Buzzard just flew! Not far, but he did it!
He was on my arm and we were sitting on the sofa. My husband's friend laughed rather abruptly about something on tv & Buzzard
lifted straight up from my arm about a foot and then flew about 4 feet before descending quickly, but not what I would call falling. He seemed as surprised as we were, but not scared.
I feel bad that he was startled but so glad he was able to land safely!
He flapped a handful of times this week. Once when I brought him in the shower with me I got about 2 flaps before he started to enjoy getting soaked, and again when I offered him a 2nd shower he flapped a couple more times to keep his balance when he ran up my arm and onto my head to avoid getting wet and then he has started to fully extend both wings more often during his spray baths without flapping. I don't think that was enough exercise to have built up any kind of muscle tone yet, but from how good his short flight looked, I think this may not have been the first time he has flown?
He appeared to know what he was doing, and even turned to try and land on the end table, but didn't quite have enough strength and fell just short.
I was so surprised and excited. I talked to him in a happy voice using his excited words as he stepped up and immediately walked him to the nut bowl on the counter and gave him a pistachio and an almond and let him regroup and enjoy them on the perch on the front of his cage. You could knock me over with a big blue and yellow feather right now!