I've always found birds to be interesting creatures, from the first parakeet I had (I've had at least four--Prettyboy 1-4) to the feather picking finch (Baldy)--to the two cockatiels (Bogie and Spike)--to my current conure (Phoenix). They have such personality and I believe they have feelings too. I love to listen to them chatter--but not a big fan of the screaming. Phoenix has his quirks and very different vocalizations. We know there it the happy squawk, the pay-attention-to-me yell, the warning-warning-Will-Robinson scream, the contented purr, and the time-for-the-flock-to-come-home call. He gets mad when we disturb him or when we don't give him the attention he wants. He loves to be out on us. But a conure is like a two year old with a can opener on its face. Exploring and dangerous. Phoenix loves coca cola and beer. My brother-in-law would share his beer with him. Everytime Phoenix saw a green bottle he would get excited. He is also a big fan of apples, bananas, and bagels.
So how can people not love these curious guys? Phoenix talks--he has a nice vocabulary--but he hasn't learned any new words in several years. His vocabulary includes:
- good morning
- hello phoenix
- hi buddy
- what's up sonnet?
- what?
- what's that?
- I love you
- I love you love you
He also mimics my laugh, my husbands laugh (he lowers his voice) and water running. He is incredibly curious about household machines. He has crawled into the dishwasher, and flys over to the washer when we start to load clothes or when the dryer is running.
He's a cute little guy--and we know he is attached to us, although he tolerates the dog, and the dog tolerates him. He has his funny poses, leaning back against the cage to rest, putting his foot on top of his head, or holding it straight out and waving. He loves it when my husband tells him the story of where he was born (under the el tracks in a bird store in Chicago) and how we met him and when we brought him home. It quiets him right down. OK--he probably just loves the attention but we would like to think he loves the story.
When we moved to California we spent 4 days driving out here in our silver honda. Phoenix was in his travel cage on top of suitcases in the back seat and the dog, Sonnet, was next to him. Phoenix was happier than a pig in slop. He had his whole flock right next to him where he could watch them all day long. He has a big cage that is located in the dining room where he can look out of the large windows and see nothing but sky. Every so often and hawk will fly by and Phoenix will get quiet and duck. He is always entertaining.
I love watching the birds outside too. The jays and the robins and the hummingbirds. I love to watch the vultures riding the thermals and the hawks soaring over the valley. What freedom to fly with the wind! But the hawks are always alone along the side of highway--sitting on fence post looking for prey. Several fence posts down one can find a flock of crows keeping a safe distance from the raptor. And then there are the egrets, standing in the marshlands, their white bodies and long legs like a beacon agains the greens and blues of the water. There is one that hangs out along route 37--we call him Ernie the Egret. He's always there, almost always in the same spot, like he is waiting for us to drive by and say hello.
In Hawaii there are several birds that hang out at near the hotel and pay attention when people are eating. One species reminds us of Heckle and Jeckle with yellow around their eyes. They look like wise guys. On one of our trips, we had fallen asleep in the afternoon and were awakened to a catcophony of birds at sunset. We woke up to look out at the blue, red, orange and pink sky with the sound of what seemed like a thousand birds to send the sun to bed. It was glorious.
Birds. What special creations they are. How simple their lives, how extradinary their gifts.
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