and such a tiny tail, he's a real little cutie! I'll have to hold onto him for a couple of weeks, since even though it's eating independently I like to have confidence they can fend properly for themselves before going to a new home.
I'll have to come up with a name for this little guy too. Will also take my camera in Sunday, and get some photos of everyone.
I'm off to enjoy my weekend :) Keep flying!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
News as usual...
...in the Birdroom. Monday it was head down, tail feathers up to clean out seven aviaries and fifteen cages. Tuesday was a little more hectic than usual since we were two people down, and today - well, I have a soft spot for Wednesdays because it's my early day and I'm able to leave at four.
Put in a small order today, but there wasn't any exciting handraised birds available. I am getting a pair of pale-head rosellas, a pair of blue redrumps, and a pair of scarlet-chested parrots, plus a new batch of baby budgies. While budgies are not my favourite bird, I don't have anything against them (other than the mess they make of the birdroom floor on a daily basis!) but I do love to see twenty babies lined up in their two cages. Budgies come in such a fantastic range of colours, it's so lovely to see them in all shades of blue, purple, green, yellow, and white.
The current hand-raised birds are all doing well. Cam is as unstoppable as ever. He had another go at the bolt on his door and pulled off the nut, and I had to call the storeman for emergency repairs! Bolt is now equipped with two nuts. We'll see how long they last.
He was a big show-off today, attracting customers' attention while he was out on the playgym and dancing away with his usual headbob. He also had several wonderful rounds of catch with a young customer. Cam's version of 'catch' is actually more like 'throw'. Sometimes when handed an object, he'll pick it up in his beak and simply throw it - the catch part is meant to be handled by you! This is made rather challenging by the fact
Cam doesn't throw with any sort of accuracy. He's as likely to throw four feet to the left of where you're standing as he is to throw to you, and at times, his playful nature showing through, he simply tosses over his shoulder! Usually we play catch with an empty roll of tape, but today Cam decided he wanted to throw an old cardboard roll, after chewing several copious holes in it.
He also proceeds to dance most of lunchtime, which he usually spends in the tearoom with me. Unlike some birds he's not too interested in sneaking food from staff member's lunch, he simply hops all over the table, bopping and weaving in his cockatoo-dance. Although he has shown some fondness for pasta, as he ate a few bites of Jenna and Susuette's lunch last week!
Annnnd... profiles on the sun conures.
(Pictured with Max, the blue Quaker, behind him).
Name: Flame
Species: Sun Conure
Colour mutation: Normal
Age: Approx 12 Weeks
Gender: Undetermined
Price Tag: $600
Name: Sandi
Species: Sun Conure
Colour mutation: Normal
Age: Approx 12 Weeks
Gender: Undetermined
Price Tag: $600
FAQ
Q. How do you tell Flame and Sandi apart?
A. Flame is coloured up a little more than Sandi. The yellow on the back of his neck extends down further than Sandi's and patches the upper part of his wings, and he also has a fingernail-sized yellow patch on his right wing.
In general the birdroom is doing very well. Aviary cockatiels have been selling fairly well, as have adult budgies, so it's likely next week I'll be ordering some of each. Hoping to get a few more hand raised cockatiels, too, but I won't know til next Wednesday what's available.
Well, I'm winding down now since tomorrow is my last day at work before my weekend starts. Off to enjoy the evening now!
Put in a small order today, but there wasn't any exciting handraised birds available. I am getting a pair of pale-head rosellas, a pair of blue redrumps, and a pair of scarlet-chested parrots, plus a new batch of baby budgies. While budgies are not my favourite bird, I don't have anything against them (other than the mess they make of the birdroom floor on a daily basis!) but I do love to see twenty babies lined up in their two cages. Budgies come in such a fantastic range of colours, it's so lovely to see them in all shades of blue, purple, green, yellow, and white.
The current hand-raised birds are all doing well. Cam is as unstoppable as ever. He had another go at the bolt on his door and pulled off the nut, and I had to call the storeman for emergency repairs! Bolt is now equipped with two nuts. We'll see how long they last.
