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Refuge Insider - July 2008 |
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 a Refuge for Saving the Wildlife, Inc. | | Hi everybody, This is our Refuge Insider Newsletter for July. Enjoy and please keep those articles coming! |
| by Pat Anderson |  | A Story of Change of Mind  When I started working at the refuge, I gravitated to the living room, with the cockatoos-sweet Peachie and Stash, aka Mr. "Hello," as particular favorites. When construction on the aviary began, the living room was knocked down. I had to find a new "specialty." I've become a basement maven. The population has changed considerably down there since I started. Googa & Hawk, the lories, made special fruity messes. Hawk was very possessive of his cage, so we'd put him on a perch around the corner while I scrubbed. He'd flutter down and find me, then attempt to return to defending his territory by climbing up the back of my pants leg. Since he couldn't figure out how to make it past my butt, I'd leave him clinging there while I finished. I miss their bouncy energy now that they've found new families.
When the red-bellies first came, they'd bolt across the room as soon as we opened the cage door. Mango bit. I began working with them, using training techniques from a seminar last fall. The first step, we learned, was to be recognized as a "treat dispenser." Mango was a quick study. Once he realized that I had access to pine nuts, and would give some to him, he was ready to make friends. He began stepping up reliably. (I took him home for a while and actually taught him some tricks, but that's another story.) Frankie, more cautious, observed and slowly became less fearful. Frankie and Mango have new homes too.
We still have Leo, a Goffin's cockatoo, who is always ready to bob his head in agreement when you tell him "pretty bird." He'll repeat it back enthusiastically. Actually, he'll agree with anything you say as long as you bob your head up and down.
Kiwi, a Greater Jardine's honks like a frog and loves to be picked up for traveling around. He's also prone to "shopping" in food dishes we've lined up for refills. Tulip, our Sun Conure, is so brightly colored she's a little piece of underground sunshine. Fonzie and Benny, the cockatiels', chirping is some of the sweetest noise you can hear.
One of our favorite activities is to allow a "visit" with Rosie, a gentle Moluccan cockatoo. Her most avid guest is Zachary, a Goffin's. We open Zach's door and she (yes, we are very gender-confused down here) zips across the room to glue herself to the front of Rosie's cage. We open Rosie's door, Zach pops in, and they have a sweet time together, preening and rustling around in a box. The contrast of the compact Goffin's and the giant Moluccan is amazing and adorable.
Once foreign territory, the basement has become my home base. |
 | Featured Bird |
| by Lauren Katzman | | Romeo - Waggler's Conure  Just as his name implies, Romeo is a lover. While he can be cage aggressive if he does not trust you, he is always excited by someone who comes to talk with him and bangs his toys around excitedly. When out of the cage, he loves to cuddle on people's chests and be stroked; he will even purr to show his comfort. He also rubs his head on a person's arm just before stepping up to show ownership just like a cat! He enjoys munching on scrambled eggs and vegetables and his favorite game is peek-a-boo and laughs with you when you play.
If you don't mind some Conure noises in your home and are in the mood to snuggle, Romeo could be the bird for you. |
| | Aviary Update |
| | We are very excited about the new aviary we are adding. There is daily progress now and they have started to add the roof. Finally we can imagine it being completed and in use, it has been a while now! It is costing a lot of money and we really need to spend more time on fundraising. If you have any ideas or thoughts, please let Rich know. |
| | | | a Refuge for Saving the Wildlife, Inc. |
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