Willow’s thread

[WillowQ]

Today I see that mr. Willow definitely know the concept of big and bigger. He was holding some avicake I’d broken off. I offered him a tiny fragment; no interest. I held out most of a cake and he dropped the quarter avicake I’d given him.

Willow was having an early crabby night last night. And we had BBC a tornado warning and howling winds and thunderstorms. Today is sunny and calm and he is, too. it’s 42 which is still not warm enough to take him outside. At 55 maybe we’ll try it.

He has finished his avicake and is now beak-crunching to beat the band.

 

[Pixiebeak]

They sure do! When I'm offering stuff and I give them a little bite, they often grab part sbd fky off ,! Or see another bird git s bigger piece! Parrot s are funny

 

[WillowQ]

I’m thinking of having pizza for dinner, in which case it MUST BE SHARED.

w isn’t into basketball today. I think he is in need of serious pets and scritching. He’s so sweet when he rests his beak next to my nose and gazes at me. And we have a purr!! Good boy!

 

[Pixiebeak]

Oh yes , pizza thief! Everybody loves pizza!

I love looking at cst videos online. They always show cute kitty thief! But I've had cats I the past and parrot take the cake ! They are the worst thieves! Mine gang up on me!!

 

[WillowQ]

We used to have the birds at table with us. So i had the Quaker and my ex had the ringneck at Thanksgiving with his family. The ringneck stole a whole bun that was almost as big as him and started to run away with it. Usually they had decent manners and would sit on the edge of the plate over a napkin.

Willow is having a snuggly day with me today. We have not worked on bird basketball for a week and he’s not too interested in the ball.
He demanded his avicake and ate it quickly. He was beak crunching and then cuddled up to my nose for a nice jaw rub. It’s so odd to feel his tiny breath on my cheek while he cuddles. It is a hug on a smaller scale.

Willow’s doing detail work on the outer edge of the wing. (Parrot Beaks look so very handy.). Aaand we have a tail wag! Now I am being preened.

 

[WillowQ]

Willow was screeching today when I got him out and brought him into my bedroom on his basket. He was doing the alarm screech and looking at something. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but guessed that there was new scaffolding outside. So I moved him so he couldn’t see the window. Now he’s fine.

Does that mean he doesn’t have object permanence or does it mean that he thinks HE’s out of view of the scary thing outside because he can’t see it?

 

[Pixiebeak]

Birds live in the moment, mostly.

Otherwise as prey species they'd never relax

 

[WillowQ]

I went next door with Willow to see if my neighbor wanted Willows rejected basketball toy for his parakeet. Knocked on the door: “who’s there?” “WillowQ” (name) “I’ve got a toy for your parskeet that my Willow vis scared of. Do you want it?” “No, and I don’t want the bird, either.”

This is the man who sat on his bee bee parakeet a couple years ago and now has just the budgie that was the Bee bee’s pal.
My neighbor was very sad. But I feel bad for this remaining bird.

Willow is still terrified of the toy. The backboard is mirrored and the hoop and attached ball are bright red.

Willow is on his basket, on my lap right now; preening. I guess this goes in the box of toys that Willow is scared of.

 

[Parutti]

That toy is Ope's favorite thing in the world haha

I caught him yesterday giving himself a neck massage with it

 

[WillowQ]

Neat Opie cam!! Back in early days of computer cams my ex set one up for Lucy. Somehow it didn’t work.

Wait—are you saying Opie has a basketball hoop that he loves? Willow offered me his ball a bit ago but still is so suspicious of the hoop.

I am still negotiating with that young person about adopting Jasper. 75 miles is not that far. I think I will have to set a time limit or I will live in limbo with Jasper. Just bought more Harrison’s for both birds and plan to smash some of the larger pepper pellets for a treat for Willow.

I have a migraine and Willow’s is snuggling with my eye. That little beak gets very warm and feels good on my eyelid. He is such a love bug. I love me some Quaker parakeet!!

 

[WillowQ]

Maybe I could send Opie a care package of terrifying toys. Can’t give this to Jasper because she could bust it with that big ol’ beak.

 

[Parutti]

Yes Opie has a little red plastic hoop with a mirror that attaches to the cage wall, with a little red basketball attached by chain. He had it as a baby and just loves it!

"Care package of terrifying toys" has a really nice ring to it - I've said it a few times in my head while typing this

 

[WillowQ]

Well I gave my nephew a realistic T. rex about a foot high. It had a squeaker for some reason. When I squared it the poor kid vaulted to the other side of the sofa. I felt pretty bad. But that’s how Willow feels about All toys.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Well I gave my nephew a realistic T. rex about a foot high. It had a squeaker for some reason. When I squared it the poor kid vaulted to the other side of the sofa. I felt pretty bad. But that’s how Willow feels about All toys.

Aww
Penny isn't big on toys, but after living here awhile she doesn't have all the fear of new stuff like she used to.

Willow can still improve. Bright environment helps. I'm not sure if you keep your place on the dimmer side because of migraines, as I know some friends do. If so upping the ambient light can help. Mine are also more vocal and talkative when it's bright and cheery . On stormy or cloudy and sea foggy days I need to turn on all the lights as they get quiet less active

 

[WillowQ]

Ok. I didn’t know that, but I think I’ve noticed he’s more chattery when it’s brighter.

He’s such a good bird.

 

[WillowQ]

We tried dropping the ball into the cup and that was upsetting,too. He’s now being consoled and has stopped trembling. Just got a tail wag!

He drinks out of that cup all the time! I don’t get it, msn.

 

[WillowQ]

We are having a long long snuggle today. Somehow I got a cold yet birds want OUT time.

Willow got his avicake and since then we have been cuddling. He likes to be between my hand and my cheek, up against my nose.
He was grumpy yesterday but I hope that was just a bad day.

I am asking him to pick up the SCARY NEW BALL now. It looks a lot like the old one; so I’m surprised he noticed it.

I just got a squawk so I must get back to petting bird.

 

[WillowQ]

I think Willow’s version of basketball is going to be bringing the ball to me and dropping it into my hand.

When my attention strays from him he goes into his basket and finds his ball (the non- scary ball) and holds it up for me like, “See what I did?” The last time, he held the ball for a long time until I made eye contact and I put my hand under him so he could drop the ball into my hand.

Then I praised him enthusiastically and he looked proud and fluffed and tail wagged.
HIS basket and HIS ball.

 

[cnyguy]

HIS basket and HIS ball and the game is played by HIS rules. What else would you expect from a Quaker parrot?

 

[WillowQ]

If he drops the ball in my hand that gets away from the scary scary basketball hoop.
Jasper was yelling while I had Willow out but did not want to be out long at all. What the heck.

I tried to get a photo of willow fluffed up and proud of himself but it turned out blurry. Too blurry to add. No pics today.