Allee
Well-known member
I'm finding out, a bird by any other name is still the same bird, but lately I'm thinking I could have made some better decisions concerning names. My entire flock seems to be having an identity crises and Harry and I are both to blame.
Harry has a mysterious past, in fact I had no relevant facts about her at all, not even her name or age. For months she called out the name Cameron in the saddest most plaintive voice, it was heartbreaking to hear. Then she decided that I would, for all intents and purposes be forever known as Cameron. Coming from Harry, I see it as a complement.
Not knowing Harry's original name, we chose Harry for Houdini the first time she escaped her cage, the day she arrived. We didn't know her gender but since she said, 'Be A Good Boy,' so often, we thought male was a safe guess. Until she laid eggs, by then, she was forever Harry.
Harry taught Zeke to say his name shortly after his arrival. She screamed it repeatedly and with extreme prejudice. ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEEEEK! Poor Zeke learned to say it exactly the same way. Recently, Harry has changed Zeke's name to Beke, or more accurately, BEKE, BEKE, BEKE, BEKE, BEEEK. I don't know why, Harry is an enigma.
I re-named my budgies several times before I settled on names that fit their personalities. My final choices were Piper and Twinkle. I don't think anyone noticed the changes except the budgies themselves. Piper is loud and outgoing and for that reason her name is said more often.
Poppy, ugh! Poppy's original name was Popeye. I wasn't crazy about the name, but she said it often and loudly and since she had worn the moniker for about eight years, I was reluctant to change it. While I was getting to know her, I gave her the unfortunate nickname of Pidey or worse, Pidey-Pie. I know it's awful, but she liked the nickname so much she made up a song with it. the Pidey song goes like this. Pie-Dee-Pie-Pie, Bidey-Bye-Bye, Pidey-Pidey-Pie, she adds words randomly and has a nighty-night version of the song too. I know it sounds ridiculously silly, but if you've ever heard a cockatoo sing a happy song, you know it's a beautiful thing.
Then I had Popeye tested and found out she was female, so I started calling her Poppy. She didn't mind at all, but she continues to call herself, Popeye, Pidey-Pie, or Piper, maybe because Piper starts with a P, or maybe because it's fun to say, I'm not sure Poppy knows the real Piper even exists. Poppy hasn't added her new name to the Pidey song yet.
When Harry met Poppy, she loved her on sight. Harry wolf whistles and calls Poppy, 'Pretty, Pretty, Bird,' she tells her to, 'Be A Good Boy,' they cry like babies together, imitate yowling cats together, call the dogs together and create general mischief and chaos together. Girl is not in Harry's long list of vocabulary words.
Harry is not biased, to her, everyone is a boy, including the female canines. Harry and Poppy have never been close enough for physical contact, but that's my fault, not theirs. I'm still not comfortable enough for that. Poppy is okay with Harry leaving their room to visit the other birds during the day, but if I take Poppy out of the room and leave Harry behind, Poppy has a fit. I guess you could say they are besties.
Poppy gets cranky when she has new pinfeathers and crankier when her hormone levels rise. Lately she's had both problems and she's been uncharacteristically screaming herself silly. I've had a terrible cold, so I've been cranky too. Harry's ran out of patience with both of us and has been referring to Poppy and I with one of her absolute favorite uncomplimentary titles, normally reserved for the cable guy. More confusion, pervert also starts with a P. Harry's made worse comments that don't bear repeating and don't start with a P.
One morning Sweet Pea very clearly said, Sweet, about five times and hasn't repeated anything remotely similar since. I think we should drop
the last part of her name and stick with Sweet.
I took some silly pics of the flock, and thought I'd share. Call the birds whatever you like, they answer to just about anything, although Poppy seems to prefer names that start with P.
I can wave hello, but please don't ask my name!
Pretzel, that starts with P.
Harry has a mysterious past, in fact I had no relevant facts about her at all, not even her name or age. For months she called out the name Cameron in the saddest most plaintive voice, it was heartbreaking to hear. Then she decided that I would, for all intents and purposes be forever known as Cameron. Coming from Harry, I see it as a complement.
Not knowing Harry's original name, we chose Harry for Houdini the first time she escaped her cage, the day she arrived. We didn't know her gender but since she said, 'Be A Good Boy,' so often, we thought male was a safe guess. Until she laid eggs, by then, she was forever Harry.
Harry taught Zeke to say his name shortly after his arrival. She screamed it repeatedly and with extreme prejudice. ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEKE, ZEEEEK! Poor Zeke learned to say it exactly the same way. Recently, Harry has changed Zeke's name to Beke, or more accurately, BEKE, BEKE, BEKE, BEKE, BEEEK. I don't know why, Harry is an enigma.
I re-named my budgies several times before I settled on names that fit their personalities. My final choices were Piper and Twinkle. I don't think anyone noticed the changes except the budgies themselves. Piper is loud and outgoing and for that reason her name is said more often.
Poppy, ugh! Poppy's original name was Popeye. I wasn't crazy about the name, but she said it often and loudly and since she had worn the moniker for about eight years, I was reluctant to change it. While I was getting to know her, I gave her the unfortunate nickname of Pidey or worse, Pidey-Pie. I know it's awful, but she liked the nickname so much she made up a song with it. the Pidey song goes like this. Pie-Dee-Pie-Pie, Bidey-Bye-Bye, Pidey-Pidey-Pie, she adds words randomly and has a nighty-night version of the song too. I know it sounds ridiculously silly, but if you've ever heard a cockatoo sing a happy song, you know it's a beautiful thing.
Then I had Popeye tested and found out she was female, so I started calling her Poppy. She didn't mind at all, but she continues to call herself, Popeye, Pidey-Pie, or Piper, maybe because Piper starts with a P, or maybe because it's fun to say, I'm not sure Poppy knows the real Piper even exists. Poppy hasn't added her new name to the Pidey song yet.
When Harry met Poppy, she loved her on sight. Harry wolf whistles and calls Poppy, 'Pretty, Pretty, Bird,' she tells her to, 'Be A Good Boy,' they cry like babies together, imitate yowling cats together, call the dogs together and create general mischief and chaos together. Girl is not in Harry's long list of vocabulary words.
Harry is not biased, to her, everyone is a boy, including the female canines. Harry and Poppy have never been close enough for physical contact, but that's my fault, not theirs. I'm still not comfortable enough for that. Poppy is okay with Harry leaving their room to visit the other birds during the day, but if I take Poppy out of the room and leave Harry behind, Poppy has a fit. I guess you could say they are besties.
Poppy gets cranky when she has new pinfeathers and crankier when her hormone levels rise. Lately she's had both problems and she's been uncharacteristically screaming herself silly. I've had a terrible cold, so I've been cranky too. Harry's ran out of patience with both of us and has been referring to Poppy and I with one of her absolute favorite uncomplimentary titles, normally reserved for the cable guy. More confusion, pervert also starts with a P. Harry's made worse comments that don't bear repeating and don't start with a P.
One morning Sweet Pea very clearly said, Sweet, about five times and hasn't repeated anything remotely similar since. I think we should drop
the last part of her name and stick with Sweet.
I took some silly pics of the flock, and thought I'd share. Call the birds whatever you like, they answer to just about anything, although Poppy seems to prefer names that start with P.
I can wave hello, but please don't ask my name!
Pretzel, that starts with P.
