1 Grat.

I was just thinking that it's really sweet and fortunate, that the last sound I hear at night, and the first I hear in the morning, ia the soft sweet chirping of the dear birds.

My Boys Today

Today

My birdy boys

Well

I held them in my hands

One at a time

And rubbed their bellies

I love my boys:)
xoxoxo

Oh - and I noticed yesterday - that they drink from one of the water bowls
and bathe in the other!
Especially Jewel
So cute!

Old pic but the innocence shows...

Summer

Last night and today,
Summer came
to,
"Come here."
Oh good.
So both do now.
Maybe wings clipped temporarily and painlessly WILL work for their safety in the longrun. And - for *their* fun in relationship with me:)
I love my boys xo

Birdies' Wings

I am sorry I had them clipped:(

I am using the time of course.
And I had read a TON
and heard a TON
and meant to do the right thing of course
and they ARE happy and healthy- singing and playing
eating from my hand
and Jewel learning "come here." (Summer still just watching from the sidelines).

But I know they must miss flying freely:(

And if they don't get "trained"
I will hope we don't have an emergency
and I will buy a net just in case
and carrying cage
and maybe get them used to enjoying going in it....

I will never have their little wings clipped again!
My boys.

Training

Jewel has had 2 days of training now. "Come here."
Summer just watched yesterday, but moved a little closer today. (And got rewarded).
*This is different than standing on my hand and eating millet. It is done with the hope that they will learn to come to me even when flighted: )

Nails Trimmed and Wings Clipped

These two women came and did, for both birds.
Please KNOW:
It is like a haircut - not hurt!
It is temporary - grows back
It is for THEIR safety - two flighted birds, 9 months old when got - I am able (the books and bird people I know say no one would be) to get them trained. Tamed, yes, come to my hand and eat etc. But not trained - as in come to me upon command. They HAVE TO - for their SAFETY. If they are flying around and I need to get them in the cage for some safety reason/ if there is a power outage again and it is cold - no heat no electricity, which happened here for five days in the fall/ if I need to take them from their flight cage into a carrying cage to get to vet/ if I need to give them medicine... I cannot, unless they will come to my hands (besides when THEY feel like for treat and then fly away when feel like).
I COULD force them by grabbing them with a towel. But that is so frightening to them. THIS is apparently MORE humane.
It gives me about 6 months to tame them (carefully - so they don't try to fly, and fall - following instructions).
If need more, can trim again...
Eventually it WILL work.
Plus - I AM very good with animals....

Okay, Boys, I talked to you and tried to help you intuit about this last night. You seem perfectly fine right now. I will let you rest, then give you millet treat later, My sweeties. xo

One held while the other trimmed. I was away trying not to watch except for snapping the pic:



One holding Summer:


20 minutes after, they're already perched and singing - phew:)

My Boys Playing, Exploring, and Bathing in July

And even though the door is almost always open when I'm here, they sometimes go into cage and sing and play:)
I love my boys! xoxo Summer and Jewel

Bath!

Jewel is in the birdbath right now!
First time ever!
So far they've only been drinking little sips from it!
Summer is watching with interest!

Oh joy oh joy!

I'm so happy about this!

Yaaaaaaay!

(can't get pic as phone in other room and will freak them - next time)

My Birdies Totally

GET it.
It is *I* who have learning to do! lol

They KNOW the word, "Up."
So FINALLY - *I* caught on to that.
And finally, said it WITHOUT the millet in my hand. Told them up, and WHEN they came, gave them millet. Duh!
*They* are doing GREAT with it!
lol
My dear birdies...

Look! 5 Bits of Bird Happiness

The first - who could be cuter?
Second - shows their colors better
Third - their little kissing game
Fourth and fifth - look like magic - the wings...
I love these birds

And
I remember when Birdie commented once, when I posted pics of other birds doing this from online and said, "These aren't my birds but look like." And she said, "Someday they WILL be your birds." And here ARE my birdy boys, doing JUST that! :) xoxoxo Summer and Jewel

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Birds

I have been and am happy these minutes just watching my happy birds communicate, play, and eat.
I am very grateful for that.
When they're playing-playing - they stop when I approach with the camera. But here is Jewel a little anyway. But oh, they've been doing so much - acrobatics and all.

Birdies

I'm watching a little tv and crocheting, and they're hanging on their front porch.
Ooh - and now fying ALL AROUND.
Oh good.
They really help me to hang on, my little babes.

I was just thinking:

If only they knew -
how safe they are.
How I will always make sure they have all that they need
And do all I can to make sure they have all that they WANT.
That I ALREADY have PLANS for them. For this summer, etc.
And plans for God forbid something happens to me...

That They are healthy, they have each other, and me.
That I picked them out on purpose
And love them very much.

That they are good enough JUST AS THEY ARE.

That I LOVE when they get closer to me. But it is not a REQUIREMENT of any sort.
There ARE no requirements.
I love them unconditionally.

And it actually gives me joy just that they exist.
And I want to share the joy with them.

That they will be well taken care of for all their natural days.

And have nothing to ever worry about. Ever.

