If yesterday was fantastic, today was indescribable. I spoke about the avian wellness exam; I brought Merlin to be my "patient" as I demonstrated the exam. Knowing Merlin as I do, I felt a bit of anxiety. Merlin is definitely a bird with a mind of his own and that is what I love about him. However, this does make him a bit unpredictable at times and I wasn't looking forward to some unexpected craziness in front of an audience.
Well, I reckoned without the professionalism of a true star. Merlin was the most perfectly behaved Moluccan cockatoo I have ever seen. I could hardly keep my jaw from dropping! Merlin did get a tad loud initially, so I kept him in his carrier, except for potty breaks every thirty minutes. We were the last to present and Merlin was as quiet as a mouse in his carrier for over two hours.
When I did get him out, Merlin sat quietly on the back of a chair, not making a peep. When I asked him for his patented "Be a Cockatoo", Merlin deafened us with his screams. What a performer! I demonstrated putting a harness on Merlin and it took me several tries to get it right-even though we had practiced at home. Merlin sat patiently through it all and tolerated all my fumbling and ignorance; he was a poster child for the bond of trust that develops in a relationship built on positive reinforcement.
You can find pictures of the seminar here:
An Avian Adventure in Indy
Kudos to my buddy, the best cockatoo in the world!
Showing posts with label cockatoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cockatoo. Show all posts
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Preparations
This weekend is the "Avian Adventure" seminar, sponsored by The Gabriel Foundation. I have a lot of respect for TGF's rescue work with parrots , their dedication to the welfare of parrots and education of parrot caregivers.
I will be giving a small presentation on Sunday. I have been putting the finishing touches on it this morning, so I can practice later. It will be a small group, so we will have fun with questions and discussion.
Merlin gets to go and help me out, so he has to get ready, too. He is going to the clinic a little later for a "soap bath". I put a couple of drops of Ivory or Dawn dish soap into a sixteen ounce cup of water, then use that dilute solution to bathe Merlin. I do this no more often than every one-two months. Merlin gets plain water baths once or twice a week. A little soap is occasionally necessary because he is handled and petted so much. The oil from our hands soils Merlin's feathers and that oil needs to be removed to keep his feathers healthy.
Merlin isn't crazy about his bath, but he tolerates it well. We put him in the stainless steel tub we use for bathing pets at the clinic; then we proceed to hose him down ;>) Merlin flaps and runs from one end of the tub to the other as we spray him. Afterwards is OUR favorite part of bath-time, as Merlin snuggles into his towel and cuddles with us. Ah, there is nothing like a clean cockatoo!
I will be giving a small presentation on Sunday. I have been putting the finishing touches on it this morning, so I can practice later. It will be a small group, so we will have fun with questions and discussion.
Merlin gets to go and help me out, so he has to get ready, too. He is going to the clinic a little later for a "soap bath". I put a couple of drops of Ivory or Dawn dish soap into a sixteen ounce cup of water, then use that dilute solution to bathe Merlin. I do this no more often than every one-two months. Merlin gets plain water baths once or twice a week. A little soap is occasionally necessary because he is handled and petted so much. The oil from our hands soils Merlin's feathers and that oil needs to be removed to keep his feathers healthy.
Merlin isn't crazy about his bath, but he tolerates it well. We put him in the stainless steel tub we use for bathing pets at the clinic; then we proceed to hose him down ;>) Merlin flaps and runs from one end of the tub to the other as we spray him. Afterwards is OUR favorite part of bath-time, as Merlin snuggles into his towel and cuddles with us. Ah, there is nothing like a clean cockatoo!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Updates
I am still reeling from the Tweeeze experience yesterday! My face is broken out in red bumps and I can barely keep from scratching. The itching is intense and relentless. I just hope it clears up before this weekend. I feel like a teenager with a big zit on her nose the day before the prom!
