Alone

Do you like being alone? I don't. That's because we parrots are flock animals so we don't feel happy if we're away from the flock. Fortunately, my person spends a lot of time with me, but when she leaves the house, she leaves me all alone in my cage. Then I have to find a way to pass the time. For a while it's all right. I eat some pellets and hold my toothbrush and ring my bell. I might chew a popsicle stick or a bottle cap, and I always take a bath in my water dish. But if my person still hasn't come back after I've finished doing all those things, then I don't like it. I sit on my perch and keep my ears cocked so I can hear her the minute she opens the kitchen door. Then I squawk with joy. I feel so happy when my person comes home and I don't have to be alone anymore. What about you? What do you do when you're alone?

Dog Poetry

Today I'd like to share a poem by a dog I know, Cody. What a minute, I hear you saying, you're letting a DOG on your blog? It's true that I feel it's my duty to squawk at every dog I see, and I certainly prefer dogs to keep their distance. Nevertheless, I feel it's important to recognize talent, whatever the source. And now, without further ado, here's Cody.

A Dog's Life
by Cody

Sniff, sniff, sniff,
I catch a fragrant whiff
Of juicy bone sitting all alone
Inside my dish. . . as if!

Creak, creak, creak,
I hear the can opener squeak,
And I can tell the meaty smell
Of dog food. What a reek!

Jingle, jingle, jingle,
The sound of keys makes me tingle,
To the park in the car, it's not very far.
With other dogs I'll mingle.

Gush, gush, gush,
Into the bath the water does rush.
I'll jump into the tub and get a good rub,
Then fluff out my curls with a brush.

Still More Parrot Poetry

Adaptation
by Shadow

Preen and eat, preen and eat,
This is how I use my beak.
I use my feet to hold my food.
Seeds and nuts taste really good.
High on a branch I take a seat.
I climb up with my beak and feet.
Up in the sky I like to sail.
I fly with help of wings and tail.
My feathers keep me dry and warm
Through almost any kind of storm.
For jungle habitat I'm styled.
I’m well-equipped for life in the wild.

Chilly Weather

We've been having too many cold, rainy days this summer. Luckily, I always wear my nice warm down jacket, which does a good job of keeping off the chill. But, I'll be happy when real summer weather finally arrives and I can go outside in my carrier everyday. I'll keep my down jacket on, though. What about you? How do you stay warm on chilly days?

Berries

One of the best things about summer, besides going outside in my carrier, is eating fresh berries. I love to eat berries. I guess that's not surprising, considering that I'm a bird. The thing that's so good about berries is that they're full of seeds. Strawberries are especially fun to eat because all the seeds are on the outside of the berry. I scrape off each tiny strawberry seed with the very tip of my beak. YUMMY! Seeds are so tasty! What about you? Do you like eating berries? Do you like seeds?

Yard Work

Do you like yard work? I do because I love anything that involves being outside. My favorite kind of yard work is mowing the lawn. It’s really fun to ride in my carrier, back and forth, back and forth, while my person mows the lawn. While she goes in one direction, I get to watch what’s happening on the road. In the other direction, I can watch what’s going on in the woods. There’s always something interesting to see—cars, bicycles, chipmunks, all kinds of birds, lots and lots of things. When the neighbor comes out to pick up the newspaper, I get to squawk at her. (It’s a parrot thing.) What about you? What kind of yard work do you enjoy doing?

Paper Shredder

I had an interesting conversation with the paper shredder the other night while it was eating its dinner. As it gobbled up sheet after sheet of paper (what an appetite!), it made the loveliest whirring and whining sounds. I joined right in with my squawks, chirps, and whoops. We had a grand old time. I didn't even mind the paper shredder's bad manners, talking with its mouth full like that, because it's such an entertaining conversationalist.