Happenings Around Here

Katie Back With Ida

Little Katie was our guest for well over two months.  She does fine here but she was so elated when she finally got to go home to her mom, Ida. 

Ida had been ill and was unable to care for Katie.  (She's a very spoiled little cockatiel.)  While Ida recovered and gathered her strength, Katie had to put up with the room full of male cockatiels.  She certainly had no interest in them.  In fact, I don't think she knows that she's a bird.

Glad that she is back on Ida's shoulder and getting the much appreciated head skritches.

Felix (back) Simon (front) Free Time



Simon and Felix spent the weekend!  They are always fun.  Simon enjoys being here!  He sings his heart out in perfect pitch.  Amazing Grace is a very soothing melody.  Felix, on the other hand, doesn't sing.  But she enjoys climbing around and supervising all chores and activities! 

Trader Joe's

Recently I shopped at Trader Joe's.  I needed veggies and bird breakfast items and found plenty to choose from. The shredded carrots and broccoli slaw, shelled edamame, fresh English peas, arugula greens, fresh fennel bulbs ( I dice these.), and kale.  I take a large mixing bowl and toss everything like a salad.  I add a rinsed can of black beans, some diced banana, black grapes, and snap peas.  The piece de resistance is a small dab of almond butter and a piece of chicken breast.  Trader Joe's sells the organic almond butter and packaged Just Chicken and the birds and I love it.  When I served old Ben (seen here in the photo) he went directly to the chicken!  Yum.  No wonder Ben is so old (35+), he eats like a king!

Ground Shaking

This is a photo of Klaus and Scooter.  They are first timers at Parrot Nanny.  These two beautiful whiteface pearl cockatiels are very young at around 1 year old.  They are much loved and spoiled by their mom and dad.  I am so happy that I get the opportunity to care for them.
 
Last evening there was a temblor earthquake over by Vallejo.  Did I feel it?  No.  But the house of parrots did!  I wondered what the commotion was all about as the parrot population was covered for the night.  Of course, I went in to check on everyone.  I simply walk around and talk softly and keep the drama level low while observing the birds.
 
Cockatiels are notorious for freaking out and breaking feathers when they panic.  Luckily Klaus and Scooter and the rest of the cockatiel room came through without any injury.

This is why it's important to board your bird where someone is present throughout the night.  Sometimes "children" need reassurance that all is okay. 

There appears to be a lot of activity on the earthquake map. Not sure what that means but I hope everyone is ready.  We are here.  Lots of extra bird supplies and stored water in the event that shopping is curtailed for a week or two.  Are you ready?

Here is the link to the earthquake map:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/

Ben's New Buddy Toy

My sweet old man, Ben, has adopted a new companion toy.  He used to be attached to "his bell" and he would spend too much time with his head in or under a bell.  Now, with the bell gone temporarily, he has befriended a Perma Play toy.  It's small and he loves to push it around. 
I think Ben needs a visit from Kiku soon.  He seems to need someone in his life.  If not Kiku, then a toy will do.  Ben is possibly 35 years old now.  What a character.  You've all heard him if you entered this house.  He sounds the alarm with any approaching visitor.  However, most of the time, he is quiet.  No one believes that one!

Mischievious Munchkin

Oooo, a nest site!

While I was working in the cockatiel room, Munchkin was up to some mischief.  I'm slaving away to make their environment clean and cozy and when I look behind me, Munch is on the table!  He is supposed to be on the hanging playgym ropes!  
He thoroughly investigated the paper towel hole.  To him, it must have been a very instinctual mystery.  Dark round holes mean potential nest sites.  
However, when that didn't pan out, he found the container of seed.  He's been cut off of seed and when he saw the cache, he was very very determined.  It was a long way down...



Oooooo, I found the seeds!

 I watched him while he thought out his plan.  Hanging by his beak, he finally dropped down to the treasure.  What a guy!

I got him out immediately, of course, but I rewarded his ingenuity with a small portion of seed in his shiny Jingle Cup Toy.  (See previous post.)


Eureka!  The Mother Lode!



Chauncey's New Buddy

Chauncey is my favorite bird.  (Don't tell the others!)  He makes me laugh regularly.  He seems to enjoy anything fuzzy shaggy and soft.  He also loves jingly danglely toys.  He was quietly playing with his "mop toy" and suddenly noticed that I was watching.   http://youtu.be/tWBbiSxZ4Hw

 He got embarrassed!  He doesn't know how funny he is.  He would like to think he is better than that.  But ask anyone who knows him...he is funny!  Slender Bills are actually one of the few cockatoos that aren't very noisy.  He prefers to talk and he has an indoor voice. 

New Website for Parrot Nanny

Last night I launched my new simpler website.  I have had the previous site up since 2005 and I wasn't able to edit it myself, thus, it stayed the same for the duration. 

My business hasn't stayed the same!  I have reduced some of my activities due to how busy I am now.  I am concentrating on the boarding parrots in my home.  That's pretty much a full time job!

I will continue to make and sell the Munch Muffins and Psittacine Cuisine as the parrots here love the menu and many of my clients are frequent buyers of these delicious and nutritious foods.   (All organic and wheat & corn free!)

I'd love your feedback about what you'd like to see on the new website.  This time I can make changes!  Hallelujah!  

PS  Thank you Mary Long for your incredible talents in web design.  

http://www.parrotnanny.com/