He was a big show-off today, attracting customers' attention while he was out on the playgym and dancing away with his usual headbob. He also had several wonderful rounds of catch with a young customer. Cam's version of 'catch' is actually more like 'throw'. Sometimes when handed an object, he'll pick it up in his beak and simply throw it - the catch part is meant to be handled by you! This is made rather challenging by the fact
Cam doesn't throw with any sort of accuracy. He's as likely to throw four feet to the left of where you're standing as he is to throw to you, and at times, his playful nature showing through, he simply tosses over his shoulder! Usually we play catch with an empty roll of tape, but today Cam decided he wanted to throw an old cardboard roll, after chewing several copious holes in it.
He also proceeds to dance most of lunchtime, which he usually spends in the tearoom with me. Unlike some birds he's not too interested in sneaking food from staff member's lunch, he simply hops all over the table, bopping and weaving in his cockatoo-dance. Although he has shown some fondness for pasta, as he ate a few bites of Jenna and Susuette's lunch last week!
Annnnd... profiles on the sun conures.
(Pictured with Max, the blue Quaker, behind him).
Name: Flame
Species: Sun Conure
Colour mutation: Normal
Age: Approx 12 Weeks
Gender: Undetermined
Price Tag: $600
Name: Sandi
Species: Sun Conure
Colour mutation: Normal
Age: Approx 12 Weeks
Gender: Undetermined
Price Tag: $600
FAQ
Q. How do you tell Flame and Sandi apart?
A. Flame is coloured up a little more than Sandi. The yellow on the back of his neck extends down further than Sandi's and patches the upper part of his wings, and he also has a fingernail-sized yellow patch on his right wing.
In general the birdroom is doing very well. Aviary cockatiels have been selling fairly well, as have adult budgies, so it's likely next week I'll be ordering some of each. Hoping to get a few more hand raised cockatiels, too, but I won't know til next Wednesday what's available.
Well, I'm winding down now since tomorrow is my last day at work before my weekend starts. Off to enjoy the evening now!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
We're all worn out
So, Bailey has gone to his new home, but four new hand-raised additions to the bird room kept me from missing him too badly today. Still, as I was mopping the floor this afternoon, after doing around the center cage, I realized it was the spot I'd usual lean the mop aside for a second and play a few rounds of Bailey's favourite game, Peak-a-boo, with him. And yes, I missed him.
Anyway, on to my new additions!
Meet, Nic, the green quaker, Max, the blue quaker, and Flame and Sandi the sun conures.
Just don't get too attached to Nic, since he also sold today!
The conures actually won't be up for sale until Wednesday, so I have at least a few days with them. Max is a little nervous, but he's befriended Flame and Sandi already so I'm pleased he has a few buddies to snuggle up with. It was ultimate cutness factor this morning, when the four of them all started napping in the food bowl!
Thought I'd do my first profile on Max:
Name: Max
Species: Quaker parrot
Colour mutation: Blue
Age: Approx 10 weeks.
Gender: Undeterminded.
Price Tag: $575.
Max is still a little shy - which is nothing that surprises me, since he's in a new environment and has seen three different caretakers since Friday. But he's a typical sweet little quaker, fond of cuddles, and with a little time I think will settle in beautifully.
In general news, it was a busy morning in the birdroom. A pile of small chores and phone calls always tend to build up from the entire two days I've spent away from the birdroom, and there's new birds to get to know, plus the usual weekend shoppers which make the room busier than usual. But after finally getting sweeping, feeds, waters and fruit and veg completed it got a little calmer. I took the conures and Max to lunch with me (Nic having just sold at this point) so they could get to know me without the added pressure of the crowds on them. Of course I naturally had to snap a few more photos, as well, even though none of them top the goregous shots of the four birds cuddling in the food bowl!
I did have time to take Cam for a walk this afternoon. It's more hazardous than it sounds. Firstly I have to don my winter vest, which at the moment is my 'Cam vest' - this is due to the fact that neither my buisness or polo shirts offer any sort of protection against Cam's hawklike talons. (also Cam has a fondness for rippign buttons off. The vest zips). With the vest on Cam is quite happy to cling to my front and get out and about. But I have to be very aware of any stock small enough to be picked up in his beak, and take care to leave sufficent space between the large feathered broach anchored to me and the store shelving.
Tomorrow will likely be just as busy as today was. Monday is clean-out day in the birdroom!
Anyway, on to my new additions!
Meet, Nic, the green quaker, Max, the blue quaker, and Flame and Sandi the sun conures.
