February 2014
Dear Elephants, Humans who can read and Birds,
Well, today, February 13th, is my birthday and I am getting really old. The alternative to really old is not really appealing. I know there are people who hate their birthdays, but I love mine.
Aristophanes actually gave me a birthday present, albeit inadvertently. His allergies have STOPPED. We moved him from the living room, where he always lived in his cage, to the elephant room where he lives on a bird stand. There had to be something in the living room or the cage to which he was allergic because he has stopped sneezing! My birthday present from him is an easier mind. I had him to three veterinarians who did myriad tests on him and always found nothing, ergo it was an allergy. It was, apparently it was. He still bites me, but he doesn't sneeze when he does it and I don't have to shove benedryl down his throat any more....Good for both of us.
Aristophanes seems thrilled in his new venue and Emma and Zeke are both happy having him share their room. I hate the added mess and the constant cleaning up, but I am happy that he is happier and healthier.
I have been feeding wild birds at my kitchen window. We got a feeder that attaches to the window with suction cups and the wild birds are patronizing it all the time. Today I had tufted titmice (or is it titmouses), several goldfinches, purple finches (John Haas identified a female purple finch for me, I thought it was a savannah sparrow), chickadees, white breasted nuthatches and several doves. I am waiting for a cardinal to come to the window; I haven't seen that yet. I love watching them so close up and personal. My cats love it more than I do. They sit and watch all the time, sometimes hitting the window with their paws. The birds must realize that the cats cannot get to them because they do not seem to be afraid any longer. They used to fly away when the cats jumped up to the window, or when I went to the window, but not so much now If you want to enjoy something beautiful, put a feeder on your window; you will be seeing birds living as they were meant to live, wild and free. You are just providing some added sustenance for them and they will give you hours of enjoyment. I love my pet birds, but I wish they were wild and free too.......for their sakes and mine.
Tonight, if the weather allows, we will have a great meeting. John Haas, originally one of the founding members of our club but now working strictly with wild birds, will present a program on the wild birds of our area. John will be using Matt's new projector. We did not have to buy one for the club because Matt bought one for himself and will bring it to the club whenever necessary. John has written two books on birds and they will be available for anyone who is interested in purchasing them. John conducts guided tours of the avifauna of the Bashakill region. He knows so much about birds; it is a pleasure to listen to him and learn from him. We are really happy to have him back with us.
Next month we have Dr. Joe D'Abbraccio, club member and avian vet, coming to do a talk on avian medicine. Then in April we have my chicken guru Craig Russell, president of the Society for the Preservation of Poulty Antiquities (SPPA), coming to present for us..............More program ideas are always welcome.
Be well..............Have a great month...........Jackie and I, along with Judy Braun, are planning a stay in Thailand at an elephant sanctuary......imagine living with elephants....a dream come true.
Love,
Richie the Birthday Boy
Well, today, February 13th, is my birthday and I am getting really old. The alternative to really old is not really appealing. I know there are people who hate their birthdays, but I love mine.
Aristophanes actually gave me a birthday present, albeit inadvertently. His allergies have STOPPED. We moved him from the living room, where he always lived in his cage, to the elephant room where he lives on a bird stand. There had to be something in the living room or the cage to which he was allergic because he has stopped sneezing! My birthday present from him is an easier mind. I had him to three veterinarians who did myriad tests on him and always found nothing, ergo it was an allergy. It was, apparently it was. He still bites me, but he doesn't sneeze when he does it and I don't have to shove benedryl down his throat any more....Good for both of us.
Aristophanes seems thrilled in his new venue and Emma and Zeke are both happy having him share their room. I hate the added mess and the constant cleaning up, but I am happy that he is happier and healthier.
I have been feeding wild birds at my kitchen window. We got a feeder that attaches to the window with suction cups and the wild birds are patronizing it all the time. Today I had tufted titmice (or is it titmouses), several goldfinches, purple finches (John Haas identified a female purple finch for me, I thought it was a savannah sparrow), chickadees, white breasted nuthatches and several doves. I am waiting for a cardinal to come to the window; I haven't seen that yet. I love watching them so close up and personal. My cats love it more than I do. They sit and watch all the time, sometimes hitting the window with their paws. The birds must realize that the cats cannot get to them because they do not seem to be afraid any longer. They used to fly away when the cats jumped up to the window, or when I went to the window, but not so much now If you want to enjoy something beautiful, put a feeder on your window; you will be seeing birds living as they were meant to live, wild and free. You are just providing some added sustenance for them and they will give you hours of enjoyment. I love my pet birds, but I wish they were wild and free too.......for their sakes and mine.
Tonight, if the weather allows, we will have a great meeting. John Haas, originally one of the founding members of our club but now working strictly with wild birds, will present a program on the wild birds of our area. John will be using Matt's new projector. We did not have to buy one for the club because Matt bought one for himself and will bring it to the club whenever necessary. John has written two books on birds and they will be available for anyone who is interested in purchasing them. John conducts guided tours of the avifauna of the Bashakill region. He knows so much about birds; it is a pleasure to listen to him and learn from him. We are really happy to have him back with us.
Next month we have Dr. Joe D'Abbraccio, club member and avian vet, coming to do a talk on avian medicine. Then in April we have my chicken guru Craig Russell, president of the Society for the Preservation of Poulty Antiquities (SPPA), coming to present for us..............More program ideas are always welcome.
Be well..............Have a great month...........Jackie and I, along with Judy Braun, are planning a stay in Thailand at an elephant sanctuary......imagine living with elephants....a dream come true.
Love,
Richie the Birthday Boy