Willow’s thread

[Krisrath11]

I can say that's the same thing I get when things aren't as they want don't bring in the veggies wet or I'm a terrible mom!

I hope he wins!

 

[WillowQ]

Another member was writing about how they didn’t know much of their bird’s story. I know a bit of Willow’s story. Willow was living with an older lady’s daughter. Of course daughters husband didn’t like Willow, so gave him to her mom. He flew around her house but doesn’t seem like he got much other attention and doesn’t understand the concept of toys at all. EVERYTHING IS SCARY.

Not a lot of people in our state have parrots so I don’t think Willow got much socialization. He is pretty shy and doesn’t talk often. Willow has been mad at me because I had a cold last week and missed bird time for a couple days. Today I came to get him and the first thing he did after stepping up was a punishment bite. Ouch! But Willow and I spent a couple of hours together today and I think he’s done being mad at me. He was accepting pets and cuddling for a long time today. We had a very nice long visit, and Jasper had another where she got cuddles and sat on my shoulder for quite a while.
I’m lucky to have two such nice birds.

 

[Kassiani]

Birds can be sensitive souls. Willow is very lucky to have a patient human in his life! He would never stay mad for long and will learn that you will always do your best for him.

 

[WillowQ]

Announcement: thank you for your votes! Willow is Mr. February calendar bird.

He was going through a grumpy week but I think he’s mostly over it now. We spent an hour feeding pellets and snuggling today during a meeting. Willow was very happy and was err-erring and very puffed up against my face.

Here are a few photos I sent in for a Quaker parakeet society calendar picture. I think I’m going to use one of these for a painting.

View attachment 436659

 

[WillowQ]

Last Thursday was an eventful day. I received some soft pastels in the mail: the exact colors of a blue Quaker parakeet. There’s a spring colors set that contains the hues of green Quaker parakeet, but I think I already have those colors scattered throughout my box. So on Friday I printed out two of the above photos, plus another photo, enlarged to 8x10”. I planned to sketch them out this weekend and start the paintings.

Sadly on Thursday night I fractured a molar. I spent the weekend wishing I had a beak. I will have this fixed tomorrow morning, I think. Unfortunately, Jasper and Willow did not have a very exciting weekend. They did get to independently explore their play tree in my bedroom; but Willow was not in the mood and wanted to be on me.

Hopefully my beak will get fixed tomorrow and I can get back to bird business.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Ouch!!! So sorry!!! Aaano fun at all! Sbd so expensive!

 

[WillowQ]

Turned out that I only lost a filling and I managed the drill and fill well. My beak is much more comfortable tonight and I am now having a good snuggle with Mr. February.

Willow didn’t even eat the whole avicake before snuggles. Poor guy must have been lonely. I am being purred at and Jasper is now whistling to remind me she comes out next.

We will have some lovely garlic eggplant for dinner as I’m finally in the mood for food. I wonder how I can share this with birds? Maybe steal some vegetables and rice before adding the sauces?

Willow wanted his remaining avicake crumbs. Then I kissed the side of his beak and he fluffed and shook his tail out.

 

[Pixiebeak]

congrats Mr. February!!

 

[WillowQ]

My guys were happy this afternoon and evening as I camped out at the kitchen table working on pastel paintings.

I couldn’t figure out why Willow was screeching and then realized I accidentally left the avicake bag visible. So Willow had to hang off his branch yelling until I gave them each a chunk. Then he would allow me to draw.

Pastel is lovely but such a pain as it smears so easily. I made my own pastel fixative but I’m not quite sure how to use it. It is giving a very nice fur-like texture to the pantaloons and fluffy belly of the parrot being depicted. But it’s hard to get the head right as there are so many tiny tiny feathers.

 

[Cali]

Announcement: thank you for your votes! Willow is Mr. February calendar bird.

He was going through a grumpy week but I think he’s mostly over it now. We spent an hour feeding pellets and snuggling today during a meeting. Willow was very happy and was err-erring and very puffed up against my face.

Here are a few photos I sent in for a Quaker parakeet society calendar picture. I think I’m going to use one of these for a painting.

View attachment 436659

What a beautiful bird!!!

 

[cnyguy]

A neighbor of my grandmother was an art teacher and she once showed me how she would make pastel drawings on large sheets of fine sandpaper. I had some fun experimenting with that technique and it's interesting. The sandpaper really holds onto the pastels and the colors are especially vivid. You might try that too and see what you think of it.

