Well, quick on the uptake as always, I have realised that the Bibi-Michael hate campaign is actually my fault.
The spot where I serve and wash up is right next to Michael's corner. And parrots being parrots, my presence usually draws quite a crowd. Front row centre aisle is always Nigel: a very cheeky red lored from this year's batch of babies. For some bizarre reason, it seems Bibi has a crush on Nigel.
So: here's me, here's Nigel, and here's Michael: probably the same sex as Bibi, obviously a serious threat to Bibi's inappropriate crush on an under-age parrot, and therefore he must be attacked.
Thankfully, Michael spotted this one way before I did and has learned to scarper when he sees me coming. Complicated problem solved first by the creature of lesser intelligence (yeah, right).
So, how did I work this out in the end? Well, Nigel (this is his one and only word, by the way) has a thing for human heads and won't leave mine alone. The minute I enter the aviary, he'll come into land, dig in his claws, haul on my scrunchie prattling 'Nigel, Nigel' to himself before flying off cackling, clutching his scrunchie-prize. Clearly me and my expensive gifts are direct competition, so Bibi is now very intent on removing vital parts of my face. Oh Joy.
While that particular drama is being sorted, another has developed in the nursery. I guess I should explain our set-up: We have The Big House (for flighted or semi flighted birds), The Difficult House (for those that don't quite fit with the general population and require extra observation or care) and The Nursery (for those that do a passable impression of a brick when they try to fly). Thanks to a rapid summer moult, we now have two flighted red-loreds in the Nursery; Chac & Chell. They can't go in the Difficult House because Spike's in there and would probably kill them. I am reluctant to move them to the Big House as the Parrot Trust has very kindly shipped down some identification leg bands, and right now these two are the easiest of our pilots to catch. For the sake of a few days more, I don't particularly want to let them loose in a 30-foot high aviary. Anyhow, both Chac & Chell have taken a dislike to Katy - another of this years' babies and a very passable brick indeed. She is beginning to suffer real stress and runs the risk of injury from being constantly knocked off her perch, so is currently holidaying in the house. (pictured)
We have started receiving regular visits from a pair of red loreds. They must be ex-residents as they know their way around the aviary feeders too well. We suspect they are Bonnie & Kalie (http://www.belizebirdrescue.com/newsjan09.html) released in January of this year. These two hung about for months after release, so the parakeets are very familiar with them and Perky will often take off flying with them: an odd sight indeed. I managed to get this quick photo: Perky seems to be leading this particular formation.
It really lifts our spirits when releases come to visit: it's only then that we really know we've done our job well.
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