Tag Archives: pet cockatiel

With “The Parrot’s Lament and other true tales of animal intrigue, intelligence and ingenuity”, author Eugene Linden tackles that topic animal researchers, scientists and writers everywhere try to steer clear of: defining animal intelligence without anthropomorphizing (assigning human qualities to) animals. This, as you might imagine, tends to be a toughy. But Linden doesn’t seemContinueContinue reading “The Parrot’s Lament”

It is a well known fact that feathery creatures like shiny things. My feathery creature has a particular fondness for shiny things that can be easily detached from whatever surface they may have previously been well-adhered to. Not only is the “what’s yours is mine” rule frequently – ok, always – invoked in the presenceContinueContinue reading “Sparkles for Everyone”

If you grew up reading the old fashioned hardcopy newspaper (or at least its comics section) like I did, then you probably still remember “Miss Manners”. Miss Manners – Judith Martin – is an American institution. She is a model of appropriateness, propriety and poise. I am sure Miss Manners would have plenty of adviceContinueContinue reading “A Feathery Version of Miss Manners”

As you might imagine, cockatiels have rather (ok very) firm opinions on this subject. However, in the spirit of (sort of) good sportsmanship, Queen I’m-So-Pretty does enjoy the occasional rousing “best-of” competition. And the winner is……..Pearl Cutts! Again. Of course.

My feathery companion does enjoy a good spring (or summer or fall or winter) shower. The first time I noticed the distinctive avian body language – wings trembling and held slightly away from her body, eyes wide and entreating, body crouched and neck extended forward – I thought she must be begging for something else.ContinueContinue reading “The Loud Silver Hawk”

Parrots (technically, a cockatiel hails from the parrot family) love sunflower seeds. If you broke down the genetic code that formed a parrot from the ancient Archeopteryx, I suspect you would find the chief sequencing proteins came from sunflower seeds. Speaking of which, recently Grandma bought a certain small and feathery someone a special present.

The word “friendship” has so often been claimed by human beings for our very own….but it would seem we must learn to share this great gift with our fellow beings at long last. Thank goodness. I picked up a copy of the book “Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom” by Jennifer S.ContinueContinue reading “Unlikely Friendships”

Pearl, just like any (permanent) adolescent, is quite skilled at making a mess. She can take the simplest of materials – seed, paper towels, and (of course) cockatiel poop, and redecorate the entire inside of her casa. At which point Mommy necessarily shifts into “maid mode”, complete with toothbrush, scrub brush, gloves, bucket, soap andContinueContinue reading “My Mommy, My Maid”

Into every feathery being’s life a little rain must fall. Most days are super-cool. On those days, you might get to pounce on a giant stack of waffles, dismantle the wicker furniture, chew through some delicious window grout, and stare at the prettiest bird in the world for hours in your own personal mirror. Other days,ContinueContinue reading “The Dreaded V-E-T”

When she was a chick, Pearl’s left wing tip was injured. Permanently. Wings, like arms, have three parts – the upper arm (between the shoulder and elbow), the forearm (between the elbow and wrist), and the hand and fingers. Pearl is missing the “hand and fingers” portion of her left wing, which means that onContinueContinue reading “Big Wings”