Long story, really. The feline on the left is an oldish member of the household. The avian on the right is a week old addition (to the household, the bird is about 18 months old). There were supposed to be two, but I learnt a lesson. Never try to transfer items capable of independent flight out on the back lawn.
Had long been interested in canaries, but had to battle with the conflict between the intellectual .. "birds are built to fly free", and the emotional desire to have a couple singing close by.
Many years ago, purchased a cockatiel. Had its wings clipped, and it sat on my shoulder for several months. Then I had the chance to stay on a 14 acre bush block near Childers in Queensland. Duncan (as in "my mate") was a feisty little male and kept wanting to fly. One of the saddest things to see was this little bird launching himself into space, gravity winning, and him ending up as a flurry of feathers on the ground - or chasing the pigeons around like a chook.
So, let his flight feathers grow, but had to keep him in a cage. That became too traumatic for both of us. Was living in a Toyota Coaster Bus at the time, so let him fly around the inside of the bus. The inevitable happened, and he escaped.
For the next twelve months it was a case of search and rescue. He'd disappear off into the scrub for a day or two, I'd go search, whistle, he'd reply, find him, hold up my hand, he'd come perch and be returned to food and safety.
Returned to South Australia. He tried it in a caravan park at Rapid Bay. The magpies were not kind. Managed to retrieve him. Caravan park in the city, he took off .. and never returned. There are many stories about the exploits of Duncan.
(may his shade and spirit keep flying)
The canaries.. Ah. The little yellow male was docile. Took it out of the box, transferred it to the cage. The orange female.. mm .. took one look at the open air, wriggled free and found the highest tree. I wish her well, but don't fancy her chances in the big wide brutal world.
There is, of course, much discussion about animals in cages. If you want to comment, please do... but bear in mind that human beings are also basically animals.
10 comments:
I have the same problem with tropical fish. I can drive myself crazy trying to figure out how to make the trade off - I can buy these fish or these birds if I can give them some huge subset of what they need. My great uncle, an artist, found the impossible balance in his own life. I just realized this story is too long to be a comment, so will post it instead. but thanks for the stories of your birds... takes me down memory lane.
02 21 06
We are all animals living in the cages of our homes and mortgages! ARGGGGHHH! Good post. Cockateils are known for doing that; they are cool and docile and all along they are plotting and scheming to get away from you. We had Harvey Lino and Little Peanut the Lovebird and Harvey was with us for a couple of years and well-they chewed through the window screen and escaped!!! Little Harvey went away once and came back but well-they haven't come back yet;) Take Care Davo, you are always filled with interesting tidbits:)
"We are all animals living in the cages of our homes and mortgages!"
I guess so. But we do still have choice, methinks.
I have never had the desire to own a bird, although they are among the greatest beauties of our earth! I love to watch them in the wild.
June
Junie, I do not 'own' them. There are many birds who are very happy wandering around in my back yard. have 'captured' this one.
Am in the process of designing and building a better place for it to 'fly' around in.
Practically, it would not survive 'in the wild'.
...didn't mean that to sound as if I were putting you down...:) Hope you didn't take it that way.
It just makes me sad to see birds in cages. I especially do not like to see mighty birds such as Eagles caged.
I have always thought it would be interesting to build a large cage for birds...what are they called?? Aviary??I mean something BIG!
Like what you might see in zoos-or such places.
And I can imagine a few birds together might be satisfied in such an enclosed area!
Junie
I was raised on a farm, dogs, cats, sister and brothers were all allowed to come and go without leash. If you have to have a pet, you and the pet both get sick in the head unless you are living in your natural environment with the elbo room that suits your evlolution.
Won't have a dog: they deserve a better companion than i make. Hate cats, cantankerous and cooly unenthusiastic and maybe born neurotic...perfect pets!
I like the cat pic. (But that's only cuz I five cats already...)
Good thing the bird is in the cage.
I have photo of a cat inside a cage... with the caption "don't ask."
I think my life is like that. Sorry...at least I'm alive. ^..^
greensmile, if animals reflect their owners (which most of them do) am fascinated by this placid cat who just watches the birds.. (oops, that may also be an admission of my own age.. erk!)
I am in a cage set up by 'financiers'. the harder I work, the more they demand. "Sixteen tons, and whaddya get? Another day older and deeper in debt."
While have chosen to be in this cage to be 'presumed' normal .. the door is always open. Am solvent, barely, can just 'sell up' and go walkabout... if i choose.
(scheiss, blogger is really testing my patience. 'gwooiiwnitxz' Surely i should be allowed a simple entry to make a comment on my own blog? Have enough trouble organising the letters of the language english into some sort of coherent order)
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