Dear Humans, Elephants and Birds,
Happy New Year to all humans, elephants, birds and every other living thing. Also, a very happy birthday to my sweet, beautiful wife, Jackie who has been ringing in the new year for many years now and will continue to do so for many, many more.
There was a male cardinal on my window bird feeder when I got up this morning . I watched him for a while until he was joined by his khaki colored mate. Cardinals are so beautiful at any time of year, but when their magnificent red plumage is against the snow, in winter, it is really glorious, Blue jays are another winter bird that brightens up everything around them. My feeder is generally visited by tufted titmice, black capped chickadees, slate juncos and white breasted nuthatches. I haven't seen any gold or purple finches this winter. I didn't think they migrate, but maybe they do. I was seeing them every day during the warmer months. I love watching them so much and I always wish my own birds could live free like that. Of course, that can never be.
Speaking of my own birds, Aristophanes, Emma and Zeke are doing ok. Zeke flies all over the house and goes wherever he wants and I clean after him as I find what he drops. He seems to be doing really well for a 22 year old cockatiel. I wait until I cook the chickens' spaghetti in the morning before I let him out for the day because I do not want him flying around the kitchen with a boiling pot on the stove. Once I let him out he makes a beeline for the strainer that contains the cooked pasta and eats his fill. He feels it is his share because he has feathers too, just like the chickens.
Aristophanes is still living on the bird stand in the elephant room and his mood swings are still going strong. We have a young woman, who does some work for us each week, whom he loves. I cannot go near him when she is here or he bites me and hard. I think if he lived with her he would be one of those one person birds one hears about.
Emma has completely destroyed the molding on the wall that is by the floor. It has been replaced with metal, so now Emma has started on the bottom of the legs of the piano stool.
I wish everyone would write about their birds, how they live and what they are doing.......that is really what our newsletter is all about. It would make Matt happy, so please write and send you stuff to Matt or to me and I will forward it to him. Mfrumess@hvc.rr.com or loxodon@aol.com.
Pat Bennett, our wonderful treasurer, and the person who helps me most with bird adoptions, and the one who sends out our postcards every month, and the one who is always there to help with any problem that any bird, other animal or human is having, is in the hospital for double knee replacement surgery.
Pat is one of those rare people you can call on any time for just about anything and she is always there and ready to do more than her share. We wish her a safe and speedy recovery. If you would care to send a card her address, in the hospital, is Pat Bennett, Orange Regional Medical Center, Rm. 4119, 707, E. Main St. Middletown, NY 10940.
We have lots of programs coming up, this month we have Brenda Seldin, animal psychic or communicator and that should be very entertaining. Next month we have Parrots for Peace. Ellen Kalish, with her owls and hawks are coming in March. Craig Russell is back with his rare chickens in April. Dr. Factor, avian veterinarian, returns to us in May and Amy Hopkins is bringing us a program on birds of Australia in June. I am looking for a blow out program for our 30th anniversary party in July. If you have any ideas, I am really open to them and would be very appreciative.
Once again, have the best new year........and Jackie, happy birthday again and I love you.
LOVE,
Richie
Happy New Year to all humans, elephants, birds and every other living thing. Also, a very happy birthday to my sweet, beautiful wife, Jackie who has been ringing in the new year for many years now and will continue to do so for many, many more.
There was a male cardinal on my window bird feeder when I got up this morning . I watched him for a while until he was joined by his khaki colored mate. Cardinals are so beautiful at any time of year, but when their magnificent red plumage is against the snow, in winter, it is really glorious, Blue jays are another winter bird that brightens up everything around them. My feeder is generally visited by tufted titmice, black capped chickadees, slate juncos and white breasted nuthatches. I haven't seen any gold or purple finches this winter. I didn't think they migrate, but maybe they do. I was seeing them every day during the warmer months. I love watching them so much and I always wish my own birds could live free like that. Of course, that can never be.
Speaking of my own birds, Aristophanes, Emma and Zeke are doing ok. Zeke flies all over the house and goes wherever he wants and I clean after him as I find what he drops. He seems to be doing really well for a 22 year old cockatiel. I wait until I cook the chickens' spaghetti in the morning before I let him out for the day because I do not want him flying around the kitchen with a boiling pot on the stove. Once I let him out he makes a beeline for the strainer that contains the cooked pasta and eats his fill. He feels it is his share because he has feathers too, just like the chickens.
Aristophanes is still living on the bird stand in the elephant room and his mood swings are still going strong. We have a young woman, who does some work for us each week, whom he loves. I cannot go near him when she is here or he bites me and hard. I think if he lived with her he would be one of those one person birds one hears about.
Emma has completely destroyed the molding on the wall that is by the floor. It has been replaced with metal, so now Emma has started on the bottom of the legs of the piano stool.
I wish everyone would write about their birds, how they live and what they are doing.......that is really what our newsletter is all about. It would make Matt happy, so please write and send you stuff to Matt or to me and I will forward it to him. Mfrumess@hvc.rr.com or loxodon@aol.com.
Pat Bennett, our wonderful treasurer, and the person who helps me most with bird adoptions, and the one who sends out our postcards every month, and the one who is always there to help with any problem that any bird, other animal or human is having, is in the hospital for double knee replacement surgery.
Pat is one of those rare people you can call on any time for just about anything and she is always there and ready to do more than her share. We wish her a safe and speedy recovery. If you would care to send a card her address, in the hospital, is Pat Bennett, Orange Regional Medical Center, Rm. 4119, 707, E. Main St. Middletown, NY 10940.
We have lots of programs coming up, this month we have Brenda Seldin, animal psychic or communicator and that should be very entertaining. Next month we have Parrots for Peace. Ellen Kalish, with her owls and hawks are coming in March. Craig Russell is back with his rare chickens in April. Dr. Factor, avian veterinarian, returns to us in May and Amy Hopkins is bringing us a program on birds of Australia in June. I am looking for a blow out program for our 30th anniversary party in July. If you have any ideas, I am really open to them and would be very appreciative.
Once again, have the best new year........and Jackie, happy birthday again and I love you.
LOVE,
Richie