The klutz

Look closely around her left nare. Somehow, she managed to scratch the skin that surrounds it a little; nothing major, it is all very superficial and there wasn't any inflammation.

But the question remains, what did she do to make that happen?

These pictures were taken last Tuesday morning (and I thought I would get around to posting about this earlier, since I technically should have more free time, but obviously, other things got in the way) and there were no apparent scratches when she came out on Monday, so these had to happen between her last time out on Monday and that Tuesday outing - I'm thinking probably early on Tuesday, while she was waiting for her turn to come out of the cage since the scratches looked fresh.

As she didn't interact with any of the other birds, that rules out injury by other bird(s).

I figured it had to be a result of one of her toys; after all, she likes to play rough and does like to bang her toys around, so it wouldn't be surprising that one of them would come right back towards her and possibly hit/scratch her. I inspected her cage and found one toy with large and thin wooden slats that she had chewed down to pointy ends and it is likely the toy behind the scratches. Out it came (we will use it out of cage so I can see what she does to it) and have replaced it with a toy less likely to have bits turned into sharp dagger-like items.

Since I took the pictures, the scratches have healed up nicely. I'm pretty sure she didn't even realize what she had done to herself.

197:365 - What are you doing down there?

Zuri looking puzzled.

A morning outing

Finally, everyone got to enjoy some sunshine for the first time since the beginning of our vacation! Monday, the Boy and I went for breakfast and by the time we got back home, it was too hot in the backyard. Yesterday morning was dreadfully wet. This morning, however, was nice and sunny, yet quite comfortable. So we got the second table outside, packed everyone in their travel cages and brought them outside.

Some were more comfortable (Shade, Léa), some took a few minutes to adjust (Piper, Joey) and some were not very happy (Zuri, Pixel). As for Petey - well one never knows how Petey will react to anything (for example, one morning he will like a particular food item while the next he won't touch it...) Lately, Petey had been good outside, but this morning it took him a good half hour to get there, but then he was dancing like crazy and looked like he was enjoying himself quite a bit.

Some pictures (not the greatest quality as these were taken with my phone) -

Mid-yawn

Towards the end of their time outside, something spooked Zuri so he got to go in a little earlier (we looked around, couldn't find anything and none of the other birds really seemed to have picked up on whatever it was).

However, Zuri wasn't the only one who got spooked during our morning outing; at the very beginning, it was me who got protective. I love cats, I even have a cat. My cat and my birds don't interact though. I'll also add that my cat is also an indoors cat so none of my neighbours have to deal with her going on their property. I think it is pretty obvious where I'm going with this - new of this year (such as this wasn't an issue the two past summers we've lived here), a neighbour a few houses away lets two of her cats out. They are quite friendly, and one has even wanted to come in our house in the past (which obviously we did not allow). But I'm not so keen when, let's say, they leave little "gifts" in our garden...This morning though, I heard one of the cats on the other side of our fence, calling to us. The Boy was still inside (he was in the process of bringing the cages outside while I was outside keeping an eye on those that were out) - and, without really thinking about it, I went to get our hose (small backyard means everything is pretty much within reach) and heavily sprayed the fence, so the cat would get the message. After the second shot of water to the fence, he got it and left. That got me thinking that for a while I was entertaining the idea of an enclosed patio and I probably would have felt more at ease of letting a bird or two out there with little supervision had that been what we ended up with...and that might have led to an accident involving these cats. Not that I would blame the cats, as they are predators, but I really don't think highly of that neighbour for letting her cats run around.

196:365 - On the move!

Staying put a few seconds for a picture! Forget it! Luckily for me, getting from one rope to the other was a bit harder for her so I managed to get a shot while she was trying to get back up.

"Wings up!" alternates

From earlier this week.

The differences from the actual 365 picture? Zuri is either screeching or starting to yawn in his picture and Shade's wings aren't quite in the same pose.

195:365 - Must clean those toes!

Vacation time!

And contrary to last year, we are staying around, which means the birds should get more time with us.

My main focus, actually, is to get them outside as much as I can. Things didn't start off too great though. Saturday are days where the Boy and I go to the local Farmer's Market bright and early - well for their opening, which is at 9 in the morning. By the time we got back home yesterday, it had gotten quite hot, especially in the backyard (which faces south and has no trees for shade). And given that we got home quite late on Friday night (worked late to get things ready before I left for the vacation), they didn't get out on Friday, so we figured it would be best to let them out of their cages (in the house) on Saturday morning.

As for this morning, it is a no go, as it is raining, and quite heavily at times. However, the birds are getting some extra time out of their cages this morning (compared to what they generally get), since we felt guilty for not letting them out as much this past week.

So far, no one is complaining!

194:365 - Expressive Pixel

I'm not too sure what is going on in this picture...

193:365 - The eye

Trying to get my attention

We've been going in a cycle with Léa regarding biting habits, where she will think it is ok to bite to get attention, then stop, then start over, then stop...well you get the idea. We are currently in the portion of the cycle where she resorts to biting for attention.

We try very hard to not reward the bite with attention, as she would get what she wants and it'll be reinforcing her habit. When I see the bite coming, but before it occurs, I'll tell her no, which is enough to stop her in her tracks and move away to do something else...but she'll inevitably come back later and try again. Unfortunately, there is often not enough time between her "attacks" for me to instead reinforce her being good without it being associated to what had just happened before.

This morning, I was having none of it, saw the bites coming, called her out before they happened and...well it looked that she temporarily found another way to get some attention, one I much prefer and was quite successful (for both of us).

What did she do?

Well see for yourself.

She got a floofy on her beak and instead of trying to take it off, she stood in front of me, looked up with her head tilted sideways. Well, yes that I will reward with attention (after I took a few pictures).

192:365 - Studying the toy...

...to find out how best to tackle it!

191:365 - Wings up!

Words cannot really express how much I love this picture. It has a few of my favourite components; first, Shade (obviously), second, wings going in an upwards fashion and lastly, a head cocked to the side (even if it is only a little).

I also got quite a few lovely pictures out of her during that photoshoot; while it wasn't terribly hard to pick one for the 365 project, quite a few of the others will make an appearance on the blog in due time.

Looking happy

Although it is the Capes that are known to look like they are always smiling, I can't help but think that they aren't the only ones that have a smile stamped on their beak - the smaller Pois (and even Piper) often look like they are smiling.

Watching "outside" Léa

That reflection must be up to no good!

190:365 - Wings up!

Zuri edition.