Just don't get too attached to Nic, since he also sold today!
The conures actually won't be up for sale until Wednesday, so I have at least a few days with them. Max is a little nervous, but he's befriended Flame and Sandi already so I'm pleased he has a few buddies to snuggle up with. It was ultimate cutness factor this morning, when the four of them all started napping in the food bowl!
Thought I'd do my first profile on Max:
Name: Max
Species: Quaker parrot
Colour mutation: Blue
Age: Approx 10 weeks.
Gender: Undeterminded.
Price Tag: $575.
Max is still a little shy - which is nothing that surprises me, since he's in a new environment and has seen three different caretakers since Friday. But he's a typical sweet little quaker, fond of cuddles, and with a little time I think will settle in beautifully.
In general news, it was a busy morning in the birdroom. A pile of small chores and phone calls always tend to build up from the entire two days I've spent away from the birdroom, and there's new birds to get to know, plus the usual weekend shoppers which make the room busier than usual. But after finally getting sweeping, feeds, waters and fruit and veg completed it got a little calmer. I took the conures and Max to lunch with me (Nic having just sold at this point) so they could get to know me without the added pressure of the crowds on them. Of course I naturally had to snap a few more photos, as well, even though none of them top the goregous shots of the four birds cuddling in the food bowl!
I did have time to take Cam for a walk this afternoon. It's more hazardous than it sounds. Firstly I have to don my winter vest, which at the moment is my 'Cam vest' - this is due to the fact that neither my buisness or polo shirts offer any sort of protection against Cam's hawklike talons. (also Cam has a fondness for rippign buttons off. The vest zips). With the vest on Cam is quite happy to cling to my front and get out and about. But I have to be very aware of any stock small enough to be picked up in his beak, and take care to leave sufficent space between the large feathered broach anchored to me and the store shelving.
Tomorrow will likely be just as busy as today was. Monday is clean-out day in the birdroom!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Goodbyes, Thursday's 20% off Loyalty Night
We had our second 20% off night for loyalty customers last night. We were insanely busy at 4, when the special started, as everyone came in to nab the items they wanted before someone else did! But after about six it petered off. We're not usually open late nights so I just don't think enough people knew about it. But it was timed quite well for me with the arrival of my new birds. Usually, they catch the earliest morning flight from Sydney to Brisbane, and the early afternoon flight from Brisbane to Townsville. But occasionally the idiots at Brisbane airport can't move their rears and get organized fast enough and my birds are pushed back so they arrive on the 7 o'clock flight, not the 4 o'clock flight.
Last night went like that.
So at 4, John zipped off to the airport to pick them up, only to be told when he got there they weren't arriving til seven. As he finished up at 5, I had to go pick them up. Which, in honesty, is not something I mind at all. I like the short drive to the airport and picking the flight boxes with all my new arrivals up from Australian Air Express, and driving back to the store with them chirping in the backseat.
So, with the store nice and quiet by seven I was off to pick them up. I didn't get much time to spend with any of them individually in the two hours before we closed, but the new hand-raised birds seem lovely. The two cockatiels I'm sure won't be there when I go back to work on Sunday. I must have taken about a dozen calls and enquiries asking about hand-raised cockatiels this week. They seemed very sweet, a lovely pair of young greys. Buddy, the whiteface cinnamon who is going to his new home sometime over the weekend (that's actually him at the far right of the topmost banner image) was pleased to have a little company.
Bailey the blue quaker got pretty excited when he saw the two new quakers! I got a blue and a green, both who were very reluctant to come out of the flight box - and who could blame them after two flights and then faced with a noisy, unfamiliar birdroom - and I had to gently lift them out myself. I put them in a separate cage to Bailey, since I wasn't going to be there to supervise how they'd get along today. Friday and Saturday are my days off. As odd as it seems to me to be away from the birdroom for two entire days I'm usually pretty wiped out by Thursdays, the end of my week, and looking forward to a couple of sleep-ins and a day with James - and of course, extra time to spend with my own kids - the avian, canine, and feline kind, that is.
