Gilbert had a scare this weekend

[ruffledfeathers]

Gilbert and I were on the beach yesterday and he is used to the various flying things that no longer freak him out (planes flying with banners all day, helicopters, parasailers over the ocean, kites, kids throwing fribee, etc). When we were in the water (he was on my shoulder and I was waist deep), I wasn't paying attention behind me, but a kite surfer with a particularly large kite/chute shot it up in the air right beside us and Gilbert let out a panic call and flew off me (harnessed). I got him back in my hand and told him it was fine, did my usual thing of showing it to him and explaining it is ok....but he wasn't having it.

I left the water and walked him up the beach but as the kite came speeding back toward the beach, Gilbert flipped out, crash landed in the sand and was actually scaring me. He was wide eyed, coughing, breathing super heavy and just freaking out. I never saw him so scared. I took him off the beach completely and then after he calmed down, we relocated down the beach, away from the kite surfers.

Anyhow, I did the weirdest thing....confession....he was so upset that I scraped cream out of the inside of a vanilla oreo cookie and offered it to him to make the experience more happy. Who feeds a bird such garbage? but under the circumstance it worked. He perked right up and started happily chattering away again.

Just when you think you have a bird who doesn't startle over anything (seriously this bird goes to parades and goes in the ocean with crashing waves while planes fly over all the time) you find the thing he is terrified of. We will work on this from only a safe distance for a while. No kite surfers are going to be in his near future. (or cookie cream for that matter! haha)

 

[Allee]

Oh Poor Gilbert! What a scary experience. I feel so bad for them when they are startled or frightened by something. I'm sure a tiny taste of cookie cream won't have a lasting effect and under the circumstances, I think it was a great way to diffuse the situation.

 

[RavensGryf]

What a scare Patti! I know how much Gilbert loves the beach, and I'm glad that he (and you) are okay . Happy little boy after a little taste of Oreo cream lol.
Ps.. I've never seen kite surfing.

 

[Flboy]

Poor guy! Fantastic save! I agree with the treat, totally refocus! Kite make a perfect hawk!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

The one that initially scared him was this huge bright red, fast moving "parachute" style kite. Then a second neon green one went up but before it did I got him away! Kite surfing looks extremely fun to me. I am pretty sure that is the name of the sport. Seems popular these past few years.

 

[Flboy]

Looks fun, but!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tR9USjpNuB0

 

[RavensGryf]

Looks fun, but!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tR9USjpNuB0

:52: Looks hard to control. I'd sure love to be where the water is that clear and blue! Wonder where that is...

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Oh man! The dude in that video didn't even have the board! That was crazy. The people I see inflate the kite and have the lines and a small board and move very quickly through the water but none of them were air born. Lol.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Here was Gilbert after we were at a safe distance, still watching them though. (Making sure those monsters don't do anything crazy). https://twitter.com/buddingtwigs/status/622891228837904384

 

[JamesC]

He still looks to be on alert. Glad that he is ok after the scary experience.

It is funny what can set them off sometimes. I get seagulls outside my place occasionally and it will get my pair freaking out. Though what really gets them going are the menacing neighbor kids who sometimes run right in front of my window.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Yes he was definitely keeping a close eye when they moved close to the beach (that face in the photo). My Georgie was terrified of balloons even at a distance.

 

[BoomBoom]

I think you handled that very well! Right down to the Oreo cookie thing. I'm sure you would've used something more healthy if you had access to it, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

I'm glad you are both well!

 

[BoomBoom]

Speaking of sea gulls, do you think they might pose a threat to our conures like say a hawk would? I remember seeing a seagull gobble up a baby duckling. Reason I asked is because I was out on the beach with Boomer early this weekend (he was in his pak-o-bird, he hates the harness), and there were tons of seagulls but he paid no mind to them.

 

[RavensGryf]

Speaking of sea gulls, do you think they might pose a threat to our conures like say a hawk would? I remember seeing a seagull gobble up a baby duckling. Reason I asked is because I was out on the beach with Boomer early this weekend (he was in his pak-o-bird, he hates the harness), and there were tons of seagulls but he paid no mind to them.

I don't know about Seagulls (gobbled up a baby duck )! But I was also at the beach Saturday (birdless) and saw a ton of gulls. We're you at Bolsa Chica by any chance?

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I have never seen any seagulls even slightly aggressive with Gilbert. They hardly notice him until I have him flying. Occasionally a gull flies over like 'who is THAT?!' but that's about it. I wouldn't let him get close (doubt he would anyhow) if they were fighting over a crab or a fish, but other than that they all seem peaceful together. At my friend's house though, I hardly take Gilbert flying in her yard even, because there are so many hawks in that area. (I don't even leave my Chihuahuas unattended while doing their potty outside). With small pets....hawks scare me....a lot. They are skilled hunters!!

 

[BoomBoom]

Speaking of sea gulls, do you think they might pose a threat to our conures like say a hawk would? I remember seeing a seagull gobble up a baby duckling. Reason I asked is because I was out on the beach with Boomer early this weekend (he was in his pak-o-bird, he hates the harness), and there were tons of seagulls but he paid no mind to them.

I don't know about Seagulls (gobbled up a baby duck )! But I was also at the beach Saturday (birdless) and saw a ton of gulls. We're you at Bolsa Chica by any chance?

I have heard of Bolsa Chica, but I was at Abalone Cove with a friend this weekend. Where is Bolsa Chica?

 

[JamesC]

Seagulls are very opportunistic and I would be cautious of them. I didn't personally witness the event here but I heard about it last year when a flock of cedar waxwings were eating fermented berries and pretty much got drunk. They were flying around bouncing into buildings, cars, whatever. The gulls saw that and came in and devastated them. A DJ was broadcasting and saw it happening right outside his studio.

They can be very bold, especially since people like to feed them (which drives me nuts). I'd be a bit worried that if a gull saw something that was perceived as an opportunity or a weakness in a companion bird, even on a harness and close to people, then they might make a go at the bird. I like seagulls but I don't trust them.