Archives

July 08, 2013
Meanwhile, in a Parrot Cage

Posted by scott at 04:06 PM eMail this entry!
June 12, 2013
Dance Like Nobody's Watching

Posted by scott at 06:38 PM eMail this entry!
March 01, 2013
Mah Fudz!

Posted by scott at 12:29 PM eMail this entry!
February 26, 2013
Giving a Hoot

Have you been noticing an uptick of owl-related internet memes? No? Well, that's because you don't subscribe to any of Ellen's Facebook feeds. Now even the New York Times seems to be hopping on the bandwagon. Or, you know, owl perch. Something like that. No, Ellen, you can't have one.

Posted by scott at 06:36 AM eMail this entry!
February 02, 2013
Laugh...Knit.. BGOK!!!

Help the poor naked chickens.

Posted by Ellen at 10:09 PM eMail this entry!
February 01, 2013
Whirlybird!

Posted by scott at 10:20 AM eMail this entry!
July 24, 2012
Ready For The Olympics!

Posted by Ellen at 05:26 AM eMail this entry!
July 02, 2012
Fish n' Play

Sometimes the one that got away got that way because it was stolen. Bald eagles seem to be making a comeback all over. Certainly our own green chicken will happily steal food if the opportunity presents itself.

Posted by scott at 06:29 AM eMail this entry!
May 25, 2012
Penguin Recapture

The penguin which was doing-just-fine-thank-you in Tokyo bay has been recaptured. It's probably just as well. I'm sure there's a group of Asian guys somewhere out there who'd want to grind him up to help them get their wangs in shape. Seems to be the fate of most exotic animals nowadays.

Posted by scott at 10:30 AM eMail this entry!
May 20, 2012
Rational Magic: Paco

Deep inside the parrot was an old soul. Tired, war-torn, weather-beaten, and fed up. So this go round it asked to be something simple. It is a common misunderstanding that souls have a sex. In previous lives, she had been a he many times, as well as a she. The universe did not differentiate on that matter; there were other, more important things to worry about. Let whatever place the soul lands, decide the differentiation. The more advanced, the less it mattered.

The soul resided in the parrot happily for a number of years. Riding on the girl’s shoulder, getting lots of attention from the neighborhood children and the occasional shower slash bath. Paco followed the girl around the house, in the yard, and often down the sidewalk. Content at last for some peace and quiet. Nothing to worry about, no important decisions to make; for once being taken care of instead of being the caregiver.

“Paco, you know I love you,” she said, stroking her head. Paco bobbed up and down frantically for a moment. The girl turned and walked out of the room. Inside, the soul let out a wail of anguish. Paco just remained perfectly still; staring at the door.

Read the rest of the story here.

Posted by Ellen at 08:01 PM eMail this entry!
May 16, 2012
'Guin on the Run

A penguin which escaped from a Tokyo zoo in March has been discovered prosperous, presumably doing what penguins do best. I guess Tokyo bay is either a) cleaner than I imagined it b) larger, or c) both. I imagine they'll eventually trap the escapee eventually, but it's nice to know he's able to get by just fine.

Posted by scott at 03:22 PM eMail this entry!
April 14, 2012
Bird Count

By using a novel technique involving high-resolution satellite imagery, scientists have determined nearly twice as many emperor penguins live in the Antarctic than previously thought. Hey, can't go wrong with more penguins, ya know? As long as they don't suddenly start dancing to Prince or anything.

Posted by scott at 03:48 PM eMail this entry!
March 14, 2012
I'ma Bird... I Waggle My Tail... I'ma Bird

Hey, it beats the alternate title... penguins really can fly. I'm hoping the FAA will be cool with this. Yet another thing Osama did was suck every last bit of a sense of humor from everyone associated with air travel. Ah, well, it certainly looks like everyone was fine with it. No, Ellen, you can't have one.

Posted by scott at 04:11 PM eMail this entry!
March 04, 2012
A Featherd SQUEEE!!!!

Posted by Ellen at 09:15 PM eMail this entry!
March 02, 2012
Moving To The Burbs!

The famous wild parrots of San Francisco's Telegraph Hill have spread their wings to the suburbs.

About a hundred of the green birds have been spotted on the slopes of San Bruno Mountain in Brisbane, a city about 10 miles south of San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.

I need to move to California.

The parrots have taken such a liking to resident Joe Sulley, he said they occasionally perch on him during visits to his back deck.

"Parrots on my head? It's fabulous," he said.

Yes... a parrot on the head is indeed fabulous!

