Gilbert's Winter Travel

[ruffledfeathers]

We have been a little stir crazy with all the snow storms like so many others.

Last weekend i packed the car with my stuff and pet stuff, the three dogs and Gilbert and snow or not, we went to my friend's house for the weekend. Seemed weird travelling with a parrot in a snow storm but he seems to always be up for an adventure.

I had been feeling sorry for him, being couped up so much, never getting out of the couple rooms he flies around. It has been relentlessly cold and snowy. The trip was just what he needed. He had SO MUCH fun. I just made sure the car was nice and warm and i ran from the house with his carrier wrapped in sweatshirts. He was a good boy in the car.

Anyone else feeling stir crazy and feeling iffy about taking your little feathered buddy along on a journey/visit, go for it! I think Gilbert was thanking me, without being able to speak those words.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

OH, Gilbert and i have been standing at the front door "bird watching" for our entertainment. (I am NOT a winter girl. Need to see some signs of life!!)

I particularly like some of the photos I took of them:
Robins in the snow | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
That is one of them but there are a few others if you click around.

 

[BoomBoom]

Lovely pics!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Today was in the 50s and sunny here, so in spite of all the snow I took Gilbert out for a short while to be in the sun and fly. I also walked my dogs......I was downtown and a "stranger" said "where's the bird today?" LOL I guess I am the local "bird lady". People know me and I don't realize I have seen them before.
Gil was SO HAPPY again to be out and about. He saw the harness come out and went for it.
I so wish I could fly.....I watch him in awe and longing!!!

 

[Terry57]

Gorgeous pictures! The ones with the robin in the snow are breathtaking
And Gilbert sure looks happy, up there in the sky.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

He looks so happy! Gilbert truly is magnificent to behold.

Sunny is so tired of being cooped up indoors. He's the "harness" bird (not Trixie). I sure hope he let's me put that harness on him whenever we go out again. Sometimes it feels like we never will go out again (winter blues).

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I have struggled with a little winter blues this year more than usual. Spring is soon and will be very well-embraced!! (And yes Gil is so happy when outside. Truly "himself" when he gets out.)

 

[Buttons]

Wait...how do you keep Gilbert from flying away???

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I viewed your Flckr photos. Beautiful. Gilbert looks so happy, healthy and gorgeous! You have a special touch for making magical photos.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

P.S. Great wardrobe for Gilbert. That hooded jacket is very cooooool at the same time as being very warm for him. Where did u find it?

 

[Cyrinaluna]

Oh my goodness!!! Gilbert is gorgeous! I love the great wing shot with the sun right behind him! I may snag that as my computer wallpaper haha! Looks like something from a magazine.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

P.S. Great wardrobe for Gilbert. That hooded jacket is very cooooool at the same time as being very warm for him. Where did u find it?

That is from avian fashions--the place that makes the flight suits. I tried a flight suit (that's his santa outfit) but he truly does not enjoy wearing that. He is not thrilled with the hoodie either, but he tolerates it when we go out for a walk when it is chilly. It does look adorable. They used to have them only for bigger birds, but now they have a nice selection for the little guys too.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Wait...how do you keep Gilbert from flying away???

He has an aviator harness. That is one of the more popular ones i think, and i love it. He finds it easy to wear and doesn't fuss with it at all. He relates it to freedom and good times.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Oh my goodness!!! Gilbert is gorgeous! I love the great wing shot with the sun right behind him! I may snag that as my computer wallpaper haha! Looks like something from a magazine.

I love that pic too! It was an 'accident' too. I was snapping pics with him tethered to me and thought 'oh darn, i'm shooting into the sun' but then it came out cool. I made it my facebook cover pic too.

 

[Gizmomania]

I always enjoy seeing your posts and pictures of Gilbert's adventures. He's one very lucky little guy to have you!

 

[BoomBoom]

Beautiful photos! He looks so happy! You've inspired me to try and go back to Boomer's aviator harness training. He hates that thing so much that he attacks it.

 

[BoomBoom]

Ps. What size is your aviator harness? I think the one I got is too small so it's almost choking him

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Ps. What size is your aviator harness? I think the one I got is too small so it's almost choking him

I think Gil has the XS. It is tight when I pull it back off his head but it goes on his head easy. I let it all the way out before "doing wings" as we say. I let it have as much excess as possible, 'do wings' and then tighten. ("do eyes', 'do wings'--you would be surprised I even have a graduate level education in English, LOL!! I talk bird a lot.)