Ride 'em Cowboy - and Other Capers

Chipper has a way of exploring all the nooks and crannies of the house. He, like Pippin, loves to find boxes and be nesty. He has to have a job every day, and chewing paper and wood - and exploring - suit him fine. He discovered this ceramic horse on the fireplace mantle and kept returning to it. Ride 'em, Cowboy Chipper!

On another front, Sam loves to get in his wooden play bowl that is kept on top of his cage. I will often hear him scratching about, look over, and find him bottom up.


Speaking of bottoms up, Pippin does a fine job of that too.

Then there are the times when the cockatiels take their baths. This comes in the form of a spray bottle with warm water. They love to take their bath on the big tree in the living room.

Here you will see them in the middle of becoming sopping wet, after which they will preen for quite awhile until they're fairly dry. They especially like sitting in the sun on such occasions (Chipper is bottom up in the background in this photo).

I wonder what it is about bottom up that is so appealing? Maybe seeing a different viewpoint is what it's all about. Hm. Good idea!

A Typical Weekend at Home

The jays buzz the cat in the meadow, calling raucously and continuously till the feline gets the message not to trespass the jay's territory.

The twin fawns seem to be in sync with just about every activity, including responding to unexpected noises. Hmm...what was that, anyway? (After all, everything is new to a fawn.)


And then at home, it's cage-cleaning time and that means everybody vacates, one at a time, his or her cage.

This is a shot of Pippin parked temporarily in the Wingabago travel carrier. Pippin is so small and such a seeker of small dark places to explore and make nests, that I can't leave her out unattended for long as it isn't safe.

But Sam, who was already out and about exploring, decided to check Pippin out (he does like her a lot). They had a little chat and then Sam continued his explorations.

The cockatiels also took the opportunity to explore the window sill and the outside activities. Not much happening out there except jays flying about and sun beating down - oof! It's supposed to reach upper 90s F today.

Baths were had by all and Chipper dried off on the tree.

Here he is relaxed and happy for the weekend!

Chip and Pip

One more story about Pippin: Awhile ago, my roommate, to whom Pippin then belonged, was planning to return to her native UK. The only other bird member of the clan was Chipper to whom Pippin was extremely devoted. The feeling was mutual. I was wary of Pippin then because she was easily excitable and often bit me. For such a small bird, you'd think their bites would not be consequential, but 1. a lovebird's beak is large in proportion to its small body, and 2. lovebirds are intense creatures and bite before thinking.

For some odd reason - no doubt connected to an obscure emotional issue that is thankfully no longer present! - I'd burst into tears whenever she bit me, and lost my confidence in handling Pippin. I tearfully told my roommate I was afraid of Pippin (!) and didn't think I could care for her needs on my own.

Agonizing as it was, my roommate found a girl working at the local pet shop who had a flock of lovebirds at home that she loved, and the girl already knew Pippin and highly admired him (her). So Pippin was handed over to her with many tears and regrets. The girl thought Pip was a male and intended to breed her best female to Pip.

Within a couple of days, Chipper stopped eating through grief at losing his friend, and my roommate's plans changed after about a week. She was able to remain in the US after all. She tentatively asked the girl to whom Pip was given if she could retrieve Pip. The girl graciously obliged and added that Pippin never talked while she was with her, and that Pip hated the female and didn't get along at all! (Yeah, figures! She was a girl, after all...)

We drove up to the girl's house with Chipper in the back seat. As we brought Pippin to the car in her cage and opened the back door, Pippin saw Chipper and yelled: "CHIPPER!" And Chipper responded with extreme excitement and equal volume: "PIPPIN!" It was like watching one of those tear-jerker movies when the lovers reunite against impossible odds. Well, we were touched and did cry...

It was a happy ending: Chipper began eating again in earnest, and Pippin settled down happily with her favorite cockatiel next to her.