Posted by Ellen at 10:46 AM eMail this entry!
February 17, 2012
Swoozie's New Game

No, I am not whistling the Arkansas fight song! Nope... not doing it.

Posted by Ellen at 08:59 PM eMail this entry!
January 20, 2012
All About The Fries

Yes, my darling Swoozie loves her fries. Especially if they are from "The Golden Arches of Evil*."

*Yep! We treat Olivia there once a month to the arches! Hey, you only live once.

Posted by Ellen at 08:18 PM eMail this entry!
December 24, 2011
Christmas Pi

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How did you get up there bird?*

*She got startled by the toaster this morning and flew around the room and ended up on the tree.

Posted by Ellen at 08:11 PM eMail this entry!
December 22, 2011
I Can Haz Santa's Sleigh?

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Posted by Ellen at 09:02 PM eMail this entry!
December 04, 2011
WHUT!!?

cute animals - Curiosity Dilated the Owl's Pupils
see more Daily Squee
Posted by Ellen at 07:16 PM eMail this entry!
November 19, 2011
Um.. Excuse Me!?

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Normally I wear a mask and eye gear when I clean cat teeth. I was in the process of cleaning up when my parrot, Swoozie decided to fly onto my shoulder to hang out. My co-worker made me re-enact the dental to get this pix.

*The birds came to work with me today because Scott was cleaning the oven.*

Posted by Ellen at 07:30 PM eMail this entry!
Lovely Owl

Simply delightful! ENJOY!

Posted by Ellen at 06:29 PM eMail this entry!
November 18, 2011
Not Nice Bird...

Posted by Ellen at 06:53 PM eMail this entry!
November 15, 2011
When Fun=Well...Bird.

Thanks Bird.

Posted by Ellen at 07:36 PM eMail this entry!
October 17, 2011
Swiper No Swiping... *SQUAWK*

A BBC nature crew has finally caught "criminal" penguins red-handed. Adelie penguins, which build stone nests to keep their eggs away from spring runoff, had long been known to steal the best stones from each other but nobody'd manage to film it until now. Swoozie's cage is horrible enough. I can't imagine crawling around on ground pooped on by a quarter of a million birds.

Posted by scott at 07:08 AM eMail this entry!
MMmm...Chicken.
Posted by Ellen at 05:24 AM eMail this entry!
September 28, 2011
Squawk, Wobble, Thud

Ah, northern Australia, where the men are men, the women are women, and the parrots are completely lit. I wonder if they're noisier when they're smashed? I'm not completely sure it's possible.

Posted by scott at 06:46 AM eMail this entry!
September 07, 2011
Bad Burd

Meet the honeyguide bird, the helpful avian with murderous offspring. You'd think, with a strategy like that, the host species would simply die out. Something else is likely going on here.

Posted by scott at 06:53 AM eMail this entry!
August 16, 2011
Birds Do It...

When raised in same-sex groups, more than half the birds paired up together. When females were then brought into the male group, five out of eight pairs of males ignored them and stuck with their male partner.

As in their relationships with the opposite sex, they were found to be as 'attached and faithful', perching side by side, nesting together and greeting each other by nuzzling each other's beaks.

Just like Bert and Ernie.

Posted by Ellen at 06:20 AM eMail this entry!
July 23, 2011
Feeding Frenzy

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A few humming birds up at Blanchard Springs today!

Posted by Ellen at 11:59 PM eMail this entry!
June 26, 2011
I Know There Is A Treat In There

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Posted by Ellen at 06:47 PM eMail this entry!
May 25, 2011
The Parrots Creed

Why yes...this is so true.

About parrots in general I mean. Yeah...Muslims, I MEAN PARROTS!

A very loud SQWAKING No-Prize to Jay Tea!

Posted by Ellen at 05:51 AM eMail this entry!
May 13, 2011
Bird Boom

The ring-necked parakeet is experiencing a population explosion, in London. Yep, same bird as that cute, "I love you" critter Ellen watches obsessively on YouTube. In certain London suburbs, they just wander around at will.

No, Ellen, you can't have one.

Posted by scott at 02:28 PM eMail this entry!
May 06, 2011
Mesmerising a Quack

Well, what else have you got to look at stuck in a pen inside a pet store? I remember freaking out a group of wild dogs at a zoo with a camera tripod. They weren't as cute as this.

Posted by scott at 06:26 PM eMail this entry!
April 20, 2011
Penguin Buzz

Mark gets an insanely cute no-prize for bringing us this short video of someone tickling a penguin. All together now, "no, Ellen, you can't have one."

Posted by scott at 07:01 AM eMail this entry!
April 05, 2011
Brrr!

I want to see this movie.

I read this book in class.

