Still Behind in Updating Blog

Okay, I'm a but more than just a little behind on my blog. So, I'll see if I can do a quick update so I can catch you up with everything that has happened the last few weeks. I am SO excited!!

First, we went to San Antonio to a Bird Mart. Lots of birdies and accessories. They had a Blue Crown Conure I really wanted that they still had from the Temple show, but when I went back, someone had already bought her. :o( Probably a good thing someone else bought her now anyway. There were bords from finches to Macaws and guess who you heard over all the birds combined..... SUN CONURES! You got that right... LOL To wrap up the San Antonio trip, my husband and I had a great time and couldn't decide what all we wanted. We almost got Marly a new Green Cheek buddy. It was a beautiful Tourquoise Green Cheek. He had a really hard time not scooping her up and bringing her home. (I didn't help matters by telling him... "She is choosing you dear, you need to take her home.") Hehe.. We didn't go home empty handed though. We got some terrific deals on toys. We got well over $100 worth of toys for less than $40! Oh yea, some fresh roasted nuts for the trip home too!

Then Sunday, we met at J&M Aviary for our monthly Austin Parrot Society meeting. This month was a toy making workshop and it was a lot of fun! Everyone had great ideas and plenty to share. Jamie and Emily were FULL of information as always. I learn so much from them! All I made was a little wiffle ball with different types of rope on it for Juno so I could try and expand her taste besides the shoulders of my shirts all the time.

I'm going to close this post so I can sit and think about what has happened since then. I have a lot to share just from the last few days, I don't want to forget anything before that.
:o)

Mommy Being a Slacker

I had intended to update for about a week now, and was about to sit and start typing when I discovered I had not done my volunteer work for 911 Parrot Alert. So, with that being said, I need to check on the parrots that have been lost or found and get to bed since I have to be at work early. I need to update on The Bird Mart we went to, our last Austin Parrot Society Meeting, the boo boo Marly got, and the wonderful progress Juno is making! (Big Smirk cuz Momma is PROUD!!) See you tomorrow evening!

Marly & Juno Updates

I haven't updated in awhile. I went back to work and it's been kicking my butt getting used to it. But I enjoy getting back to work... a little. ;o)

Juno is currently sitting on my shoulder chewing my shirt. She is a screamer when I am not around, which frustrates my husband to no end, especially if I have to work late. If she can't see me, she screams. So I will have to work on this, just not sure how since I don't know if it is a loniless issue, an abandonment issue, etc. She is fine during the day, most of the day. But in the evenings she seems to know things are going on out here and wants to be here as long as she is with me. She still barks and yells at Frank. She had to put up with my son Ryan on Thursday night because she wouldn't stop screaming and I was at work, plus Marly hurt her wing which I will go into in a bit. Juno has been getting better with her step up command, but only with me. When she is with me, no matter what I am doing, she is as quiet as can be. I've been taking her outside with me to play with the dogs and walk around the yard so she can get some sun. She has done very well. I have her wings aggressively clipped and don't take her out when its windy. She doesn't know how to take a bath so I have been working with her and trying to teach her that. We have made some progress, but still have a ways to go. I don't feel comfortable working on her training too many things because we are still working on the trust and I want her to be comfortable. So all we are working on right now is stepping up, and taking a bath. Oh and I mustn't forget that we are still working on changing her diet. Over all she is doing well and coming along a little quicker than I had anticipated.

On to Marly... That poor baby!!! She is doing well on her training. Frank is working on getting her used to a flight suit. We haven't managed to get it on her, but she is playing with it and putting her head into it. Now we will have to wait a while to work on it with her because she has hurt her wing pretty good. Frank was on his way out the back door and low and behold.. Ms. Stalker Bird had to be right behind him. Part of her wing caught the door. :o( I don't think she broke her wing, but she definately damaged some feathers. Her demeaner is good and she is eating and acting normal other than her flight. She cannot fly at all right now. Drops like a rock when she tries.

Well, I need to get the birdies to bed so I guess I will end this for now. Husband and I are going to the Bird Mart / Festival thingy in San Antonio tomorrow and then off to the Austin Parrot Society meeting on Sunday @ J&M Aviary in Austin.

Will try to update again soon.

Marly's Journey

Her first day home.

I will try to make this as short as possible, but there is alot to mention about our little GCC Marly.

Marly is a 2 year old, DNA sexed female Yellow Sided Green Cheek Parrot.

We purchased Marly from another owner on June 1st, 2008. Her previous owner told us that his wife was making him sell her. She was very nippy and bit me often. I assume that is why his wife made him sell her.

