Here are some videos of our wonderful little Gordie.
Here is the day I set my water glass on top of the cage. I turned around and saw this. Silly little budgie.
More bathing…
Gordie hopping, preening, eating millet and flying with the flock (Gordie is the one with the crooked wing).
On Monday, October 27th we lost our little Gordie. That morning I was cleaning the cage when I heard a loud squawking. I turned around and saw Gordie on the bottom of the cage upside down and fluttering his wings. I picked him up and he died immediately in my hands. We think it was a seizure or heart attack.
Gordie was an older budgie. We never really knew how old he was. We were his third (possibly fourth) home. His last owner estimated him at five, but he could have been (and we suspect he was) much older.
When we first brought Gordie home, he just sat on his perch looking at himself in his mirror. He didn’t play with his toys, move around much or call out to the other budgies. He wasn’t finger tame (but would sit on our shoulders). His previous owner told us that the family who gave her Gordie thought he was “boring”.
Gordie became a different bird once his quarantine was up and he moved in with the flock. He bonded quickly with his lookalike Ozzie. We think Ozzie was “the bird in the mirror” finally coming out to play. With patience, Gordie started stepping up. He expressed interest in what the other budgies were doing, playing with toys and nibbling on veggies and millet. Gordie became interested in us as well. If we stood by the cage, he would make his way right up to the bars to see us. He was the only budgie who did this. I think he liked kissy noises and being told what a good budgie he was. And he was a such a good little budgie.
When Gordie’s flight feathers started coming in he began to make the voyage from the cage to the little play gym on top of the bookcase. He really enjoyed being up high and would happily sit on his “gym” chirping to himself or the other birds. It took a lot of effort for Gordie to fly about. It could have been his age or perhaps he never had the chance to fly before. One of his wings was a little crooked – maybe that made it more difficult to fly. In any case, sometimes I would give him a little ride on his play gym back to the cage. Gordie also “hobbled” when he walked up and down on the perches. He was a little slower than the other budgies, but did his best to keep up with his friends.
We were thrilled when Gordie bonded with Lera. They were an adorable pair, constantly grooming each other. When Lera was ill, Gordie was so sweet and attentive, feeding her and cuddling with her on the bottom of the cage. I think he was key factor in her amazing recovery.
Gordie loved to take baths. When he was finished he liked to sit on the rim of the bird bath and gaze out the window. One day he even plopped himself into my water glass. He had great fun climbing out and dunking back in. Gordie also liked his green perch (above). If he wasn’t by Lera’s side, that was his spot.
I think because Gordie was an older budgie, he had a special place in our hearts. We wanted so much to give him happiness in his golden years. He was a sweet little fellow and we were lucky to have been able to share the short amount of time with him that we did. Seeing him playing, flying and interacting with the other budgies brought us so much joy. I just wish we had been able to have more time with him.
We love you Gordie and miss you more than words can say.
Gordie gets a gold star for for taking such good care of Lera (and for being such a darling fellow overall).
A couple weeks ago we noticed that Lera was not doing well. Usually she is very active – climbing all over the place (usually upside down), playing with toys, asserting her alpha status and zipping around the room.
Lera was very still, just sitting on the grapevine perch with her eyes shut. We weren’t too alarmed at first, because she was still eating and drinking and wasn’t fluffed up. We put the divider in the cage, so she and her boyfriend Godie could have some undisturbed quiet time. Then she began having balance issues. She could barely move without looking like she was going to fall off the perch, so off to the vet we went. We took Gordie, too, for moral support.
Our vet examined her (she was a trooper) and thought maybe she had been traumatized in some way. Perhaps by another budgie? We hadn’t noticed anything like that happen, but then again, we’re not with the budgies 24/7. Because she was eating and drinking, her droppings looked normal and she wasn’t fluffed up or vomiting, he recommended that we just keep her quiet and bring her back in if things got worse.
The next couple days were difficult. We moved Lera and Gordie to the quarantine cage. We kept it covered on three sides and lowered the perches and food and water dishes. I kept some millet on the bottom of the cage so she wouldn’t have to climb to eat. I also added a drop of apple cider vinegar to her water. Lera stayed at the bottom of the cage, she still had balance issues (it was really alarming) and was “stargazing” (head tilted back and looking up). Harry and I spent a lot of time on the internet looking up her symptoms to see what could possibly be wrong. We thought that perhaps she had an ear infection, as it seemed to fit her symptoms. Meanwhile, Gordie was being a wonderful boyfriend, feeding and grooming Lera and snuggling up with her on the bottom of the cage.
After a couple days, Lera started to recover. She climbed up to the bottom perch and was more active. She continually improved and was soon playing with the paper on the bottom of the cage and climbing the cage bars. She was still a little “dizzy” so we kept her separate until her balance returned.
Lera seems to have recovered completely from her mystery illness. It really is amazing – she looked like she was at death’s door. After scaring the crap out of us, she’s back with the other birds, flying around the room and playing with the toys. 
We’re so lucky that we had a positive outcome. I’m hoping for only healthiness and happiness for our budgies (and yours) from here on out!
We’ve been having a bit of hot weather in San Diego. To beat the heat the budgies have been playing in the water.
Ozzie in the pool.
Gordie takes a dip and a nap.
It’s hard to get Alfie out of the water.
Such a little clown.
After a swim, it’s time for some refreshing watermelon. Alfie is always the first to the food. He was more about the lettuce (as you can see from the ever present food on his beak). 
Cooper was the only one who was really into the watermelon. Yum!
Gordie, Ozzie and Cooper couldn’t wait for their food to make it into the cage.
Emmy and Felix finally moved into the big cage. Felix pals around with Gordie, but is a little standoffish with the others. I think Emmy wanted to be alpha female, but Lera shut that down pretty quickly. Both are doing well and seem to enjoy being with the flock. And I enjoy having only one cage to clean : ).
Felix and friends.
Felix and Lera – pastel parakeets.
Emmy and her beau, Ozzie.
Hanging out with Cooper.
It’s Gordie’s birthday! We’re not sure just how old he is – maybe 5 or 6?
* Click on this link: GordieBirthday for a printable picture that you can color.
Gordie’s favorite place when he’s out and about is the playgym on top of the bookcase.
It’s getting a little chewed up, so for his birthday Gordie got a brand new (bigger) play gym. I’m going to switch out some of the perches with natural branches and add some toys.
Of course, the flock celebrated with everybudgie’s favorite – millet!
Happy birthday Gordie! We love you!
What? No bloopers? Cooper has become such a super little model that we didn’t have any bloopers this month. So instead, here are some pics of the flock opening wide and saying, “Ahhh.” Or, “ACK!”
Ozzie
Lera
Gordie
Emmy
Alfie
Cooper
Dewey
Sunny
She looks sweet, doesn’t she? Who would have thought little Lera (and she is so tiny) would rule the roost? All the budgies make way for Lera. If she sees something she wants, it’s hers. I never see her pecking at the others, so I don’t know how she does it…
Gordie is up to speed with the other budgies now. He comes out on his own, eats his veggies, chatters (loudly), takes baths and pals around with Ozzie. His favorite spot to hang out is on the playgym on top of the bookshelf. And now, when we peer into the cage, he comes right up to the bars to visit. And very recently, he’s become close with Lera! I’ve caught him feeding her and they’ve been preening each other. They’re not inseparable/loveydovey, but I’m glad that he has a little sweetheart.