Tag Archives: cockatiel

Pearl has a very egalitarian view of the world. What’s his is his. And what’s mine is his. In fact, that rule also applies to family, friends, and strangers. If he wants it, it must be his. Take grilled cheese, for example. Let’s just say I have a plate upon which a tasty grilled cheeseContinueContinue reading “What’s Yours is Mine”

When Dr. Irene Pepperberg first started out to research avian intelligence, she never dreamed that along the way, she might for a time have to sacrifice everything – her marriage, her financial wellbeing, her standing as a scientist – in the interests of pursuing her passion. She simply wondered if birds were as intelligent asContinueContinue reading “Alex & Me”

One of the (many) lovely things about recovering from any serious health issue – such as an eating disorder, for instance – is that once your time is freed up from arm wrestling said health issue, you have lots of free time for HOBBIES. Which means – naturally – that these days, I read aContinueContinue reading “Introduction: Books & Flicks with Wings”

Or at least it is in a bird’s world. If you have a pet you probably already appreciate the peculiar charm and vulnerability of impatience. For instance, if we ran and stuck our whole face in our dinner bowl the moment the meal was served, our meal mates would probably at the very least politelyContinueContinue reading “(Im)patience is a Virtue”

When people first witness what I am about to show you, they are alternately amazed or concerned. Were it not for the appreciative soft chirps, they might be forgiven for assuming I’m trying to, er, manhandle my pet bird. I don’t know exactly how it got started, but at 10 years old this year, PearlContinueContinue reading “The World Famous Neck Scratch Technique”

I am always surprised at the appreciation my little gal has for new culinary adventures. The other day, my mom (who shares Pearl’s enthusiasm for the digestible new and different) says to me, “Give Pearl a peanut.” My response, “Oh, I doubt she’ll like peanuts. Plus, they’re too big for her to get her beakContinueContinue reading “What Peanuts?”

Just in case I haven’t yet emphasized with sufficient clarity how much my little gal loves waffles, this should clear up any confusion. Last Sunday we gathered for family brunch. Pearl, as always, was invited. Mom made homemade waffles on her gourmet waffle iron. Then she set the pile o’ waffles out on the counterContinueContinue reading “Escape to Waffle Mountain”

In addition to bird jewelry, bird watching, and, well, birds, I also love bird art. Because I have spent the greater portion of my life to date recovering from an eating disorder (along with a host of attendant hangers-on like depression and anxiety) sometimes it takes me awhile before I really “get it” about howContinueContinue reading “What a Bird and a Gourd Have in Common”

Every few months or so, Pearl does something called “molting”. It starts gradually….a feather here, another feather there. Then a longer feather – let’s say a tail feather – suddenly drops out. And it’s on. It is worth mentioning that Pearl seems as mystified by the process as any of the rest of us.

It is always a big event when a child experiences their first lemonade stand. So like any proud Mama, I was bursting with pride as Pearl “helped” me to make our first spring batch of fresh lemonade. Pearl (naturally) assigned herself the role of supervising.