Post by Caitlin on Dec 1, 2004 21:28:10 GMT 10
Hello my name is Caitlin,
I am owned by a energetic, cheeky free flight cockatiel named Virgil. I am lucky enough to be able to take Virgil into the office where I volunteer at times. Virgil flies around and lands on people's heads. lol I take Virgil for short trips in the car or for short walks along the beach.
Virgil has a great capacity to make friends wherever he goes! lol He can speak and say "My name is Virgil!" "I am a bird that can be heard!" "Let me out!" "Virgil!" He can wolf whistle and whistle a tune I taught him.
Virgil can say and play "Peekaboo." No one believed this until one night a friend and I were studying and we heard this little voice repeatedly saying "Peekaboo" we raced in and there was no bird in the roost cage, I felt a little stressed, then a little parrot head pops up and says "Peekaboo" and pops back down behind the tray at the bottom of the bird cage, disappearing until the little crest and head appeared with another "Peekaboo."
I try to get Virgil to socialise as much as possible so that he can have as full life as possible. He now flies to one of my friends who helps me by modelling behaviours and praising me when I model behaviours.
He plays well with other birds. It really cracked us up to watch two cockatiels playing with their reflections in the mirror, trying to teach the words that they have been taught to their imagines.
I was Virgil's mobile perch for sometime, but Virgil has learnt to play independently lately and is exploring the flat. Bird proofing is an ongoing occupation. He checks in on me from time to time to see if I am doing my work.
Virgil has an outdoor/indoor living room cage, a roosting cage and a small travelling cage. He seems to like them and goes inside them during the day to play. If he needs a nap he sometimes sits on my wrist whilst I am typing or snuggles up to my neck.
Virgil can type by jumping on the keyboard to produce the same sound that I do whilst I am typing this to all of you.
Virgil eats a wide rang of vegies and fruits I managed this by making big plates of stuff and him at one side eating I was on the other. At the artworkshops I was organising all the participants stopped to watch saying 'That bird eats better than I do!' lol Food is more delicious if it is stolen. So I leave it on the bench and he steals it. lol
Virgil has taught me to understand the 'I want to come out of my cage' squawk, 'pick me up' squawk and when he needs help squawk. I am most impressed by his ability to speak though my sister dowsed this by saying, "If you had a pet rock it would talk."
I have completed two degrees and am now onto a third. I write, paint, read too many parrot books, laugh alot, volunteer for a charity, study and of course play with Virgil.
I had a blue budgie named Rascal for 10 years as a kid and when he died it broke my heart.
Looking forward to meeting you all,
Ty to Eckie, Motherhen, grannychick and the others for making me feel welcome in the chatroom.
Best Wishes,
Caitlin
I am owned by a energetic, cheeky free flight cockatiel named Virgil. I am lucky enough to be able to take Virgil into the office where I volunteer at times. Virgil flies around and lands on people's heads. lol I take Virgil for short trips in the car or for short walks along the beach.
Virgil has a great capacity to make friends wherever he goes! lol He can speak and say "My name is Virgil!" "I am a bird that can be heard!" "Let me out!" "Virgil!" He can wolf whistle and whistle a tune I taught him.
Virgil can say and play "Peekaboo." No one believed this until one night a friend and I were studying and we heard this little voice repeatedly saying "Peekaboo" we raced in and there was no bird in the roost cage, I felt a little stressed, then a little parrot head pops up and says "Peekaboo" and pops back down behind the tray at the bottom of the bird cage, disappearing until the little crest and head appeared with another "Peekaboo."
I try to get Virgil to socialise as much as possible so that he can have as full life as possible. He now flies to one of my friends who helps me by modelling behaviours and praising me when I model behaviours.
He plays well with other birds. It really cracked us up to watch two cockatiels playing with their reflections in the mirror, trying to teach the words that they have been taught to their imagines.
I was Virgil's mobile perch for sometime, but Virgil has learnt to play independently lately and is exploring the flat. Bird proofing is an ongoing occupation. He checks in on me from time to time to see if I am doing my work.
Virgil has an outdoor/indoor living room cage, a roosting cage and a small travelling cage. He seems to like them and goes inside them during the day to play. If he needs a nap he sometimes sits on my wrist whilst I am typing or snuggles up to my neck.
Virgil can type by jumping on the keyboard to produce the same sound that I do whilst I am typing this to all of you.
Virgil eats a wide rang of vegies and fruits I managed this by making big plates of stuff and him at one side eating I was on the other. At the artworkshops I was organising all the participants stopped to watch saying 'That bird eats better than I do!' lol Food is more delicious if it is stolen. So I leave it on the bench and he steals it. lol
Virgil has taught me to understand the 'I want to come out of my cage' squawk, 'pick me up' squawk and when he needs help squawk. I am most impressed by his ability to speak though my sister dowsed this by saying, "If you had a pet rock it would talk."
I have completed two degrees and am now onto a third. I write, paint, read too many parrot books, laugh alot, volunteer for a charity, study and of course play with Virgil.
I had a blue budgie named Rascal for 10 years as a kid and when he died it broke my heart.
Looking forward to meeting you all,
Ty to Eckie, Motherhen, grannychick and the others for making me feel welcome in the chatroom.
Best Wishes,
Caitlin
