Junior Bird with Penelope: Amazing to Behold
Birds and cats are natural antagonists to one another, right? Well, not so fast. In our rural home with my wife, a natural animal lover, even cats and birds can learn to peacefully co-exist with one another. I wouldn't have believed if I hadn't seen it but, then again, this is the same woman who was able to pet a possum mama and lift her babies out of her pouch to examine with nary a hiss. She just has the knack for understanding animals and they respond in kind, particularly the poor lost souls who come here in need. We take them in until we find their owner and then send them on their way.
Now, she does have a house (and property} rule for all critters, both those which are our pets and those who look to us for help. It's a very simple rule and it's this: Either learn to get along or you'll be gone. Very succinct, don't you think? And the amazing part is that in 99% of our cases, they easily fall into line. And if a mistake happens due to lack of proper training, she gives them one last chance. But it has really been successful.
Be they horses, cats, dogs, or birds of many kinds, they all work together. And in the rare occasion when one even shows signs of being aggressive, all it takes is Dr. Dolittle's "look" and things are usually resolved. So, for our friends who drop by, they get quite the show of dogs chasing cats, then nuzzling in the grass together, or the baby bird named Junior up close and personal with Penelope the cat. It is interesting to watch.
Junior was hand fed when weaned from hir mother, an Indian ringneck parakeet who is now spoiled rotten. He will sport a darkr blue ring on his neck as he matures, the sign of a male. Females lack the ring. Our other indoor parakeet of the same variety, a female, lives in a cage which is largely left open and also has no problems with house cats. And she loves to sit on Mama Dolittle's shoulder when she's reading, often with a cat sitting on the arm of the chair.
The breed originated in Sri Lanka but has since been found in feral populations in many parts of the world with a warm or temperate climate. They are also popular for breeders since they are great social animals and can learn to talk and sing clearly, particularly in early morning and evening. Around here they are sometimes a great conversation piece.
Remember way back when the riots were underway in L.A. and the quote from Rodney King caught attention? You know, the one where he got heavy media attention as he said, "Can't we all just get along?" Well, I think my lovely wife is on to something along that line with her approach to animals. Who knows, if she can apply her techniques to work on animals, perhaps we could use it to make mankind get along within itself as well. Oh, yeah, now I remember why not. It requires discipline by all parties. Maybe that's too much to ask in the modern world where no one wants to take responsibility for what they do. But I can still wish for it, can't I?
Here's the grown Indian ringneck parakeet in all her splendor as well. She is Baby Bird III so we had to come up a different handle for little Junior. They are both truly birds of paradise, at least where we're concerned.
Now, she does have a house (and property} rule for all critters, both those which are our pets and those who look to us for help. It's a very simple rule and it's this: Either learn to get along or you'll be gone. Very succinct, don't you think? And the amazing part is that in 99% of our cases, they easily fall into line. And if a mistake happens due to lack of proper training, she gives them one last chance. But it has really been successful.
Be they horses, cats, dogs, or birds of many kinds, they all work together. And in the rare occasion when one even shows signs of being aggressive, all it takes is Dr. Dolittle's "look" and things are usually resolved. So, for our friends who drop by, they get quite the show of dogs chasing cats, then nuzzling in the grass together, or the baby bird named Junior up close and personal with Penelope the cat. It is interesting to watch.
Junior was hand fed when weaned from hir mother, an Indian ringneck parakeet who is now spoiled rotten. He will sport a darkr blue ring on his neck as he matures, the sign of a male. Females lack the ring. Our other indoor parakeet of the same variety, a female, lives in a cage which is largely left open and also has no problems with house cats. And she loves to sit on Mama Dolittle's shoulder when she's reading, often with a cat sitting on the arm of the chair.
The breed originated in Sri Lanka but has since been found in feral populations in many parts of the world with a warm or temperate climate. They are also popular for breeders since they are great social animals and can learn to talk and sing clearly, particularly in early morning and evening. Around here they are sometimes a great conversation piece.
Remember way back when the riots were underway in L.A. and the quote from Rodney King caught attention? You know, the one where he got heavy media attention as he said, "Can't we all just get along?" Well, I think my lovely wife is on to something along that line with her approach to animals. Who knows, if she can apply her techniques to work on animals, perhaps we could use it to make mankind get along within itself as well. Oh, yeah, now I remember why not. It requires discipline by all parties. Maybe that's too much to ask in the modern world where no one wants to take responsibility for what they do. But I can still wish for it, can't I?
Here's the grown Indian ringneck parakeet in all her splendor as well. She is Baby Bird III so we had to come up a different handle for little Junior. They are both truly birds of paradise, at least where we're concerned.
Notice the long tapered tail and lack of ring on neck, indicative of a female.
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