Posted by olivia at 08:02 PM eMail this entry!
March 28, 2011
Destroys Cage Toys, Searches for Sarah Conner

A company who's name brings spaghetti sauce to mind has produced a fully-functional autonomous robotic bird. Looking at the video, all it needs is a paint job and a tube for crap at one end to make it nearly indistinguishable from your garden variety rat with wings. Since it doesn't have a pulse, Ellen could actually have one, if she wanted.

Posted by scott at 06:54 AM eMail this entry!
March 17, 2011
Wisdom's Survival

A sixty year-old resident of Midway island has been reported alive after weathering the earthquake-induced tsunami. The catch? It's a sixty year-old albatross. The oldest known bird in the US, no less.

Posted by scott at 07:11 AM eMail this entry!
March 11, 2011
WHEE!!! Happy Birthday Marnie!!

Everyone needs a moment of stupid cute!!

Posted by Ellen at 09:04 PM eMail this entry!
February 09, 2011
Pi In A Bag

Posted by Ellen at 08:43 PM eMail this entry!
January 19, 2011
HOOT! *wobble* *thud*

An owl apparently crocked on schnapps has been rescued by German police. I blame Dick Cheney.

Posted by scott at 11:21 AM eMail this entry!
December 17, 2010
Let The Bodies Hit The SQWAAAAAKKKKKKK!!!!!!

Now, don't forget to check the second link to see what the parrot is actually singing!

Posted by Ellen at 08:22 PM eMail this entry!
December 12, 2010
Rio, The Movie

How FUN does this movie look!

The main characters are parrots! How can you not love it. Oh wait...maybe if you have parrots you would appreciate it more!

Posted by Ellen at 06:36 PM eMail this entry!
December 07, 2010
Bad Bird!

ANY attention given to the smaller green chicken of the two, makes the larger green chicken mad.

Posted by Ellen at 06:57 AM eMail this entry!
December 04, 2010
OOP!?

Cute Baby Animals - Hide and Go Seek
see more Daily Squee
Posted by Ellen at 08:38 PM eMail this entry!
November 20, 2010
Not Your House!

Posted by Ellen at 09:43 PM eMail this entry!
November 18, 2010
A Goofy Bird Moment

Posted by scott at 06:33 AM eMail this entry!
November 14, 2010
Squeeze Your Fat Butt In The Bath Swoozie!

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If Monkey can fit, so can she! Well...she tried.

Posted by Ellen at 09:50 PM eMail this entry!
I See A Bird Butt!!!

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Posted by Ellen at 09:48 PM eMail this entry!
November 06, 2010
DOH!
Posted by Ellen at 05:55 AM eMail this entry!
November 03, 2010
Just Amazing!

Posted by Ellen at 09:07 PM eMail this entry!
Oh Riiight There!!!

Posted by Ellen at 09:01 PM eMail this entry!
October 26, 2010
Hrmm... Food!? NOPE! Gray Hair!

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Monkey, our resident Parrotlet, decided that landing on Scott's head was pretty cool! So cool he did it to Olivia and me as well.

Posted by Ellen at 07:30 PM eMail this entry!
October 21, 2010
Iz Nigh-Nigh Tyme!

Nothing quite like watching Ellen trying to talk the 32oz bird out of the 8oz bird's cage so everyone can go to bed. "MAH BED TONIGHT! MAH BED! NOT HIZ!"

Ah, binky ball to the rescue!!!

And now, we get the butterfly net out to capture "HIZ" to put him in "HIZ" bed.

Posted by scott at 10:36 PM eMail this entry!
October 09, 2010
Goofy Bird

Cockatoos are known for this sort of thing. That's a pretty aggressive wing clip there, too.

Posted by scott at 07:20 AM eMail this entry!
October 06, 2010
My Mom's Owl Family
Posted by Ellen at 06:54 AM eMail this entry!
October 04, 2010
Oh HAI! Has A Muffin Won't You!?

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Posted by Ellen at 10:09 PM eMail this entry!
October 01, 2010
Working With Smallish Bird

Posted by Ellen at 09:21 PM eMail this entry!
September 27, 2010
Bitteh Birdeh!

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Monkey will behave for anyone in exchange for a shower!

Posted by Ellen at 08:25 PM eMail this entry!
September 26, 2010
Mom! Your Owl Needs a Hoodie!
Posted by Ellen at 09:29 PM eMail this entry!
September 21, 2010
Swoozie's Bungalo

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I have a photo of her nom-nomming on a chip. I will have to develop that one later.

Posted by Ellen at 06:51 AM eMail this entry!
September 15, 2010
Shower Buddies!