Speaking of Bailey, he too, goes to his new home tomorrow. His new owners finished paying him off yesterday, any paid him a final visit. They have been setting up for him, collecting tree branches for his cage, and buying all sorts of goodies for him. I know he will be spoiled and loved by his new owners as much as I love him now, but I've never found goodbyes easy. I had him out of his cage with me yesterday evening before the new-bird excitement, and then for the last half-hour of the night, to properly say goodbye. He's been with us since Christmas, having had a rough landing soon after arriving and injuring his chest, which had to heal before he went back on sale. He's a little sweetheart, curling up in a shirt pocket or under a collar, wheaking and 'quaking' away in the funny little voice quakers have, lying quietly in my hand while I groom out his pin feathers.
I let him cuddle up to my cheek, then gave him a quick kiss on his little head. "Love you, Bailey. Be a good bird." I let him hop back into his cage. I knew that when I arrived on Sunday and didn't hear his urgent 'come see me!' calls that I would miss him dearly.
Much as I love the residents of the birdroom, particularly those who've spent a little time there, I learned one thing a long time ago. I can't personally take every single one of them home. That's not what it's about for me. I could never run the birdroom and not care about the birds I spend my days looking after. They are, as I sometimes call them, my kids, and I love them all. But goodbyes, difficult as they can be, are not a sad time. They're a celebration. My job is to find a home for these birds, a home where they'll be loved as much as I love them - a 'forever' home. With each goodbye, which is the closing chapter for me, it's the start of a whole new story for the bird, and their new owner.
I will miss him, though.
Last night went like that.
So at 4, John zipped off to the airport to pick them up, only to be told when he got there they weren't arriving til seven. As he finished up at 5, I had to go pick them up. Which, in honesty, is not something I mind at all. I like the short drive to the airport and picking the flight boxes with all my new arrivals up from Australian Air Express, and driving back to the store with them chirping in the backseat.
So, with the store nice and quiet by seven I was off to pick them up. I didn't get much time to spend with any of them individually in the two hours before we closed, but the new hand-raised birds seem lovely. The two cockatiels I'm sure won't be there when I go back to work on Sunday. I must have taken about a dozen calls and enquiries asking about hand-raised cockatiels this week. They seemed very sweet, a lovely pair of young greys. Buddy, the whiteface cinnamon who is going to his new home sometime over the weekend (that's actually him at the far right of the topmost banner image) was pleased to have a little company.
Bailey the blue quaker got pretty excited when he saw the two new quakers! I got a blue and a green, both who were very reluctant to come out of the flight box - and who could blame them after two flights and then faced with a noisy, unfamiliar birdroom - and I had to gently lift them out myself. I put them in a separate cage to Bailey, since I wasn't going to be there to supervise how they'd get along today. Friday and Saturday are my days off. As odd as it seems to me to be away from the birdroom for two entire days I'm usually pretty wiped out by Thursdays, the end of my week, and looking forward to a couple of sleep-ins and a day with James - and of course, extra time to spend with my own kids - the avian, canine, and feline kind, that is.
Speaking of Bailey, he too, goes to his new home tomorrow. His new owners finished paying him off yesterday, any paid him a final visit. They have been setting up for him, collecting tree branches for his cage, and buying all sorts of goodies for him. I know he will be spoiled and loved by his new owners as much as I love him now, but I've never found goodbyes easy. I had him out of his cage with me yesterday evening before the new-bird excitement, and then for the last half-hour of the night, to properly say goodbye. He's been with us since Christmas, having had a rough landing soon after arriving and injuring his chest, which had to heal before he went back on sale. He's a little sweetheart, curling up in a shirt pocket or under a collar, wheaking and 'quaking' away in the funny little voice quakers have, lying quietly in my hand while I groom out his pin feathers.
I let him cuddle up to my cheek, then gave him a quick kiss on his little head. "Love you, Bailey. Be a good bird." I let him hop back into his cage. I knew that when I arrived on Sunday and didn't hear his urgent 'come see me!' calls that I would miss him dearly.
Much as I love the residents of the birdroom, particularly those who've spent a little time there, I learned one thing a long time ago. I can't personally take every single one of them home. That's not what it's about for me. I could never run the birdroom and not care about the birds I spend my days looking after. They are, as I sometimes call them, my kids, and I love them all. But goodbyes, difficult as they can be, are not a sad time. They're a celebration. My job is to find a home for these birds, a home where they'll be loved as much as I love them - a 'forever' home. With each goodbye, which is the closing chapter for me, it's the start of a whole new story for the bird, and their new owner.
I will miss him, though.
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