Photos of parrots and shelties
May. 24th, 2009 01:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
summer_jackelStill patiently learning the subtleties of my DSLR; the pictures aren't great, but they are getting better. It's definitely May; Gavin and Kaya are exploding in a flurry of tiny bits of multicolored lint, and Jezzie looks like she's being eaten by moths. Perhaps people also can be at our shabbiest right before re-emerging with bright new plumage; one can hope.
I, am course, watching like a hawk for shed feathers. Gavin, who could show old Warner Brothers cartoons a thing about zaniness, beats heck out of his pelage, and by the time moult rolls around he looks just a bit disreputable. His tail is the worst; he likes to play with it and bend it in odd directions when he preens. I spot him, not infrequently, hold a tailfeather bent in his talon while he preens some other body part entirely, and even while sleeping. A tailfeather of Gavin stuck in the brim of a hat suggests the wearer has been around the block a few times, a couple of those dragged under someone's tires.
Osbick steps happily from anywhere onto a dowel, and easily from a dowel to my hand, though he's not particularly happy about being there yet. He is getting better at staying on my hand and not running for the shoulder, will tolerate my thumb over his foot, and will step from the floor onto my hand. He acts just as excited to be allowed out of his cage as my other two, which is pretty heartwarming. Osbick isn't and probably never will be a 'touchy-feely' bird, but he seems to be more comfortable and relaxed around me: I am seeing much less fear, and seeing him become excited in a happy way about my approach felt great. He also shredded a toy for the first time the other day (a sign of psychological health in parrots). Of course, the 'toy' was a piece of scrap from my woodpile I baked and tossed in there for him, but hey, whatever he likes.
I must admit that I am enjoying this little guy. I certainly wouldn't have chosen to take in a third parrot, but the cleanup doesn't take that much longer and he isn't adding to in-house noise problems. Craigslist yielded me an acceptable cage for cheap, although it's something of an eyesore and I'll replace it with better when I can afford it. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to be safe loose at the same time Gavin and Kaya are. I decided that if adding a new one decreases the "free time" of the others, keeping the new pet is irresponsible. Osbick is definitely in the 'could kill Gavin' size range, and IRNs have a reputation for aggression. However, what I need is parrots who will stay on their own trees on other sides of the room, and when Oz started flock-calling the other two when he was left caged and they were taken out, I decided to give them a chance.
What happens? Well, mostly nothing; they stay on their trees, with Gavin and Kaya preening and playing with each other, and Oz sitting quietly looking out the window with his foot in his mouth. And then Gavin has to go and be a conure, and fly over there with braggadocio dripping from his poofed-out feathers.
Before I can even grab the little green bully, Osbick is on the floor, halfway across the room, cowering. Oz almost unfailingly splits the moment he hears Gavin take off, and I've seen Gavin knock Oz off the perch with a look as the latter was trying to run away. So I have time to remove Gavin before Oz realizes he's twice as strong and kicks some conure butt. Now that they've had a few weeks to adjust to one another, Gavin seems a lot less interested in messing with Oz, so as long as I'm supervising, I think we are reasonably safe.
And then, there's the matter of Oz's tailfeathers. I wants them precious.
I suppose that I've more or less come to the conclusion that, so long as I'm able to care for him well and/or until his true human love comes along, I will permit Oz to stay. He's been through who knows how many homes, anyway, at least three of them bad, and I hate to think of him having to adjust to too many more. He's sweet.
Hey, but I'm just too darn cool to be a crazy bird lady, and you know it.
Kaya flew from her tree to my rear wheel. Don't worry, they always stay clear when it's moving.
Look at who has more yellow coming in on her forehead!
I'm a small dinosaur, actually.
You can see by the way I'm holding my talon that I want you to pick me up.
The disreputable fellow.
The Osbick Bird
Proof that I can handle the beast! And yeah, I match Gavin. I'd just spent 3 hours on a bike. You'd look like you'd been pulling your feathers, too.
Now, surely you want some sugarcoated sheltie sweetness?
Coba is coming into kind of an insane amount of coat. I washed him yesterday and brushed him all the way out this morning, and swear to dog it's like having a brand new stuffed animal that is alive and wants to snuggle with you. I really need to get him entered in some shows while he's still of puppy class age; I'm so curious about how he does.
Shelties pose. I'm not even kidding. They will sit far more quietly and with better posture when they see the camera come out. These dogs positioned themselves more or less on their own.