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Posted by Ellen at 08:23 PM eMail this entry!
September 11, 2010
Down Low

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Posted by Ellen at 09:11 AM eMail this entry!
Up High!

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Monkey lost his buddy, Banana, yesterday to a severe metabolic bone disease, so he is getting some time out with Swoozie now.
Posted by Ellen at 09:07 AM eMail this entry!
August 28, 2010
Whatcha Doin'?

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Posted by Ellen at 07:05 PM eMail this entry!
Banana & Monkey

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Our new babies, Banana Split and Chunky Monkey. Both are Pacific Parrotlets and are a mated pair.

Many thanks to DJ Feathers for the gift!

Posted by Ellen at 07:02 PM eMail this entry!
August 03, 2010
Imperial Cuteness!

Posted by Ellen at 10:28 PM eMail this entry!
August 01, 2010
Nursing the Buzz

If this article is to be believed, there actually is something that's a bigger PITA than fostering pre-weaned kittens. And like pre-weaned kittens, I doubt there would be much to stop Ellen from fostering hummingbirds, if she found an opportunity. Which is why she won't. Understand?

Posted by scott at 03:04 PM eMail this entry!
July 21, 2010
A Very Cool 2 Minutes!

Posted by Ellen at 05:51 AM eMail this entry!
July 18, 2010
Bad Bird!

Swoozie takes french fries very seriously, and does not appreciate being offered "substitute" apple fries. AS IF!

Posted by scott at 04:21 PM eMail this entry!
July 10, 2010
I Can Haz Scratch?

Tool use: it's not just for humans, you know. If he had an ink pot, I would not be at all surprised if he started writing with it.

Posted by scott at 10:00 AM eMail this entry!
July 01, 2010
The Squawk, of... Friendship

By using a murder of garden variety crows and behavior techniques more normally used observing primates, a group of scientists seems to have proven that birds... well, crows anyway, show empathy to their friends. That sound you're hearing is thousands of parrot owners shouting, "DUH!"

I'll forgive you for not hearing it over the squawking.

Posted by scott at 08:21 PM eMail this entry!
June 19, 2010
U Go Wai!

And now, a crow taking down an RC airplane. In other news, electronics have gotten so small and efficient it's possible to mount video cameras on simple, small RC airplanes.

Posted by scott at 07:28 AM eMail this entry!
June 05, 2010
Squawk Hooch

It seems that something is getting a species of Australian parrot so lit it takes them four weeks to recover. That's one helluva hangover there, folks. That sound is Ellen's head exploding. She does that every time she realizes that, in Australia, parrots are so common they literally can be picked up off the ground.

Posted by scott at 06:55 AM eMail this entry!
May 08, 2010
I Can Haz Nitecap?

Birdie flown the coop? Try setting out red wine and potato chips. No, really! Bonus: I'm pretty sure that's a Pionus. In our case, it'd be potato chips and french fries.

Posted by scott at 07:49 AM eMail this entry!
May 06, 2010
Quantum Squawk

Scientists have found more evidence that birds use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. The bonus this time is it seems the mechanism uses a phenomena known as "quantum entanglement" which ultimately allows the birds to actually see the magnetic lines.

Posted by scott at 06:42 AM eMail this entry!
May 02, 2010
Adventures At A Drive Through

Never ever bring a parrot that is “addicted” to McDonald’s French Fries through their drive through.

WHY?

Look at my ear.

WTF?

No really, look at my ear. What do you see? Well, ok, you don't see anything, you're reading, so I'll tell you: a freaking puncture! Who needs to go to a local piercer for professional work when all they have to do is borrow Swoozie, drive through McDonald’s, and ask for French fries? We'd long known that you cannot mention the "double-f word" without some sort of hostility or excitement from the parrot.

I was taught a higher level of that today in the McDonald’s drive through.

“I’ll have a four piece chicken nugget happy meal with apple dippers and chocolate milk!” I shout into the kiosk.

“Anything else?”

“Yes, I need one plain hamburger and a small French fry.”

The pain is sudden and startling.

“That will be $5.53, drive through.”

At this point I want to snap this green chicken's neck. “Dammit! You f’ing bird! No biting! I said NO!!”

“Oh Mommy! Your ear is all red! Are you bleeding!?”

Runs fingers around ears. “No, no blood! You F*%ng bird! No biting! I said NO!”

There is no such word NO. Not when it comes to the “Golden Arches”. To a certain Pionus Parrot in our house, the “Golden Arches” = heaven. Golden, crunchy, salty heaven. The excitement is too much to hold in! One cannot “wait” for the fries to be within reach, and if the word is spoken, all hell breaks loose.