My buddy, Wiley the cockatoo, was in for a recheck today and is feeling much better. His skin is healing and the infection is resolving. Best of all, Wiley is talking again ;>) When I heard his sweet little voice saying "Cookie, cookie, cookie", my spirits lifted and I grinned from ear to ear. His mom says Wiley says "cookie" to call his dad and (we both think) he uses it to call me. When I walked into the exam room, Wiley's beautiful orange crest went up, and he came running across the table, stepped onto my arm and laid his head against my chest.
Such a demonstration of trust touched me deeply, because I know I am not worthy of that trust. I have unintentionally hurt Wiley in the past; it is just that some things we do are uncomfortable, even painful, especially these last few weeks since he has been so sick. Most cockatoos desire our contact so much that they tolerate more obnoxious behavior from us than other parrots.
I hate inflicting pain on my patients, even when I know that it is in their best interests. Animals simply cannot understand why I hurt them, so I try to use every opportunity to associate something positive (food treats, petting, praise,etc.)in my interactions with my patients. I begin an exam with petting and treats, continue this during the exam, and be sure to finish with a long, relaxing session of positive reinforcement before they leave. It doesn't always help, but it never hurts to try to do this with my patients.
My buddy, Wiley the cockatoo, was in for a recheck today and is feeling much better. His skin is healing and the infection is resolving. Best of all, Wiley is talking again ;>) When I heard his sweet little voice saying "Cookie, cookie, cookie", my spirits lifted and I grinned from ear to ear. His mom says Wiley says "cookie" to call his dad and (we both think) he uses it to call me. When I walked into the exam room, Wiley's beautiful orange crest went up, and he came running across the table, stepped onto my arm and laid his head against my chest.
Such a demonstration of trust touched me deeply, because I know I am not worthy of that trust. I have unintentionally hurt Wiley in the past; it is just that some things we do are uncomfortable, even painful, especially these last few weeks since he has been so sick. Most cockatoos desire our contact so much that they tolerate more obnoxious behavior from us than other parrots.
I hate inflicting pain on my patients, even when I know that it is in their best interests. Animals simply cannot understand why I hurt them, so I try to use every opportunity to associate something positive (food treats, petting, praise,etc.)in my interactions with my patients. I begin an exam with petting and treats, continue this during the exam, and be sure to finish with a long, relaxing session of positive reinforcement before they leave. It doesn't always help, but it never hurts to try to do this with my patients.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Nighty-Night
It has been a relaxing day off-only one meeting and a couple of calls from the clinic, a good visit with my BFF, Shirley and another with Mom and my brother, Dave. Then I got to spend the rest of the day communing with cockatoos at home.
The birds have been jazzed up this week; my husband, Ray, is on vacation and is staying home catching up with his "honey-do" list. Merlin and Shelby, the 'toos, are "Daddy" birds and want to be with Ray 24/7. They would love to be surgically implanted on his body: the very definition of a "cockatoma" I heard a speaker describe at a an avian medicine conference several years ago. So the birds are in cockatoo heaven with "Daddy" spending more time at home.
This afternoon, Ray left to run a couple of errands and so we had some "Mommy" time. There is nothing more calming than cuddling with a cockatoo! They can be sooooo sweet and whisper little endearments to you when you snuggle with them ;>) Merlin, the Moluccan, sits on my right arm and lays his head against my chest, whistling softly, and saying "Pretty bird, pretty bird" in a sweet little voice. Shelby, the Bare-eyed, sits on my right shoulder and rubs her cheek against mine, making little kissy noises. Aaaahhhhh, my blood pressure drops, I close my eyes, a smile on my face, now, I'm in heaven.......thank you, Lord, for cockatoos!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Talking on the Phone
Merlin, Moluccan cockatoo, and Shelby, Bare-eyed cockatoo, just finished a long conversation with one of their friends. Yep, you read that right, the birds were doing the all the talking, not me ;>) Oh, I do have to dial the phone. They've certainly tried, but those buttons are just too darned irresistable to keep from chewing!