I, am course, watching like a hawk for shed feathers. Gavin, who could show old Warner Brothers cartoons a thing about zaniness, beats heck out of his pelage, and by the time moult rolls around he looks just a bit disreputable. His tail is the worst; he likes to play with it and bend it in odd directions when he preens. I spot him, not infrequently, hold a tailfeather bent in his talon while he preens some other body part entirely, and even while sleeping. A tailfeather of Gavin stuck in the brim of a hat suggests the wearer has been around the block a few times, a couple of those dragged under someone's tires.
Osbick steps happily from anywhere onto a dowel, and easily from a dowel to my hand, though he's not particularly happy about being there yet. He is getting better at staying on my hand and not running for the shoulder, will tolerate my thumb over his foot, and will step from the floor onto my hand. He acts just as excited to be allowed out of his cage as my other two, which is pretty heartwarming. Osbick isn't and probably never will be a 'touchy-feely' bird, but he seems to be more comfortable and relaxed around me: I am seeing much less fear, and seeing him become excited in a happy way about my approach felt great. He also shredded a toy for the first time the other day (a sign of psychological health in parrots). Of course, the 'toy' was a piece of scrap from my woodpile I baked and tossed in there for him, but hey, whatever he likes.
I must admit that I am enjoying this little guy. I certainly wouldn't have chosen to take in a third parrot, but the cleanup doesn't take that much longer and he isn't adding to in-house noise problems. Craigslist yielded me an acceptable cage for cheap, although it's something of an eyesore and I'll replace it with better when I can afford it. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to be safe loose at the same time Gavin and Kaya are. I decided that if adding a new one decreases the "free time" of the others, keeping the new pet is irresponsible. Osbick is definitely in the 'could kill Gavin' size range, and IRNs have a reputation for aggression. However, what I need is parrots who will stay on their own trees on other sides of the room, and when Oz started flock-calling the other two when he was left caged and they were taken out, I decided to give them a chance.
What happens? Well, mostly nothing; they stay on their trees, with Gavin and Kaya preening and playing with each other, and Oz sitting quietly looking out the window with his foot in his mouth. And then Gavin has to go and be a conure, and fly over there with braggadocio dripping from his poofed-out feathers.
Before I can even grab the little green bully, Osbick is on the floor, halfway across the room, cowering. Oz almost unfailingly splits the moment he hears Gavin take off, and I've seen Gavin knock Oz off the perch with a look as the latter was trying to run away. So I have time to remove Gavin before Oz realizes he's twice as strong and kicks some conure butt. Now that they've had a few weeks to adjust to one another, Gavin seems a lot less interested in messing with Oz, so as long as I'm supervising, I think we are reasonably safe.
And then, there's the matter of Oz's tailfeathers. I wants them precious.
I suppose that I've more or less come to the conclusion that, so long as I'm able to care for him well and/or until his true human love comes along, I will permit Oz to stay. He's been through who knows how many homes, anyway, at least three of them bad, and I hate to think of him having to adjust to too many more. He's sweet.
Hey, but I'm just too darn cool to be a crazy bird lady, and you know it.
Kaya flew from her tree to my rear wheel. Don't worry, they always stay clear when it's moving.
Look at who has more yellow coming in on her forehead!
I'm a small dinosaur, actually.
You can see by the way I'm holding my talon that I want you to pick me up.
The disreputable fellow.
The Osbick Bird
Proof that I can handle the beast! And yeah, I match Gavin. I'd just spent 3 hours on a bike. You'd look like you'd been pulling your feathers, too.
Now, surely you want some sugarcoated sheltie sweetness?
Coba is coming into kind of an insane amount of coat. I washed him yesterday and brushed him all the way out this morning, and swear to dog it's like having a brand new stuffed animal that is alive and wants to snuggle with you. I really need to get him entered in some shows while he's still of puppy class age; I'm so curious about how he does.
Shelties pose. I'm not even kidding. They will sit far more quietly and with better posture when they see the camera come out. These dogs positioned themselves more or less on their own.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 12:24 am (UTC)And you know what? You look fantastic after 3 hours on a bike and I hate you.*
*I don't, of course.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 12:29 am (UTC)greencheeks are awesome.
The shelties completely pose. It's hilarious.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 12:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 04:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 03:48 pm (UTC)As always, thank you for sharing! Beautiful, beautiful Coba and Rogue!
no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-25 05:32 pm (UTC)