On my shoulder.

And my ear.

Ouch.

Driving up to pay for our meal with a parrot shouting “BABY BIRD!” over and over again while you hand over your debit card can be embarrassing. Not for me, but for the teller. The shit they have to deal with on a daily basis, then this?

“Err… can I get the girl's toy’?

Apparently our McD’s ladies are not so smart... again. Please note, I have a girl in my car. She wants a Happy Meal with a ‘girl's toy’, not a BOY'S toy. I know you really can’t speak English, but please, I hope you can distinguish a boy from a girl. That’s where all of my taxes are going to, for you people to have kids and be illegal at the same time.

So now not only do I have a parrot screeching about French Fries “FRENCH FRY! FRENCH FRY! FRENCH FRY! BABY BIRD! BABY BIRD! WHERE'S OLIVIA WHERE'S OLIVIA! FRENCH FRY!”, I have a 6 year old crying that the ‘toy’ she got was from the "old" toy collection 3 weeks ago. *Bangs head on dashboard*

Moments after leaving I did a stupid thing. I handed Olivia the bag of food.

Not smart. Possibly the dumbest thing I did all day.

NEVER pass fries over the bird.

Swoozie is a French fry connoisseur. She can distinguish homemade in the deep fryer fries to these bad boys any day. She can tell what fast food place they have been, how old they are etc.. NOTHING compares to McD’s. NOTHING.

Passing the food bag to Olivia demonstrated this.

The next thing Olivia and I remember is a shower of French Fries and a ‘very’ proud bird nomming on a ‘super fry’. The French Fry among French Fries. The biggest one in the bag.

“Mommy! *Olivia laughing*,"Swoozie stole your fries!"

Yes…yes, you damn bird ,you did.

Burger King? bleh. Wendy’s? Sucks. Golden Arches? Let the angels sing!

Or, you know, parrots squawk.

Posted by Ellen at 01:41 PM eMail this entry!
April 22, 2010
Daily SQwAAk!!
Posted by Ellen at 08:34 PM eMail this entry!
April 21, 2010
Want Treat

Scientists have discovered a specific species of crow is even smarter than previously thought. Swoozie has a this big giant hairless ape to do her bidding, so she doesn't really need to be all that clever, which is fortunate.

Posted by scott at 07:02 AM eMail this entry!
April 20, 2010
PEEP!!
Posted by Ellen at 10:37 PM eMail this entry!
March 18, 2010
Wet Chicken

Birds, like cats, have an undeserved reputation for elegance.

Posted by scott at 01:05 PM eMail this entry!
March 10, 2010
Gimmeh!

Posted by Ellen at 07:24 PM eMail this entry!
March 09, 2010
Birdy Likes da Chippies

It's our site, we'll post what we want to! :)

Posted by scott at 02:55 PM eMail this entry!
February 22, 2010
Swoozie Quacks

Listen closely for the quacks!

Posted by Ellen at 05:55 PM eMail this entry!
February 01, 2010
SQWaaaMEOOW!

Posted by Ellen at 08:23 PM eMail this entry!
January 11, 2010
WHEE!!! SO CUTE!

Posted by Ellen at 07:20 AM eMail this entry!
November 23, 2009
Fuggeddaboudit... *SQUAWK*

Turns out San Francisco's Telegraph Hill isn't the only place hosting a colony of wild parrots. Quaker parrots in Brooklyn makes us visiting the place much more likely this spring or summer, I'm thinking.

Posted by scott at 07:10 AM eMail this entry!
November 18, 2009
F'ing Bird

The only thing I have a problem with is the basic view. I thought he was in San Francisco until I saw the monument. While dramatic and fun, that view doesn't exist.

Pedantic? Me?

Posted by scott at 08:23 PM eMail this entry!
November 17, 2009
Possibly The Cutest Bird Video I've Seen!

A VERY tweet NO-PRIZE to Joshua for bringing us this.

ADORABLE!!!

Posted by Ellen at 06:38 AM eMail this entry!
November 07, 2009
Scott Says I Know This Bird Well

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Posted by Ellen at 10:59 PM eMail this entry!
October 25, 2009
And I Just Cleaned The Bird Cage!

The image that came in an unlikely form of a bird dropping appeared on Sunday.

Don't forget to watch your parrot for a stigmata!

Posted by Ellen at 08:43 PM eMail this entry!
October 22, 2009
Have Blue

Personally, I think the second picture of this brief gallery is the "win" shot. Then again, I obsess around and plot out airshow pictures 364 days a year, 365 on leap year. I guess you'd call it, "expected."

