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Riviere
Member
09-09-2000
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:16 am
My wild caught orange wing Amazon really liked that March Of The Penguins movie. Sailor is about 22 years old now and we're mates. In his brilliant mind! He detests seagulls and crows and growls when they're on TV. But he happily chirped and clucked at the penguins. He likes nature movies and flocks of parrots he coos at to see them fly and communicate. He really likes the mythical Hippogryph of Harry Potter 3 named Buckbeak. I have never clipped wings but I can't let him fly free as in years ago since now I have rescued Greyhounds. Sailor is fearless. If a dog approaches he flares up wings & tail and he stabs at them. They slink away and he giggles. He is the king of his big castle knowing he is safe. He used to know tricks. I want to see if Sailor remembers them again. Wish me luck. I'd guess Sailor would ask what took me so long to play with him? Well, my son died, and my life went on hold. In the end ~ pets will shake you out of depression. He's a very dear loving bird who preens my hair, growls if the doorbell or phone rings. Sailor is just a great guy needing more fly time I aim to provide. And movies!
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 7:10 am
My Oliver, a citron crested cockatoo, went to the Rainbow Bridge about 5 years ago after being our naughty 2 year old for 14 years. He had a congenital birth defect that eventually lead to his demise. But aren't these parrots something else? I wouldn't have missed my years with him for the world, but never again with a bird. They are a huge job to take on, much more so than a dog or cat.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:09 am
Hi Riviere! How interesting your Amazon is and he sounds like a lot of fun. Does he have his own room? I know they take up a big living space. I'm crossing my fingers that he remembers the tricks, and I'm especially happy he has shaken you out of your depression. I'm sorry you lost your son. OG, I had to laugh at the naughty 2 year old comment. We had a blue parakeet once and he was a big enough job for me.
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Riviere
Member
09-09-2000
| Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 10:45 am
Hi Urgrace! Sailor is fun, takes no space at all really, he is not a Macaw. Orange Wings are the smaller of the Amazons and not known to mimic but they love fiercely and loyally. He loved pullimg up rope trick and guessing what hand peanut is in, and take a dollar from Daddy and fly it to Mom... So it's a good outcome for a bad family situation a couple years. Always knew he was a trouper when hubby rescued him out of quarantine in Alaska department store. He hated me at first, too. I said look, we're both out of element. I'd give anything returning you to the jungle but it won't happen, we might as well amuse ourselves... Being a hands on pet trainer horses to dogs, my first try getting Sailor on a dowel then climbing my arm, he sank his beak in my arm, you know that tender spot below elbow? I smiled and cooed as he grinded my arm. Reality? I wanted to smack him like a mosquito and scream and cry! Trainers never panic or the task is lost. Hard to believe he is now about 22 but he's really fit and prime, still builds nest material in his cage hoping one day I'll join him. Birds are a very bonding creature. They also need many toys and amusements, anyone keeping birds knows. I'm glad Sailor brought me around to life again this way...

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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 9:41 am
I drive by a reservoir/large pond on my way to work. Often there's a flock of migrating wild birds there, usually geese but last Monday I spotted a Great Blue Heron! Anyway, for a couple years there's been one poor goose who stays at the pond & surrounding field all by him/herself. The others come and go but he/she stays. Sometimes I don't see him/her for a while and get worried mix with hope that he/she's moved on but sooner or later I'll spot 'em again. I always feel so sad and lonely for the goose. I don't know if he/she lost a mate or just can't fly. Whenever a flock arrives I hope the goose will go with them but it hasn't happened so far. Sorry, I'm just not good at calling any living creature an "it"!
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Tanzanite
Member
06-28-2005
| Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 9:26 am
I now own 3 cockatiels. The first one is about 10 -12 years old. I've owned her since a young bird, she seems to be entering her rebellious teen years. I recently purchased a brand new cage for her and she refuses to go in it. She was in it for about one hour when I opened the door to help her locate the food trays. She immediately escaped and refused to return to that cage. Instead, after staying out all night, the next day she chose to get in the cage with the two new cockatiels, where she remains a week later. Every time she perches on my finger, my head or my shoulder, if i walk in the direction of the new cage, she flies off then walks all around the room avoiding me. Does anyone have suggestions on what I might do to lure her to her new cage. I have placed her familiar toys in the cage now but didn't have them there on first try.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 4:42 pm
Yupyupyup. Spring is definitely here. Hans, Gertrude and The Boyfriend are back, demanding their corn and showing off their Spring regalia. Colossus got a shot of Gertrude fanning her tailfeathers and preening looking for some action. And she got it. From both of them. She so 'ho.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Monday, March 26, 2007 - 10:42 am
Lol. Yesterday while doing yard work, I saw the bluebird checking out the birdhouse in back. Plus I got my first blister from raking seed hulls and clearing branches. It's Spring for sure! I'm thinking of putting a pond in and using the dirt to make a berm by the road. Depends if I can make a deal - I know someone who does excavating and used to babysit his kids when I was in junior high so maybe he'll give me a break even though I live in a different county now, lol.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, March 26, 2007 - 11:13 am
I went down by the beach yesterday, and spotted this kingfisher. I love these birds, they're so beautiful and regal. I've never seen one sit on the low rocks, though; they usually sit up higher and look down while fishing (at least in my experience of watching them). I wish I'd had a better close-up lens.

