LOTS of photos. Because Cooper’s friend Shivangi sent the flock LOTS of toys. These spoiled birds have been having so much fun playing with all their gifts that it was difficult to get photos that weren’t big blurs of motion. It’s hard to pose when you’re in destructo mode!
Shivangi – thank you so, so much for all the wonderful gifts! The flock sends you love and birdie kisses. xoxo
Time to set the table.
Tablecloth – Etsy
Napkins – Rice by Rice
Pot holder – Dawn Chorus
Apron – Ruby Lane
Trivet – Pete Cromer
Wine glasses – Nodzomi hand painted glassware
Platter – Dennis East
Dishes – Maxwell and Williams
Budgie bowl – Clarice Cliff
Salt and Pepper Shakers – Kootenay Designs/Etsy
Budgie candlestick – ebay
Millet centerpiece – Rustic Reach
Dessert plate – lelabodecorinne on Etsy
Espresso cup and saucer – Nadja Wedin
And for washing up:
Tea towels – helloshanstudio on Etsy
The budgie aviary at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County New Jersey.
The aviary houses approximately 500 budgies.
Visitors can feed the birds with seed sticks.
Love and thanks to our friend Adam Sullens for the photographs. Hopefully we’ll be able to visit the birds (and Adam) in the future.
Some photos of Riley out and about and with the flock.
Sunny, Felix, Ozzie, Riley and Emmy (Sunny is in the condo).
Riley is Emmy’s shadow.
Hanging out in the flight cage.
Riley seems to be doing well with the flock. We still need work with moving her around. She has no problem stepping up, but she steps right back down when you try to move her. We’ll get there…
Today we are celebrating Riley’s 1st hatchday with us. We don’t really know how old she is, so we’re starting her at 1.
Here she is next to her present. She actually took a little nibble. Yay!
She took more than a nibble of her hatchday millet.
(Like Mariah Carey, Riley likes to be photographed from her right side.)
Happy Hatchday Riley! We hope to enjoy many, many more with you. xoxo
Last March I happened upon an adoption notice from the San Diego Humane Society. A budgie was brought in by a Good Samaritan with a horrible case of mites. As soon as I saw this little one’s photo, I knew we would be adding to our flock.
After a couple weeks of care from the shelter’s vets, Moonshine was ready for adoption. We brought her home on April 1st. We decided to rename her Riley, because now this tiny bird would be “living the life of Riley”.
Poor Riley was a mess. Her beak was overgrown and had a honeycomb appearance and she had growths on her face. She had frond-like growths on her feet and was missing some toenails and toe tips. She was also missing feathers around her eyes and had bare patches on her wings.
We kept her in a separate room for her (extended) quarantine period. Riley took some time to finger tame. She will now step up, but we still have a way to go before she is completely comfortable with her humans.
Since bringing Riley home, she has been to our avian vet for a full examination and repeated beak trimmings. The growths on her feet eventually dropped off, as did her facial growths. Her beak and cere have greatly improved. We still take her in every three weeks or so for a lower beak trim.
Riley hasn’t discovered her toys yet, but she has started to sing and chirp along with the other birds. She has also started to eat her fruits, veggies and greens. She is camera shy, and I can only get photos of her right side. When she steps up, she immediately turns to her right side. I’m wondering if this is a quirk, or if she might have some vision problems – something to ask the vet on our next visit.
Our “Smiley Riley” is a sweet little bird, and I’m hoping she will live a long, healthy and happy life with us. She is definitely a prime example of why it is best to “Adopt, not shop”.
Winner of the messiest bird award.
(doo ah, doo ah, doo ah, doo ah, doo ah, doo ah, doo ah, doo ah)