One of my friends from church, ten-year old Amanda, periodically asks me to have Shelby call her. Now, Shelby being the quintessential female, loves talking on the phone. She prefers to gossip with her girlfriends. Shelby's only six and not really interested in the boys yet.
So Shelby calls Amanda; Amanda's older brother answered the phone and Shelby was strangely tongue-tied. Not a peep out of her until he said good-bye, then she gave him a flurry of kisses. I guess I had better start watching her around the boys! When Amanda got on the line, Shelby started chittering and chatting up a storm; poor Amanda could hardly get a word in, but I DID hear a lot of giggling. You know how silly girls can be!
Well, Mr. Merlin perked up when he heard that and busted right into their conversation; as the older brother, he tries to annoy Shelby at every opportunity. Merlin began whistling, kissing and cooing at Amanda and just went on and on. My jaw dropped, because Merlin usually does not deign to speak on the lowly telephone. Merlin is nearly sixteen, so I guess I will have to start watching HIM now;>)
After a few minutes, Shelby decided it was her turn again and the scene deteriorated from there. I had to tell Amanda they would have to call her back, so I could hang up the phone. Lots of screaming and crying and arguing ensued, and after a brief tussle, I wrestled the phone away from them. I had to put them to bed early and suspend their phone privileges for a week.
It is sooooo hard being a parront these days!
One of my friends from church, ten-year old Amanda, periodically asks me to have Shelby call her. Now, Shelby being the quintessential female, loves talking on the phone. She prefers to gossip with her girlfriends. Shelby's only six and not really interested in the boys yet.
So Shelby calls Amanda; Amanda's older brother answered the phone and Shelby was strangely tongue-tied. Not a peep out of her until he said good-bye, then she gave him a flurry of kisses. I guess I had better start watching her around the boys! When Amanda got on the line, Shelby started chittering and chatting up a storm; poor Amanda could hardly get a word in, but I DID hear a lot of giggling. You know how silly girls can be!
Well, Mr. Merlin perked up when he heard that and busted right into their conversation; as the older brother, he tries to annoy Shelby at every opportunity. Merlin began whistling, kissing and cooing at Amanda and just went on and on. My jaw dropped, because Merlin usually does not deign to speak on the lowly telephone. Merlin is nearly sixteen, so I guess I will have to start watching HIM now;>)
After a few minutes, Shelby decided it was her turn again and the scene deteriorated from there. I had to tell Amanda they would have to call her back, so I could hang up the phone. Lots of screaming and crying and arguing ensued, and after a brief tussle, I wrestled the phone away from them. I had to put them to bed early and suspend their phone privileges for a week.
It is sooooo hard being a parront these days!
Friday, March 14, 2008
U2
U2 is internet shorthand for " Umbrella Cockatoo". I saw the sweetest U2 today at the clinic. Calvin is 21 years old and has cataracts in both eyes. He cannot possibly see much more than that, but will readily go to anyone as long as he can put his beak on them to locate his "perch" on your arm ;>) Calvin would snuggle right up under my chin and lay his head down while I scritched his neck; I could feel my blood pressure drop twenty points. He never made a sound-quite unusual for a cockatoo!
The ramp is finally done at the clinic. The builder was waiting for a few days of warmer weather and this week, the weather finally cooperated! It is much easier for me to get in and out now; I know it will be for our clients, too.
It's time to go visit my mother. She is 81 and lives next door to us. My (younger!) brother, Dave, is retired and takes care of Mom. He has a gift for nurturing and I am so glad he moved back to Indiana after his wife died. Dave is a blessing for all of us-thanks for all your work, Bubba ;>)
The ramp is finally done at the clinic. The builder was waiting for a few days of warmer weather and this week, the weather finally cooperated! It is much easier for me to get in and out now; I know it will be for our clients, too.
It's time to go visit my mother. She is 81 and lives next door to us. My (younger!) brother, Dave, is retired and takes care of Mom. He has a gift for nurturing and I am so glad he moved back to Indiana after his wife died. Dave is a blessing for all of us-thanks for all your work, Bubba ;>)
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