I've just come back from spending the weekend at my boyfriend (Andy)'s house. I spent most of the time playing with their newest edition to the family...
Where they live there are wild rainbow lorikeets, and about 5 days ago a very young and seemingly unwell/injured lorikeet turned up in their yard. It was unable to fly (wasn't even trying). They put it in the spare cage they had, and at first it was very scared, but soon warmed up to them and accepted their touch and would happily step up. A visit to the vet confirmed that it was a wild bird, not a lost pet, and apart from having mites it appeared in good health. The vet believes that it never fledged properly as it doesn't seem to know what its wings are for and the muscles are very weak. It probably would have died in the wild, so they decided to keep it and name it Sunny. We're calling it a he, but we don't know the gender.
The thing that surprised me so much is that this bird is so affectionate and accepting of everyone! It is clearly content and is keen to be let out of the cage and step up. As soon as he steps up he climbs up to your shoulder and starts preening your hair, your eyelids, eyebrows (and in my boyfriend's case, his beard!) and chirps happily when you whistle or talk to him. He often looks as though he is about to launch into flight, but he never does and never even flaps his wings. He climbs everywhere and entertains us with his less-than-graceful acrobatics. I just can't believe this was once a wild bird but the vet is sure that it is. He thought the odds of a pet bird, with the inability to fly, turning up at their house where there is a population of wild ones was very low. It just surprises me because I've met so many "hand raised birds" that bite, or are aggressive or fearful to new people, or even anyone except for their chosen person, yet this bird loves everyone and sees all people as members of his flock! He is such a sweetheart.
We bought him some toys on Saturday and he was very happy with them. He needs a bigger cage though as the one he is in is a budgie cage, but they'll get around to it. At least now he has some toys and perches to play on. Either way, he is getting lots of love and attention and is clearly a happy chappy =]
Where they live there are wild rainbow lorikeets, and about 5 days ago a very young and seemingly unwell/injured lorikeet turned up in their yard. It was unable to fly (wasn't even trying). They put it in the spare cage they had, and at first it was very scared, but soon warmed up to them and accepted their touch and would happily step up. A visit to the vet confirmed that it was a wild bird, not a lost pet, and apart from having mites it appeared in good health. The vet believes that it never fledged properly as it doesn't seem to know what its wings are for and the muscles are very weak. It probably would have died in the wild, so they decided to keep it and name it Sunny. We're calling it a he, but we don't know the gender.
The thing that surprised me so much is that this bird is so affectionate and accepting of everyone! It is clearly content and is keen to be let out of the cage and step up. As soon as he steps up he climbs up to your shoulder and starts preening your hair, your eyelids, eyebrows (and in my boyfriend's case, his beard!) and chirps happily when you whistle or talk to him. He often looks as though he is about to launch into flight, but he never does and never even flaps his wings. He climbs everywhere and entertains us with his less-than-graceful acrobatics. I just can't believe this was once a wild bird but the vet is sure that it is. He thought the odds of a pet bird, with the inability to fly, turning up at their house where there is a population of wild ones was very low. It just surprises me because I've met so many "hand raised birds" that bite, or are aggressive or fearful to new people, or even anyone except for their chosen person, yet this bird loves everyone and sees all people as members of his flock! He is such a sweetheart.
We bought him some toys on Saturday and he was very happy with them. He needs a bigger cage though as the one he is in is a budgie cage, but they'll get around to it. At least now he has some toys and perches to play on. Either way, he is getting lots of love and attention and is clearly a happy chappy =]
decides to stay, and brings you so much joy, and you have brought upon him.
Hope you make lots of