--
And then I thought -
Imagine -
Maybe there IS a God.
Who feels JUST that way about me...
--
And now, at 7:20 pm, Jewel just did it. First time ever. He came up from my left hand inex finger to my right hand index finger when I put it against his lower belly above his feet and said, "Up."
He DID IT!
I am so happy about this.
And they are flying about again.
Lots of hours of freedom today for my beautiful much-loved boys:)

Bird Journal

I got to touch both their bellies a little tonight. For the first time EVER.
AND
They finally came out and flew again, after not doing so since last Sunday eve. For about 17 minutes. Yay. I still have the cage door open in case they want more.
And they came very close to me
And they landed on the other chair. Cushion and back.
Nice.
We are making progress.
AND I'm enjoying the MOMENT with them too. Not just waiting for more.
Tonight was like being in an aviary with them. And my den was the aviary!:)

And now, they are back on their little "porch." Yay.

Birds Journal

The last TWO nights,
Jewel let me touch his feet while he was on me.
I think that the touching under-belly and him stepping up from there might happen.
And maybe even soon.

Bird Journal

The birds
have been flying all around so much tonight.
Out free.

And both have come to my finger when I offered it.
And doing lots of fly-by's and fly-overs:)
And Jewel was on my foot for a while. Twice
And BOTH - are now on their playground/activity center.

I am glad for this.

Summer Has Come Out of Cage!

Jewel came so far up my arm last night, almost to shoulder.
And even timid little Summer did too! Almost just as far!

Then today, Jewel came,"Up" to my finger from inside cage to my finger outside of cage. This was progress.
Then I sat here and left the door open for a while. And they BOTH came out!
Flying all around!
And Jewel did a bit of flying and a bunch of hanging out.
But Summer - flew and flew and flew. Hit window twice (without injury - phew) so I pulled down that shade! Flew Flew Flew.
Then rested a while on high-by-ceiling bookshelf.
And Jewel - first time - perched on this wicker thing by celing lamp (which is off) that I've always THOUGHT he'd love.

Then they both went back in and ate
and CAME BACK OUT!
Flew flew flew :)

Now, Jewel is standing on the cage door, like his little front porch area that he loves so much too (edge of open cage doorway),
and Summer is in cage eating.

I am so happy with all of this!

--

And now,
hours later,
first time ever - SUMMER outside cage and JEWEL in and they're talking and playing through the bars.
SI cute! (cage door open)
Also doing little thinking about weather want to approach playground / activity center. Summer even did a fly-by. Granted, I have baited it with millet...:)

--

And now, tonight,
my babies ate out of hand together, outside of the cage. AND from the cup on their playground (with a little luring on my part).
And flew flew flew.
I am so happy for them.
And with them.
Thank you God, for my little miracles. YOUR little miracles. Amen.

My Birdie Babes

They have both been on me more.
AND - I find that if I spend a FEW sessions each day, rather than just one, we get closer more quickly. (Duh! :)

The other night i was able to move my finger around with Jewel on it and even to outside of cage
Last night he was outside the cage for a long time perched on me. Granted, I still need millet for this, but still.

Summer has not come out yet. Is a bit more timid than Jewel. (But takes more of the millet lol)
Jewel is more of the leader.
The door is open right now (cage - not room!) for the past 20 minutes. And when I was changing the food cup, Jewel cam and perched on it in my hand! So I started calling him to my finger. Summer has just watching. Eventually, Jewel took off. ( I had had the cage wide open on purpose; I don't if I'm just changing food and need to get to work or something).

Jewel has seemed to like being on the bamboo window shade (first time), and the top of the bookcase (where he's been before). And loves walking all over the outside of the large cage.
Summer has been communicating with him from inside it. Even hanging upside down to do so!

I hope he will be freer soon. Or at least is happy as is!

These pics are photographically terrible, but are the best I could get. Trying to help them be comfy, not scare them lol!
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***I just got to pet Jewel's front 3 x. Lightly, gently, very short touches. But that was the first time ever and it was beautiful!

Jewel's First Free Flight! :)

5:16pm Sat.
Jewel came out!
Has been flying around (safety -insured by me) den!
And perched on ledge behind sofa (with wood put in so cannot fall or wedge)
and on door frame and various parts of cage.
I THINK he's trying to get back in now, but can't QUITE figure it out. And won't let me help him.
He'll get it.
Or I'll figure out a way to help...
Summer has just been watching, and talking.
This is exciting.
I am so happy for my Jewel.
And Summer's turn will come soon.
Oh my God, now they're kissing through the bars, Summer inside and Jewel out. Oh dear! I'm gonna help a bit.
Be back with pics.


Ok. So he DOES - APPEAR to know how to get back in, but wants to on own, or not quite yet.
Okay. I'll happily wait...




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Bird Journal

My sweet ones,
tonight,
came to my FINGER!
and perched -
Yes I had to have millet to tempt them, but the tiniest piece and they both came and stayed

I think they're learning their individual names
And even beginning to know the word "Up."

AND most of all, they are beginning to know that they can trust me!

Yesterday and tonight, cage in l.r. while I played piano. They love that. Sing the whole time, stop when I stop...

I love my babies!

And Now

We had over 20 minutes
Both my hands in cage
Two birds on one hand
One bird on each hand
Eating millet
Even from tiny little piece maybe 1/2 inch long
Progress!
I love my birds:)

And -
I'm enjoying the *moment*
not just the - what will come next

Thank you, Birdy Boys!

Just lots of great bird pics now