I remember using the aerosol can of pastel fixative and having to take my drawings outside to use that awful smelling stuff. I'm curious about what you used to make your own.

 

[WillowQ]

Actually I bought a concentrate and added some liquor from my younger and more imbibing years. So didn’t REALLY make it.
Just mixed it up.
Man! those soft pastels are fragile. I’m waiting for some pastel pencils so I can add detail. And I need to find a nice soft Quaker Parakeet grey.
I think the oil pastels are easier to use. But that wouldn’t depict feathers as well.

 

[WillowQ]

But about Willow—I was busy all day and finally had bird time at 5:30 pm. Willow was enjoying making loud smacking noises as I kissed his head and beak. He wanted to be held IN MY HAND; like a big blue stress ball.

So I cupped Willow and gave him theatrically loud smacky kisses. I sniffed his floral bird smell and he purred loudly. I had to arrange a cab for Fri morning and I think the phone dispatcher could probably hear Willow errrrrr -ing.

Jasper also enjoys spectacular smooch noises, and will say “I love you, Jasper Bird!” when she is happy, or when she overhears me fussing over Willow.

The birds got radish sprouts yesterday and jicama today. So crisp and nice! Yum.

 

[WillowQ]

It is a sunny day and well above freezing. I have a little bit of final shopping for our small feast tomorrow. I don’t think we will have turkey, but a delicious feast of traditional
foods: salmon, a mix of white and wild rice, squash, greens, cranberry relish, and pumpkin pie (maybe with a pecan pie-type top crust)

Many of my family members will be deer hunting in the next weeks. But I am hours south of the hunting zone. In this small city it’s easy to miss the seasons changing. It snowed early yesterday but of course away and was warm enough to be outdoors in my shirt sleeves in the afternoon.
Willow is on his basket handle, licking the bridge of my nose, and I’m trying not to get crosseyed. Now he’s got his beak pressed against the outer corner of my eye and if I look towards him his little greyish white eyelid is shut as I rub his opposite cheek and jaw.

Jasper has quieted down now, but she was whistling and chattering in her cage and just got her session of smooches and cuddles. And Willow is purring near my ear and just started grooming his toenails. He smells dusty, slightly musky and floral and he is my little blue love bug.

 

[WillowQ]

Happy Thanksgiving from Willow, Jasper, and Heather. We are having a slow day and will cook salmon, wild and white rice, and baked squash for a non-bird-consuming Thanksgiving.
Meat turkeys are raised in really crummy conditions. I don’t want to endorse bird mistreatment; even if they are dumb they don’t deserve to be kept like that.
I know my guys will enjoy a little bit of flaked cooked salmon. They have just finished a big moly so I don’t suppose they need a lot. Still it is a special treat that they’ve had in the past, so they will have a nice dinner, too. And I will save and bake the squash seeds for another favorite treat!

 

[WillowQ]

(Not “moly” but “molt”.)

 

[WillowQ]

I am having a difficult day with a tooth issue, but we had bird time today. Here’s Willow.

 

[WillowQ]

Willow was picking at my face again today. Now I’m having some sort of reaction with little puffed up spots where he was nipping or plucking. I think it’s just skin hyper-reactivity but OUCH! He really gets in there with that little tweezer beak.

maybe I should take the suggestion and wax my eyebrows?

he WILL NOT stop plucking or picking.

I think they should get a good bath so they can preen preen preen themselves and work it all out.

 

[WillowQ]

Sadly, I have a cold and runny nose and had a bird-free day. They are too insistent upon getting their beaks up my nose whenever this happens. Tomorrow will definitely involve birds as I wouldn’t not see them for two days in a row unless REALLY sick.

i am still chasing down my Quaker parakeet list calendar featuring Willow’s beaky face. I don’t know which photo got included. !!!

 

[WillowQ]

Willow has had a grouchy few days as i was wearing my glasses. He hates them and tries to grab and throw them, but he also needs his cuddles so I take the glasses off and let him snuggle up against my face for a while.

I can’t see much at all without the glasses or contacts so I really wish Willow would get used to them. They were very expensive, too, so he doesn’t get to throw them.

I think Willow is not sure if I’m me with the glasses on. When I approached his cage to step him up, he attacked his octopus hanging toy. But he did step up fine.