Posted by scott at 07:19 PM eMail this entry!
October 07, 2009
Get A Room!

A shagging only a scientist would love!

Posted by Ellen at 06:12 PM eMail this entry!
August 20, 2009
Baby Squawk

No, Ellen, you can't have one:

Yesterday at around 7 a.m., Morgan Pitts, a 36-year-old propmaster who works out of Silvercup Studios in Queens, had an Encounter With Nature. While on a routine coffee run near his Greenpoint home, he heroically and rather nonchalantly saved a baby falcon from a dangerous urban environment...

That sound you here is Ellen and Amber "squee!!"-ing several hundred miles apart at the same time.

Posted by scott at 07:07 PM eMail this entry!
August 10, 2009
I Can Haz Skritch?

That sound you heard was Ellen's head exploding with candy. Amber's too, most likely.

Note: video is safe for work, but the site itself seems marginally NSFW. Watch it at home.

Posted by scott at 05:45 PM eMail this entry!
August 08, 2009
Head Esplode Into Candy...

A snoring duckling! How cute!!

Posted by Ellen at 05:20 PM eMail this entry!
July 09, 2009
SQUWAK!! *POP*

Posted by Ellen at 06:23 AM eMail this entry!
July 05, 2009
A Bird I'm Not Allowed To Have

Good thing it's extinct!

How cool is this though? Colors?

In a unprecedented discovery, Nicolas Rawlence of the University of Adelaide and a team of researchers found they could extract DNA from the feathers' shafts, and use the genetic material to prove the feathers belonged to four species of the flightless Moa, including the Heavy-footed Moa Pachyornis elephantopus.

With pix goodness!

Posted by Ellen at 09:17 PM eMail this entry!
July 02, 2009
Strut Strut...and Binky Ball!

Posted by Ellen at 09:06 PM eMail this entry!
June 25, 2009
Cheep Cheep!!

The nestlings were among 13 survivors of a group of 53 baby birds confiscated from a 15-year-old Longmont boy’s bedroom on June 16 and taken to the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where they are now recuperating and growing.

Sgt. Dave Orr of the Longmont Police Department said the boy’s mother called animal control when she learned of the baby birds the boy had brought to his home on the 1800 block of Meadow Street.

Another messed up kid.

Posted by Ellen at 07:14 AM eMail this entry!
June 17, 2009
Bgok!! Faaabulouus!!!

Humorous Pictures

Posted by Ellen at 02:12 PM eMail this entry!
June 08, 2009
What Are You Waiting For!

BIRD TALK’s Top Lists For 2009

Nominate your top picks for our top bird-related lists.

It’s time to find out the “best of the best” and BIRD TALK wants your input. Check out BIRD TALK’s Top Lists for 2009 below and send in your top bird-related picks.

The deadline to submit is August 9, 2009.

Don’t wait until to the last minute, submit your Top Picks today!

Go vote!

Posted by Ellen at 09:37 PM eMail this entry!
June 05, 2009
Pionus Commercial Break

Posted by Ellen at 08:21 PM eMail this entry!
May 29, 2009
Mah Toolz, Let Me Show U Them...

What, does no one in behavioral sciences own a parrot? Cockatoo owners in particular are always advised to keep bits of wire away from their birds, not just because it could injure the bird, but also because the little feathered monsters will build lock picks out of them.

While Swoozie is certainly no rocket-scientist bird, I can say she picks up on tricks faster than any other critter we've ever owned.

Jeff gets a no-prize that'll squawk as the sun goes down for bringing us yet another example of science telling bird owners what they've already known for years.

Posted by scott at 11:40 AM eMail this entry!
May 06, 2009
Hehehehe... His Name is, "Dong" ... heheheheh

I guess Asian song birds must not make as much noise as parrots. If you tried to strap Swoozie to your leg it'd sound like you had a car alarm taped to your ankle.

Posted by scott at 09:34 AM eMail this entry!
May 04, 2009
Look Away!

I KNOW I don't have make-up on or that my hair is done. GAH!

Posted by Ellen at 09:42 PM eMail this entry!
Very Sad Swoozie

Posted by Ellen at 09:39 PM eMail this entry!
May 01, 2009
~ Disco, Disco SQUAWK!!! ~

From the "you don't get out much, do you?" file we have the discovery that parrots dance to music. The "discovery," which just about any parrot lover in the past, I don't know, three thousand years or so could've told these guys about, may lead to insights into how consciousness works.

