The Great Pumpkin

It was two years ago, this week, that we brought Pumpkin home to join the family. He and Tori were instant friends, and have been constant companions ever since. Watching them hang out together, playing, chatting, sitting so close you can barely discern a line of space between them. It's an incredible thing. Sure, they've had "jealous sibling" issues, like brothers vying for attention, or first dibs at toys or treats. But, all in all, they are the best of friends. Brothers in wings.

When we were looking to find a friend and companion for Tori, I visited Kay and Ralph at the pet shop many times before making a decision. It had to be the right match. The first time I saw Pumpkin he was wrestling with his brother bird in a cage in the store. They wrestled so boisterously that they both fell off the perch and were rolling around at the bottom of the cage. Not fighting, but wrestling. No harm done. I was amazed. When Kay told me that Pumpkin's brother had been sold and that someone would be taking him home in the next few days, I knew that I couldn't let Pumpkin go lonely. He would be missing his companion. His buddy. His brother. So, the decision was made, and we made plans to bring him home.

When we got him home I spent a bit of time with him, hoping to keep him calm, and not stress him too much. Then we introduced him to Tori. Within minutes they were both sitting on my hand together. Like they'd been friends forever. And, now, it seems, they have been.

Pumpkin has always been a true "boy" in all things. Always on the move - places to go, toys to play with. Flying to do. Except, not too long after he joined the family, he was a bit over zealous and somehow wounded one of his blood feathers. I panicked, and ended up taking him to an emergency vet clinic about 20 miles out of town. I hadn't been through it before, and I wasn't taking any chances. For those who haven't had birds, it's important to note, they are small creatures, so even a little blood loss can be harmful. It's very important to make sure that any injured feathers are treated, or removed as the case may be. That any bleeding is quickly stopped, and any chance of infection staved off. Fortunately, everything worked out fine and Pumpkin was okay. But he had more than a few blood feather incidents in that first 6 months or so. It just seemed like he would start to heal and he would get just rowdy enough to injure himself again. I had many an urgent conversation with Kay during this time period. She would look him over, make sure all was well, and then proclaim him "all boy".

Pumpkin is doing very well these days. It took some time for him to really come around and want to hang out with me. But he and I are good friends now. Though, Tori wins the number one spot.

Miss Pixel would like your attention

Miss Pixel wants to remind you to vote, vote, vote for Mr. Squirrel and his card at the contest website www.hallmark.com/you. Well, okay, maybe not. What she really wants is the attention of her three male companions - Tori, Pumpkin, and Texter. All of whom were playing up above her house, and not inside, with her. Check out the video and see how she makes her feelings known.

As you can see by the wild fluttering of her wings, Miss Pixel is clearly demanding something. It is my interpretation that she wants her friends attention. I'm pretty sure I'm correct.

She is the only one of the four that does this. A short while after we brought her home I noticed she would do this when Tori and Pumpkin were hanging out together, or spending time with me. Although she is very fond of me, I'm certain it was Tori and Pumpkin's attention she was looking for.

The dynamics were interesting. At first it seemed as though Tori and Miss Pixel might be an item. See the video "A Very Awkward Moment" for further example. After a while, it became clear that Pumpkin was not going to back off in the pursuit of Miss Pixels affections. I was worried that Tori would be lonely without his best friend, Pumpkin, to pal around with. And that he would feel rejected by Miss Pixel. (Oh, how we humans do like to project our feelings onto others...) Anyway, Tori did have me to play with. Our strong bond has continued to grow. And, after a while, the trio did seem to settle in to their places.

But, then, we added Texter. Another male who definitely is fond of Miss Pixel. Miss Pixel does seem to return some of that affection, but, so far, I think the majority of her affections are reserved for Pumpkin, and, herself. She is a confident little Diva after all.

More on this little parakeet soap opera another time...

Awkward Moments

Living with parakeets is a joy. Presently, we have four of them. Tori, Pumpkin, Miss Pixel and Texter. My husband, Joe, worries that I will come home with another at any time. Not that he doesn't like them. He does. But he worries. Or so he says.

The babies, as we call them, are all pretty easy going, happy birds. Each has its own distinct personality. Tori was my first, and we have a pretty strong bond. He was talking quite a bit, with his best phrase being "How was your day?". But once Pumpkin came along, Tori decided that, aside from the occasional "pretty bird" or "I love you", he would just talk parakeet talk.
He and Pumpkin got along well from the start. Although Pumpkin can be a bit of a stinker, and likes to follow Tori around, wants to eat what he's eating, play with what he's playing with. Pretty much the same as a younger sibling will shadow an older one. But, at times, when they sit close together, chatting, or one chatting away and the other listening closely, with his eyes closed, they seem like they've been friends forever.

Tori is what I call my intellectual. He likes to sit quietly and listen to music. Sometimes he will sing along beautifully, joyfully. He loves to sit on my shoulder, and, since he was very young, really enjoys sitting atop my nose. Early on he would sit on my glasses for the longest time while I read a magazine, or watched television. He waits eagerly for me to get out the hair dryer in the morning when I'm getting ready for work. For some reason, he loves to sit on my hand, or my shoulder while I dry my hair (I use a diffuser, and never point the dryer in his direction).

Pumpkin came along second. He was one of a pair of brothers. The brother was adopted, and I thought it was just too sad that he was all alone without his brother, so he came home to live with us, and Tori.

Pumpkin is always moving. Rarely still. Always checking out what's going on, and very eager for all the others to come out and play. He was very shy with me for a while, so I didn't push it. Once he was ready, he was flying over to sit on my head, or hand, or to help Tori clean my teeth. (check out the youtube video here)

Miss Pixel was chosen by the boys. I had taken them to visit Kay, (the pet shop owner/breeder where we've found them) for nail trimmings. When we go to the shop we visit the other birds. On that particular day Miss Pixel decided that we were of interest to her. Both Tori and Pumpkin perked up, and chatted at her. She came right to the front of her cage and answered back. I talked with her a bit, and she answered back sweetly. I figured she might be the next one, and discussed it with Kay. Tori and Pumpkin were boys. Miss Pixel could add a whole new dynamic to the scene. Kay suggested I talk it over with Joe first. We had decided the next bird would be named Pixel. But since it turned out to be a girl, we decided to call her Miss Pixel. A fitting name, actually. She's a bit of a diva. But, very, very sweet. She was sitting on my finger and chatting with me the first night we had her home. It took a while for her to really trust me, but she and the boys got along very well. There have been a few romantic triangles and awkward moments since she came along. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYKUau7SzMg

Texter was chosen in much the same way. I took the babies in for pedicures, and we visited the birdies at the store. Tori showed a keen interest in Texter, and Texter seemed very interested as well. Both were hanging from the fronts of their cages and just quietly observing each other. Again, I went home and discussed it with Joe. The next day I went back for Texter. By the end of the evening, he was hanging out with the gang.

Not that there haven't been surly moments between them all. A few scuffles here and there, but no injuries, no malice. Just, hey, that's my toy, my swing, my perch.

We have no plans to add another right now. But that could change...