I have to admit, I had no clue about parrots when we got PJ & Marly. I new about Zebra Finches because I had them growing up. But parrots??? OH MY!!! I had no idea there was so much to know!

The first thing we did wrong as a parront was not quarentine them when we brought them home. We were EXTREMELY lucky that both birds are healthy!

Marly has come a long way since we brought her home. She used to bite me ALL the time and now she will come cuddle with me and be a loving little birdie. Hubby can do just about anything with her.

Her & PJ didn't get along at first, but soon became the bestest buds. Aren't they adorable together?

Marly is pretty social and will go to just about anyone. She may nip you but unless you make her mad, shouldn't bite you. (I make her mad all the time.. LOL (joking)

Marly has a couple nicknames. Poops-A-Lot (she goes more often than every 15 minutes!), Daddy's Lil' Stalker (because if he is home and she is out of her cage, she has to be with him.)

Marly is doing great at learning new things. We are working on "Marly Come" (comes to us), "Marly Cage"(flies back to her cage), Stay (so hubby can get a breather), Perch (she will go to the perch on top of her cage), and Hubby is working on a few others.

She says quite a few things and of course we are working on more. She says: Gimme Kiss, What's Up, Be Good, Be Nice, YOU Be Nice, Gimme Kisses, Kiss, and a few others that I can't remember at the moment and a few that I haven't been able to make out yet. She is quite the talker, especially when she talks to herself.

She likes to say be nice, then bite you, or beat up her toys. She has no problems trying new foods and toys. She even tolerates our Aussie Shiann alot of times, but when Shiann gets on her nerves, she lets her know.

Here is a picture of her being a little love bug with her daddy. She now demands this from daddy and me when daddy isn't around. She cuddles in the palm of your hand, perches on your pinky finger while you scritch her head with your thumb.

That is all that I can think of to tell you about Marly, although I am pretty sure there is tons more to tell. She's a little ham!

Juno- Our new Sun Conure

I just wanted to introduce our newest addition to the family. This is Juno. She is a Sun Conure. Not sure of exact age, but we were told approx. 2 & 1/2 years old. We have lots of work to do with Juno. We should find out in a couple weeks if Juno is male or female.

I have losts of posting to do to catch up, but had to show off Juno first. Here you can see how much s/he adores the camera!

I will update more soon. I have lots to update on Marly and Juno.

B&G Macaw Baby

**Sniffle** **Sniffle** I decided not to take Baby after all. She is a beautiful Macaw, and I know I could give her a loving home, but being a new parrot owner and knowing her special needs, I felt it wouldn't be the best thing for Baby right now. Baby needs a home where she will have someone that knows a bit more about the needs of a Macaw than I do. I can give her the special attention right now, but when I go back to work, I don't feel she will get the attention she needs and deserves. My biggest fear about taking Baby would be my dogs. I know they wouldn't intentionally hurt Baby, but the do bark, and they can bark loud and get excited which would scare Baby. And if something were to happen to Baby when I wasn't home (dogs scare her and make her fall) I couldn't and wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Baby was in a "not so happy" home before her original owner took her back and is helping her recover. Now baby chews her wings and tail feathers. Her tail feathers have come back, but she is still chewing on her wings and has a tendancy to fall if frightened. Her last fall broke some feathers and hurt her wings. :o(

I do hope she finds a home that can love her and work with her on her feather issue. She is gentle and doesn't bit hard. She does beak, but that only happens when she is frightened. The 2nd day I spent time with her, I was able to get her to step up and I even got some kisses!

This time change business has gotten me all out of wack, so I'm going to go take a little nap and get to cleaning. My next post, I'd like to tell you about my Green Cheek Marly. She is a HAM!

Adopting a B&G Macaw

We have been speaking with an incredible woman about adopting one of her precious macaws. Her name is Baby and she is a Blue and Gold Macaw. She's had a rough life so far and I am hoping to give her a better and forever home. I got the opportunity to meet Baby this weekend and I enjoyed every second! We spent about 4 hours over there getting to know her and her getting to know me. She was a little hesitant at first, but took to me rather quickly. She has an awesome personality! I am looking forward to spending more time with her soon and getting to know how her current owner works with Baby and learning what she likes and dislikes. We are taking her to the vet on Monday, but Baby doesn't like vets so I hope this will be a good visit for her. She is supposed to come to my house Sunday so she can get a feel of what our lives are like and where she will be living. We are still looking for a playstand for her and we think we have found a nice cage for her already. I am sooooo excited and look forward to bringing Baby to her new home and family!