Remembering Sunny

Today would have been Sunny’s hatchday. We lost our little Sunny last August after a months long battle with AGY (she was under the care of our avian vet – had several visits). We bonded even more while she was ill. It was heartbreaking when she finally succumbed after fighting so hard.

Sunny had a sweet, gentle, playful nature. But she also had a “naughty” side. She liked to tip over her food dish, nibble on books or investigate off limit areas. She was a good little girlfriend to Dewey and companion to our girls.
She was a water baby, and absolutely loved baths and spritzes. After bath time, she would be drenched.
A favorite game was to drop toys off the top of the cage for me to catch. She was often beak deep in balsa, and when she could no longer fly (due to arthritis) Sunny enjoyed her playtime on the floor with her footies. When she was ready to go back to her cage, she would hop on our feet to let us know.

Sunny was such a constant – we had her for 9 “Sunny” years. It’s not the same without her. We are lucky we had her in our lives, and for all the wonderful memories we have of our time with her.
*If you are looking to add a bird to your family, please consider adopting a rehomed or rescue bird.

Sunny Days

January 25, 2013.
We bring home our little ray of sunshine. We found Sunny on Craigslist. She wasn’t tame and was frightened of our hands. But with time and patience she began to trust us.

When we introduced Sunny to the flock, it was love at first sight for Dewey. He was enchanted and was never far from her side. And the feeling was mutual. They were a devoted (and cute) couple. 

Sunny was a water baby. Of all our birds, she loved baths the most. She would be the first in the “tub” and the last out, and would end up completely soaked. I hope there are lots of fountains over the rainbow bridge.

I think Sunny liked to play hide and seek (or was probably looking for somewhere to nest). The bookcase was a favorite spot, and she would nibble on some of the books. Naughty! She loved paper towel tubes and hiding behind the blinds and play gyms. But if you called her name, her little yellow head would pop up.

Sunny was a good eater. At first she wouldn’t even eat lettuce, but the budgies showed her that fruits and veggies are delicious. Of course, she also loved millet. And more millet. 

Sunny was a playful budgie. She loved to drop her footie toys off the top of the cage. I would catch them and put them back and she would do it again and again – a very fun game. Shreddable and chew toys were favorites and she was often beak deep in balsa.

A couple years ago Sunny developed arthritis and could no longer fly. We moved her into her “condo” at night, so she wouldn’t fall off her perch.
Sunny got lots of exercise running around on the floor and playing with her footie toys. The other budgies would join her so she wasn’t alone. When she was done playing, she would step up on our feet and look up at us so we could put her back in the cage. Elevator up!

Photos of Sunny with her budgie flock: Cooper, Dewey, Ozzie, Emmy, Alfie, Gordie, Lera, Felix, Harvey and Riley.

Thank you, Sunny, for being the sweetest budgie. You gave us so much joy and love. You truly were a little ray of sunshine

Over the rainbow

Last month we lost our beautiful Sunny. She had been ill for quite some time, beginning in April. After having some labs done, she was diagnosed with an infection and avian gastric yeast. She was in and out of the vet’s office several times and was put on various medications. We had to keep her separate from the other birds, so she moved into her condo full time.
The last couple months were a roller coaster – she would seem to get better, then relapse. Keeping her food down and her weight up was a struggle. But Sunny was a trooper through it all.
On August 12, she said goodbye to the budgies. We put her on a heating pad on my desk and stroked her head and told her how much we loved her. Then she was gone.
It’s been a rough year for the flock, and losing Sunny was a big blow. She was such a sweet, gentle, little budgie and we loved her more than words can say. I still can’t believe she’s gone. I hope she is in a better place with the rest of our rainbow budgies and her darling Dewey.

Sunny in Stitches

Look what arrived in the mail!
This wonderful cross stitch of Sunny by our friend Kelle (her shop is BitchingStitch on Etsy).

It captures her sunny good looks – from her sweet expression to her sunshine sky blue and yellow coloring.

Sunny has been having some health issues recently so this beautiful cross stitch portrait cheered her up (and her humans, too).
Thank you so much Kelle for this fantastic gift. We love you!

Sunny Days

On Friday I noticed that Sunny was a bit lethargic and her breathing was labored. Luckily, Harry was able to make an appointment with the vet the next day. Sunny has an abdominal bulge (most likely an enlarged organ) and occasionally needs to have fluid withdrawn. The vet withdrew quite a bit of fluid and gave her a lupron injection.

She was immediately better. And so were we!

Here she is looking more herself, bright and sunny.