Swoozie's not much into dancing now that she has her space collar on. She mostly walks over, looks balefully at you, then thuds the collar down on the ground. She'll stay in that position until someone acknowledges she is in fact a very poor birdie who has been done wrong. Which is usually Ellen, who is having some serious mom-burd issues over this whole thing.

Posted by scott at 10:08 AM eMail this entry!
April 30, 2009
Fly Me To The Moon!

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Swoozie has a bubble collar on for a while. Why? She wants to go to the moon!

In all seriousness between the giggles, Swoozie won't leave a few feathers alone and this is the last resort.

Posted by Ellen at 08:49 PM eMail this entry!
April 22, 2009
I Can Haz Insurance?

Damned birds:

When the village store was gutted in a mystery fire, its owner Paul Sheriff was understandably less than chirpy.
...
But his shock turned to amazement when, after weeks of extensive investigations, his insurance company finally traced the cause of the fire - to a sparrow with rather an unusual taste in nest-building, not to mention a laissez-faire attitude to the perils of smoking.

We have the opposite problem with Swoozie, who merrily pitches everything not firmly attached over the side of her cage first chance she gets.

Posted by scott at 03:30 PM eMail this entry!
February 10, 2009
I Can Haz Rescue? *SQUAWK*

A DC-area parrot rescue has just doubled their flock population and could use a few bucks to help (right side of page). Donate today! The window-shattering-squawk-volume feathered dinosaur wannabe you help could one day be your own!

Except you, Ellen. You can't have one.

Posted by scott at 12:42 PM eMail this entry!
February 04, 2009
Sup?

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Posted by Ellen at 09:27 PM eMail this entry!
Pionus Strut!

The Pionus strut= "IdontlikeyouwhatisthatthingthatismakingthathorriblenoiseIKILLYOU!" walk.

Or to politely put it, Scott was vacuuming.

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Posted by Ellen at 08:52 PM eMail this entry!
January 21, 2009
WHUT?

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Posted by Ellen at 09:20 PM eMail this entry!
January 19, 2009
When Pantries Attack

Swoozie came home from boarding today, and so Ellen was giving her the run of the house. Her "perch West" location is the turtle's tortoise's cage in the kitchen, which is actually a large metal dog crate. It has perfect parrot-sized bars, and from birdie's perspective is little more than a square jungle gym. The "get off my lawn!" expressions Om gives her when she climbs down to sample whatever's in his food bowl are something to see.

At any rate, Ellen was puttering around in the kitchen with Olivia when I came around the corner.

Me: "Where's the bird?"

Ellen: "Behind me... rrrmm..."

Olivia, loudly: "MommyWeWentToChuckiesLookWhatIGot"--skwmph--"Isn'tItCool"--skwmph--"Purple'sMyFavoriteColor..."

Ellen: "Olivia, do you know where the"--skwmph--"birdie went?"

Me, peering down the stairs: "I don't see her, but I"--skwmph--"hear something"--skwmph--

Everyone quieted down, and sure enough, we heard, muffled, softly and rather calmly, "--skwmph--" pause "--skwmph--"

Which lead to Ellen opening the pantry: "Swoozie! What are you doing in there? I could've squished you!"

Swoozie, now unmuffled, and literally unruffled, quite calmly: "Squawk... squawk..."

Whereupon she tip-tap tip-tapped her way back to the cage, triumphantly carrying her quarry, a soda straw. She quickly climbed back up and repositioned the straw for disassembly. She then paused when she realized we were all staring, and gave us all a perfect "what?!?" expression.

When they said Pionus are laid back parrots they weren't kidding. The tone was nothing more or less than, "umm... excuse me? Parrot inside. Not meaning to trouble you, but..."

Welcome home, birdie!

Posted by scott at 06:48 PM eMail this entry!
January 13, 2009
Gimmeh!

Mark gets a very clever no-prize for bringing us this demonstration of just how smart a crow can be. As I understand it, parrots and crows are considered the two smartest groups of birds, with brain-to-body mass ratios similar to higher primates. Interestingly, their brain structure is very different, with small cerebral cortexes but large "medio-rostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale" areas.

In other words, birdies is smart!

Posted by scott at 09:09 AM eMail this entry!
December 19, 2008
Perch Potato

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Pionus are known to be "Perch Potatoes". Ours... well, is a perch potato. BUT, if birdy wants to be on the couch, birdy's got to wear her dress. No bird poop on the couch. The cats throw up on it enough!

Posted by Ellen at 09:01 PM eMail this entry!
December 17, 2008
Australian Christmas Wreath

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MANY thanks to Lisa from 'Down Under' for an "Australian Christmas Wreath."

