Cute Birds Being Cute

[summer_jackel]

The trick to getting photographs of parrots doing cute, vulnerable things is apparently to ride an annoyingly noisy bike trainer right next to them for a few hours. Then, when they do the Cute Thing You Can Never Get On Camera, shoot the picture with the bike noise masking the camera whirr. Normally they sleek up and give camera face as soon as you hit the power button.

In this particular instance, the Cute Thing was Kaya, all asleep and fluffed up---with her chest resting on Gavin's back. (it's a little hard to see in the picture below, but it's there). Even cuter, Gavin was awake...and holding still, so as not to disturb her. Normally, if he's awake, he's moving. Everybody, awwwwwwwwwwwwww.



This gratuitous bird cute post is dedicated to any bird-suckers in the audience who may be experiencing painful times right now.



Gavin noticed the camera monster and backed off a bit; Kaya woke up.


And then went back to sleep. Note her back feathers, which are usually hidden beneath her wings. They are this incredible neon aqua, and certainly her brightest colors.

Comments

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww! Sunshine's back feathers are really pretty, too, and the only time I get to see them is when she's all sleepy like that.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

awww! What color are her back feathers? That is such a neat thing about the African parrots.

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

The very palest irridescent blue/green.

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

This is probably the best picture of them I've got.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Oh, pretty little thing! I LOVE lutino parrots. Or anything else that's yellow, for that matter. He is way way way cute.

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

She's actually a creamino, which I don't think you can tell, the way she has her head buried. The icon shows it better, I think. She's a pale yellow/cream all over except the little bit of blue/green on her back and her little orange cap.

[tattermuffin.livejournal.com]

OMG!!! So cute!

I can't believe your Meyers and your GCC get along! The only times Kyba and Puck have gotten close to each other, I've been worried about a death in the family.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

I still worry about these guys, but it sure looks like they get on ok...to the point of, uh, "making whoopie", actually. 0_o Maybe it's because I brought Kaya in as a yearling and they were the only parrots in the house, or maybe Kaya is just a real push-over for a poi, but for whatever reason, I seem to have an unusually good track record for interspecies harmony where one wouldn't expect it. Gavin totally pushes her around.

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

Sleepy birdies are sleepy. :>

There's something terribly disarming, yes, about a bird trusting enough to sleep in your presence. Even more so when you wake it up, it gives you the Grumpy Eye, and plops back to sleep. :>

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

So true! Heartmelting, even.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the trust implied in that melts my heart every time. Sometimes I'll be sitting there petting one of them and it just hits me that this is a _wild bird_, for goodness' sake, and it wants to be around me. What an honor.

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

God, yes. See my flickr album for pictures of Sunshine sleeping in hands!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/troubleagain/sets/72157616273213266/

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. :) sweet little yellow floof.

[sophiedoph.livejournal.com]

Aww! Love the shots! And yep--keep the camera handy, catch them unawares! LOL

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

hah! I keep the point-and-shoot near the bike for just that reason. Of course, the lighting sucked, but what else is new 'round here? ;)

[a-rowan-dryad.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about birds but... that cuddling pic is soooooo cute!

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

cuddling critters are pretty much always cute. :) What I love is that Gavin was holding still for her, even though he was awake. What a gentleman. This is probably the only time that term has ever been applied to that bird. ;D

[larylich.livejournal.com]

Just add some noodles and the horse's dinner is ready.