It’s the vine ball Christmas tree from Super Bird Creations.
Cooper investigates.
Sunny investigates.
And goes for it.
Felix is shy. 
Lera looking sweet.
Emmy was hesitant at first.
But soon got into the destructo spirit. 
She’s been working on the tree all day. All the other budgies come and go to give it a nibble, but this is HER toy – so watch out!
We don’t always get the budgies’ photos right on the first shot*. Here are some pics that didn’t make the cut.
I think Cooper thinks there might be millet back there…
Lera streeetches.
A yawn from the birthday girl (Emmy).
How can you have a cornucopia without millet?
* Due to the photographer and through no fault of the models, of course.
Look what arrived in the mail!
A package filled with treats and toys for the budgies from my wonderful niece Surena! 
Here is Alfie with the disco bell. Alfie loves his bells! This is a favorite of the boys (who love chatting up their reflections in shiny surfaces).
Here is Lera with the hypno wheel. She was playing with it, but every time she saw the camera, she would turn around and pose.
The seed sticks were a big hit as were the dried greens. Above – Cooper. Below – Sunny.
They started squabbling over the sticks, so I put them at the bottom of the cage where they could all snack together.
Here is Alfie again (with the ever present food on his face). Alfie is always first on the scene when food enters the cage.
The budgies loved their gifts! The flock has been a little quiet since Gordie left, so the care package was definitely a welcome surprise. Thank you so much Surena!
XOXO,
the budgies
It’s the “Triple Bamboo Rings” toy by Paradise Bird Toys.
Felix gives it the once over…
Lera strikes a pretty pose before becoming a blur of destruction.
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!
Look who’s one(ish)!
Lera’s presents were rings,
and marshmallows. She loves to shred!
And what would a birthday be without millet?
Happy birthday little Lera!
#naughtybudgie #shadybehavior #PooOrChew? # nonono #heehee #rulesdon’tapplytome
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.
Lera takes a bath (that’s Cooper watching her from below).
