My New Years wish: answers to these questions: Oh, what does *that* mean??? Is it good or bad or common or rare or ??? I find myself asking this kind of question all the time while watching and interacting with our newest family members - Angel the cockatoo and Tyson the scarlet macaw. I comb through many bird books and websites and watch videos, and though I am slowly becoming smarter about the birds, still, I wonder. I have a new, deep appreciation for people who long to understand their dogs or horses or pigs or cows behavior -- those are languages I understand pretty well. Thanks to the new birds, I can really empathize with loving animal owners who find themselves being mystified, unsure, delighted, hesitant, charmed, and sometimes alarmed. One behavior that charms John and me is Angels one-winged hug, for lack of a better description. It occurs in moments of serene connection, with a soft, happy look on Angels face, and often goes hand-in-wing with his gentle preening of Johns hair or beard. We *think* its a sign of great affection. In the back of our minds, we wonder if were just like some poorly informed pet owners who think behavior X is cute while knowledgeable dog owners blanch in horror. Hope not... Angle is our phone book recycler. Few things give him as much joy as the yellow pages being disassembled listing by listing. Tyson spends many happy hours destroying boxes as if it is her God appointed career. She did create quite a mystery that we had blamed on the dogs -- a loud wet farting noise but no smell. I almost wet my pants laughing when the mystery was solved. During a training session, I made a raspberry sound at this gorgeous macaw only to get back -- yep! - a spot-on farting noise. Kind of wrecked the elegant effect she normally carries off with style, but its funny as hell to us and to her too. She knows its a winner with the humans, and laughs her head off. The only reliable guides we have on this unknown path are the birds themselves. Are they calm? relaxed? eating? choosing freely to participate? Then we think things are probably good in their feathered heads. If they lean away, stiffen, flatten an eye in irritation or feel moved to warn us, we know weve made a mistake, however slight. Its a new dance, and a lovely one increasingly filled with trust and shared joy, new behaviors and new skills (on our part and theirs!) Good thing these birds live a long, long time. It gives me hope that Ill have enough time to figure out how to really become a worthy friend to them. Long term goals are good... Sailing into the New Year with new friends, grateful to overflowing for another trip around the sun with old friends, tears for those not seeing this year out with us, and curiosity about what 2015 has in store. Had someone asked me last New Years Eve if this would be the year wed add a macaw AND a cockatoo, I would have laughed at the idea (though would have considered it, to be sure). But thats why the powers that be only let us have life as it rolls out, one second at a time: We would never believe the coming attractions. So I stay tuned to this station, and cant wait to see whats up next. Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and a fascinating 2015. Photos (C) 2014 Suzanne Clothier. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:02:00 +0000
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