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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Monday, March 26, 2007 - 11:25 am
Thanks for sharing this lovely bird, Yankee.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Monday, March 26, 2007 - 6:23 pm
Yankee, those are great pictures. Look at the feather detail in the first one! Well, I mean that as an exclamation, not a command, lol.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 12:36 pm
I like birds -- both inside and outside (but not pigeons, crows, and Canada geese). My canary died. I was without a roomie for a few weeks. I missed the company. Went to the local pet shop to get another, but saw a bird I never had before?! Hmmmmm. Rosey Bourkes parakeet. Went home and checked 'em out on the internet. Went back and got one. 'Bout the size of an average parakeet. Rosey Bourkes are very gentle / not aggressive. They virtually do not bite. They're quite calm. Not too messy at all. They cheep and peep and twitter. Sweetest thing. I don't know (and never will) if it's a boy or girl. Name is 'Mingo -- short for flamingo cuz he's a kind of flamingo pink.

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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 12:57 pm
Oh, Color, what a luv!
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 6:16 pm
I've never seen a kingfisher in the wild, he is GORGEOUS!!! Color, Mingo has to be just beautiful if that picture is any indication, what a sweet face and amazing coloring. 'Mingo is a great name, too. I hope he/she is a great friend to you. Colossus resized the Frisky Gertrude picture for your viewing enjoyment. Gertrude is all fluffy here, looking for some action. This was last week. She's been MIA this week sitting on a nest, but the boys have been back for their regular corning every night.

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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 7:03 pm
Yankee, that is a good close-up! Gal, Gertrude's got two guys?! I thought they were monogamous. I live in a very urban area (Chicago suburbs). We had (have?) a pair of mallards that lived in the area. Hadn't seen them for at least a couple of years. Then just a few days ago saw a pair in the neighborhood. Don't know if there the same ones or another. I have a photo (film) of a mallard and a rabbit eating seeds together out of the same bucket!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 8:35 pm
Color, Mingo is gorgeous. I think you should try teaching him/her to talk anyway. We had parakeets when I was growing up, and we always taught them to talk. You just repeat the same thing over and over and over and over to them.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Friday, March 30, 2007 - 5:44 pm
I read on most sites that this particular species of parakeets are not generally talkers. But there's always exceptions.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Friday, March 30, 2007 - 6:13 pm
Colord...I am so jealous! We saw a hand fed Rosey in a pet store a couple years ago. It begged from anyone who went near the cage and it kicked my daughter's mommy mode in. She doesn't even care for birds that much but she wanted that one.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 5:00 am
Color, yup she's got two guys. The first summer it was just Gertrude and Hans. The middle of the second summer The Boyfriend started hanging around with them and they've been thick as thieves ever since. A veritable mallard-a-trois.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 3:49 pm
Don't know if there the same ones or another. I'm correcting myself. That should be "they're". I know better. I wasn't paying attention.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 2:32 pm
Holy shit!! We have a pair of mated Coots on the lake, and I'm not talking about Colossus and me. I thought they were loons, because they are fanatic divers, but they don't have the checker-board feathers. I've spent a good part of the day trying to figure out exactly what they are, because they're just so interesting and unusual. Finally, I found an answer: Here's a picture of what they look like (from a birding website):
And here is a bit of a descriptive of the lil buggers: American Coots Very much looking forward to watching them this summer. They seem to be nested nearby, and are very active divers (which is why we thought they were loons). Colossus has named them Dharma and Greg (this was before we knew what they are). Knowing that they are Coots, I would be inclined to call them Jethro and Ellie Mae LOL.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 2:43 pm
But that would be incestuous.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 3:10 pm
Point well made, Ophilias - but I'm not sure whether Coots care if they're related or not for the purpose of procreating.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 3:18 pm
I suppose you are right. No harm, no fowl. lol
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 4:04 pm
LOL, GAL, I can just see you spending the day looking up the most common waterfowl in North America. Coots are EVERYWHERE I hang out. BUT - look at this! I just Googled American Coot range - and they don't have coots in your teeny sector of the country. Isn't that bizarre? Except now they do! Now, that is very interesting. Range of the American Coot Jujuornithologistdawg
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