Merlin the Magical

[Deleted member 57370]

Love the updates and pictures!
What a great glorious huge cage!

 

[Fuzzy]

Awwwww he's cute! Congrats!!! Love his cage too!

 

[papaya13]

Training update!

Just added a cue to turning in a circle and Merlin figured it out super quickly! He was spinning all sorts of circles this morning!


Merly whirly bird <3

 

[Tyrion]

That is awesome

 

[papaya13]

My in-house dinosaur happens to love cherries

 

[Icey]

Oh Merlin you lucky boy!

Treats galore, a real (huge) gorgeously decorated cage, and someone who loves you already!!!!
I love that cage. What kind is it? It looks bigger than the Rainforest one I've been looking at.

 

[papaya13]

I love that cage. What kind is it? It looks bigger than the Rainforest one I've been looking at.

I picked it up from SDI Factory Direct outside of San Diego! It’s 76” x 42" x 28" with ⅝” bar spacing, so wide it won’t fit through my bedroom door! The guy who runs the outlet is super nice and has two macaws at home. He gave me a great discount because I picked it up in person and paid cash. Would definitely recommend!

 

[papaya13]

My first “real” DIY bird toy:



I call it the Koopa Clown Cup (looks like something Bowser would enjoy riding in, no?) I stuffed it full of shredded paper and multigrain cereal. So far, Merlin prefers pinecones.

Here’s the goober with a messy beak after breakfast:



The little bald patch on his head is growing back in! Hopefully, with proper nutrition, ALL of his little bald patches will grow back in. He’s a bit of a fuzz-butt at the moment from where he plucked his belly. I’ve found a few feathers here and there, but haven’t seen him plucking… crossing my fingers he’s left the habit behind.

 

[SumitaSinh]

Awwww! Just look at the expression!! I love TAG eyes!

 

[papaya13]

A tempting assortment of paper bon-bons for my napkin loving boy! The big ones have shredded paper, wooden beads, and a couple nut pieces, and the knotted ones have a few pepitas each.

I’ll need to start ordering a Diet Coke with extra napkins at McDonalds to keep up with his habit

 

[papaya13]

Merlin am I have gone through some BIG changes in the last few months!

First, I started taking him to work in the greenhouses. He was an excellent gardening companion:



We finished moving into a new house just as school started and I began teaching. I was definitely more stressed by the move than this nugget:



Flower power, baby

We’re still settling into the swing of things. Merlin’s been coming to school with me at the end of the day and the students love him. He’s been really patient about receiving scritches from strangers (though I make sure to have everyone “ask” with a finger waggle to demo good start-button reinforcement training techniques). He’s a good guy.

Current training focus is object retrieval. He’s more than happy to toss a block in the air until it just happens to land where I want it to. Hopefully he discovers the merits of Occam's Razor and learns to pick it up and hold it…

 

[jbsmith]

Exciting stuff! Can't wait for more updates about Merlin!

 

[SumitaSinh]

Merlin am I have gone through some BIG changes in the last few months!

First, I started taking him to work in the greenhouses. He was an excellent gardening companion:

View attachment 435029

We finished moving into a new house just as school started and I began teaching. I was definitely more stressed by the move than this nugget:

View attachment 435030

Flower power, baby

We’re still settling into the swing of things. Merlin’s been coming to school with me at the end of the day and the students love him. He’s been really patient about receiving scritches from strangers (though I make sure to have everyone “ask” with a finger waggle to demo good start-button reinforcement training techniques). He’s a good guy.

Current training focus is object retrieval. He’s more than happy to toss a block in the air until it just happens to land where I want it to. Hopefully he discovers the merits of Occam's Razor and learns to pick it up and hold it…

Wow it's so nice to hear about merlin! Please keep us updated

 

[papaya13]

Update from the front: I couldn't make it as a math teacher, but then high school students can't be cajoled with seeds to do their calculus homework

Merlin is getting a lot better at identifying colors and is now putting away his toy blocks like a good bird. I introduced a vitamin supplement to his diet, and he's dropping primaries. Crossing my fingers his wings finally come in and he stops bumping his butt on the ground every time he tries to take off...

He's been enjoying his lentil sprouts:



And his paper cups:




And he made a guest appearance in my art journal with the prompt "something you couldn't live without":



I think he looks pretty good as an American classic-style tattoo, don't you?

He's such a good little man. The house would feel so empty without him, and I never walk out the door without a spirited "see you LATERALLIGATOR REEREEREEE!"

I'm excited for spring, when he can finally get outside again! For now, he has to catch the 10:00 Sun through the kitchen window.

 

[April]

Update from the front: I couldn't make it as a math teacher, but then high school students can't be cajoled with seeds to do their calculus homework

Merlin is getting a lot better at identifying colors and is now putting away his toy blocks like a good bird. I introduced a vitamin supplement to his diet, and he's dropping primaries. Crossing my fingers his wings finally come in and he stops bumping his butt on the ground every time he tries to take off...

He's been enjoying his lentil sprouts:

View attachment 441250

And his paper cups:


View attachment 441248

And he made a guest appearance in my art journal with the prompt "something you couldn't live without":

View attachment 441249

I think he looks pretty good as an American classic-style tattoo, don't you?

He's such a good little man. The house would feel so empty without him, and I never walk out the door without a spirited "see you LATERALLIGATOR REEREEREEE!"

I'm excited for spring, when he can finally get outside again! For now, he has to catch the 10:00 Sun through the kitchen window.

View attachment 441251

Ooh look at him living his best life! What a special boy he is,I'm so happy for you both

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

I love that drawing of you two! You're very talented. What a handsome guy!

 

[orphansparrow]

His cage looks amazing so far. And congratulations! What a lucky little guy to be adopted to you today! I can't wait to learn about him as you do and peek in on his days

 

[papaya13]

Cabbage Tip from Merlin:

Once you’ve whittled all of the leaves off for delicious chop, birdie bread, and salads, take your cabbage core, stuff it with seeds or nut slivers, and hang it as a foraging toy!

Bonus if it’s a RED cabbage- hands down the cheepest source of antioxidants you can find in the store!

 

[papaya13]

Also, Merlin’s digs have been upgraded since moving in. Here’s the current setup:



Mr. Wizard can come down using the ladder when he’s decided it’s time for breakfast together.

I haven’t named the spider plant yet. Maybe Wart AKA Arthur?

 

[April]

Also, Merlin’s digs have been upgraded since moving in. Here’s the current setup:

View attachment 441554

Mr. Wizard can come down using the ladder when he’s decided it’s time for breakfast together.

I haven’t named the spider plant yet. Maybe Wart AKA Arthur?

Ooh! What a fantastic cage he's such a lucky boy.