Macawnutz
Seriously Nutz!
Super Administrator
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
It is with great pleasure that I announce the
Celebirdy for the month of March 2022
@Alien J 's Terry Dactyl
1. How did you acquire your bird?
It had been 8 months since my time with Miyetti had come to an end. For those who don't know, Minette was a wild Band Tailed Pigeon I raised from a fledgling. My fiance, two dogs, and I had been full-time RV'ers for about 6 months. My fiance had had open heart surgery just two weeks prior. My friend called me. Her step-son, who was a drug addiction, had a baby bird who the parents had quit feeding. It was nearly dead. Did I want to come and get it and try to save it? How could I say no?
2. What is your bird's name, species, age and sex?
TD's full name is Terry Dactyl, but we just call him TD....or Beak Breath, or Butt Birdy. He is a cockatiel. He will be 5 years old on May 1st.
3. Does your bird do any special tricks?
He knows how to wave and whistle lots of tunes.
4. What are some of your bird's favorite foods?
Millet (of course), sugar snap peas, cauliflower and broccoli.
5. What is the funniest thing your bird has done?
When we had had TD for only two and a half months a terrible heat wave came to Southern California. For 5 days straight it was over 100° F. Inside our tiny RV it was ten degrees hotter. No A/C. George and I spent all day misting TD to keep him cool. We were exhausted. So after five days, but with the heat wave still on, we got a hotel room for a couple of days. I didn't know how TD would react to television (we didn't watch TV in the little camper, I thought he might be afraid of it so I hung a paper towel over his cage on the side of the TV. I was busy putting things away when I heard, "Peek-a-boo!" I looked up and saw this:
6. How has your bird enriched your life?
People tease us and say we let TD run our lives. In a way, that's true. A lot has changed in our day to day because of TD joining our family. We no longer drive after dark. Being full-time travelers (except when we're broke down...which we are again since last night) some might think that's over the top. What it's done for us is ensure we get where we're going in plenty of time to actually unwind and spend more time enjoying where we are and each other. He's taught me patience and how to really try to see things through another's perception.
7. What would you tell people who are considering this species?
I've really had no experience with any other pet birds to compare the cockatiel to ( though Ithink I'd love to experience a conure). I've not had experience with other cockatiels to compare TD to. I will say this, TD is a trooper extraordinaire. Though his feathers may get ruffled, they fall back in place almost immediately.
8. What is the activity and noise level of your bird?
While I find TD's screeching often irritating and loud, I think compared to other species (i.e., cockatoos, maccaws) it's really pretty nominal. I think TD would be much more active if I could get him out of his cage more often.
9. What are some of your bird's quirks?
TD goes absolutely banana whacko when he sees you eat a banana, but he won't try one!
10. If your bird talks, what is the most surprising word or sentence it has said?
TD used to have a surprisingly large vocabulary. He started talking at just about 5 months. He said all kinds of things. From "peek-a-boo" to "c'mere, cutie, give me a kiss". One day he just stopped talking...except for one phrase. The only thing he says now, and usually only when I'm busy cooking, is, "gimme a tickle".
11. What is your bird’s favorite treat?
I haven't found a favorite treat that he likes above all others. I think his favorite thing is skritches.
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