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 September 2021
@Elysian 's Oggie
1. How did you acquire your bird?
From rescue. I waited well over a year for an appointment due to covid, so I was a little impulsive when I finally got a chance to adopt: not only did I bring home a species I never really planned to get, I brought home two. I definitely cannot recommend that as a strategy, but I really lucked out and it was the best judgement error I ever made.
2. What is your bird's name, species, age and sex?
Oggie is a male (not DNA'd as far as I know), Senegal parrot - around 27 years old.
3. Does your bird do any special tricks?
We are still working on target training, so no real tricks yet! He does 'dance' when I sing to him, and he has a circular swing that he likes to turn into a serious hurricane thrill ride while I chant "Swing, Oggie, swing!"
4. What are some of your bird's favorite foods?
Oggie eats basically anything. He has a mixture of Zupreem Naturals and Zupreem Fruit Flavor pellets (until the fruit flavor run out). He'll eat most any fresh foods that he can hold in his foot, except peppers. I've tried a few times to give him peppers and he just throws them away.
5. What is the funniest thing your bird has done?
Probably when he landed on the floor and went to shuffle back to his cage, then suddenly realized I was close enough to climb my jeans. You could see the moment it hit him, and he got so excited. He turned around and said "Hiii!!" and started running at me.
Since he still tends to bite, it was like a hilariously cute horror movie moment.
It has now become a running gag in our house to make creepy-wide eyes at someone and say "Hiiiii" in an Oggie voice.
6. How has your bird enriched your life?
He brings so much life and personality to everything. You can't have a conversation in the living room without Oggie muttering and chuckling in response.
He also reminds me to keep myself calm. I have always had a tendency to be a loud talker, but if Oggie thinks I am worked up he will get worked up too. He will start to lift his wings and do his rather piercing flock call, which cues me in to take a breath and lower my volume.
7. What would you tell people who are considering this species?
In my initial research, I had ruled out most Poicephalus species (Senegal is a sub species) because the generalizations about them were so conflicting. Everything from "superb pet quality, very good natured" to "shy, phobic, aggressive". If Oggie is a good example, I've found that somehow both things are true. He is a wonderful pet because he is loving (in his way), not *too* loud, super funny, and ultimately tolerates schedule changes and a little chaos really well. On the other hand he does take a little bit to warm up to people, does not accept new objects easily, is *very* messy, and is painfully aggressive when scared or annoyed.
I think anyone considering a Senegal would do well to lean toward them being an only bird, or be prepared to give them plenty of separate attention from other pets.
And have a lot of tolerance for pain.
8. What is the activity and noise level of your bird?
Oggie wakes everyone up in the morning. It used to be 5 am. We moved him away from the windows and sometimes he'll stay quiet till 6 or 7 now, but once he wakes up he starts calling! It is a sharp call. It doesn't bother me most of the time because it doesn't last terribly long, but it can get a little ear-ringing.
Thankfully I have his cage in a place where he can see my work desk all day, and also see the whole family when we are sitting around the living area. I am certain he would be louder without this set up, because I can hear him calling for me if I go out of sight for more than 10 minutes "unscheduled".
He is fine with me going to bed, but mid day showers or naps are not okay!
He is definitely the loudest of my four. And calls the most often. But he is not really "noisy" when he isn't calling out about something. He's not a terribly busy guy either, so not a lot of fluttering or climbing around. He is pretty happy just napping, eating, chewing toys or perches, taking shifts gazing at me, and trying to launch himself into orbit with his swing.
9. What are some of your bird's quirks?
He communicates like a pokemon - he says his own name *alot* but in a variety of tones that seem to have so much meaning. I feel like I can tell the difference between 'will you hold me?', 'will you scritch me?', 'can I have that food?', and 'good morning!' just based on the differences in inflection when he says "Og-gee?" or "Og-ee!"
He also chews his molted feathers in such a weirdly studious way. I think he might be learning how to craft a weapon.
10. If your bird talks, what is the most surprising word or sentence it has said?
His first time going crazy with the swing. It looked like he was trying to jump off, I thought for sure he was terrified. Then he called out "Wheeeee!", and I realized he was leaning to make it go faster.
I keep trying to get video of this circus act but he always stops to ask for scritches when I come close enough to capture it.
Also the awed way he says "Ooooh" when he sees a new food, or when his cage is cleaned and re-arranged. He has said longer sentences, but the simple words continually amaze me because they have such undeniable context.
11. What is your bird’s favorite treat?
All the treats.
Any seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal - and anything he sees me eating.
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I really enjoyed reading more about Oggie!!! 