Posted by Ellen at 10:10 AM eMail this entry!
December 09, 2008
Olivia's 1st Video

Look what she made me say!?
Posted by Ellen at 10:43 PM eMail this entry!
December 02, 2008
Gobble Gobble Gobble!

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Don't worry, the parrot likes turkey.

Posted by Ellen at 08:59 PM eMail this entry!
November 17, 2008
SQUWAK!! In a Suit

Swoozie demonstrating the ease of being stuffed into a flight suit.

Posted by Ellen at 09:47 PM eMail this entry!
November 13, 2008
Caught In The Act!

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Posted by Ellen at 09:42 PM eMail this entry!
November 10, 2008
Whiz Bang...Tonight I ♥ You.

DENVER (CBS4) ― A babysitter's parrot is being credited with helping save the life of a 2-year-old girl who was choking Friday at a Denver area home while the sitter was in the bathroom.

A story about a parrot? A parrot saving a child other than just pooping? AWESOME!

*Many thanks to Jay Tea!*

Posted by Ellen at 08:28 PM eMail this entry!
October 30, 2008
Pionus Shower

Posted by Ellen at 10:02 PM eMail this entry!
A Pionus and a Blow Dryer...

An Ionic blow dryer no less!

Posted by Ellen at 09:59 PM eMail this entry!
October 24, 2008
Budgies With Some Serious Air

NOT TO MISS! I laughed my ass off.

It's not every day that you get to see skateboarding budgies!

Ok...for you non-bird people. A budgie is also known as a parakeet. All budgies are parakeets, but all parakeets are not budgies. Confused yet?

Posted by Ellen at 05:19 PM eMail this entry!
October 23, 2008
Bloody Blood Feathers

I was bad. I broke a blood feather in the shower.

Mum bird told me that it looked like a scene in a movie called “Psycho”.

I did not like that she snipped off the broken part and held pressure on it. Now I KNOW I have to see the Dr tomorrow. She made an appointment anyway for my year visit. Now I have a REASON to go.

I am most upset at Mum bird.

Right now I do not like Mum bird.

I had a short shower.

I’m not going to speak to Mum bird.

Wait… she has a treat.

I love Mum bird.

Posted by Ellen at 08:46 PM eMail this entry!
October 13, 2008
Peek a Bird!

Posted by Ellen at 09:28 PM eMail this entry!
The Pionus Strut- Swoozie Style

Posted by Ellen at 09:17 PM eMail this entry!
September 30, 2008
Weer In Ur Cagez...

... messin' wif ur burdees

I'm not sure what Swoozie would make of a fish tank in her cage. It seems like it'd be a bear to do a water change on the tank.

Via Violins and Starships

Posted by scott at 01:23 PM eMail this entry!
September 16, 2008
#1st Birthday Swoozie!

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Happy Birthday my baby bird!

Today is her actual hatch day! Have a beer Swoozie!

Posted by Ellen at 09:27 PM eMail this entry!
September 12, 2008
Not The Paper Towel Of Doom!

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Posted by Ellen at 09:10 PM eMail this entry!
August 30, 2008
The Present That Is Not Liked

Especially made for Amber upon request!

Posted by Ellen at 07:25 PM eMail this entry!
August 19, 2008
One Day, Pionus, One Day!

Posted by Ellen at 09:00 PM eMail this entry!
August 12, 2008
Maxi Popcorn LOOOOVEE

One of Swoozie's most favorite snacks!

Posted by Ellen at 09:18 PM eMail this entry!
August 04, 2008
Finger Trap Of Doom!

Posted by Ellen at 09:26 PM eMail this entry!
July 27, 2008
Fly Free Duckies!

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Posted by Ellen at 07:41 PM eMail this entry!
July 25, 2008
Pionus Love

Posted by Ellen at 06:04 PM eMail this entry!
July 17, 2008
Rainbow Stixs

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Posted by Ellen at 09:48 PM eMail this entry!
July 06, 2008
This Muffin Is Most Delcious...

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Posted by Ellen at 09:16 PM eMail this entry!
July 03, 2008
Scrumples

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Olivia said Swoozie was 'picking a wedgie' when we took this picture.

Posted by Ellen at 09:06 PM eMail this entry!
Foot Toy

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One of the new toys Olivia picked out for Swoozie.

Posted by Ellen at 05:12 PM eMail this entry!
I Has An Itch

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Posted by Ellen at 05:08 PM eMail this entry!
June 20, 2008
Jail Escape Planned Tomorrow

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Posted by Ellen at 05:09 PM eMail this entry!
June 13, 2008
Mah Tinz Cup...I dropz it.

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Posted by Ellen at 08:47 PM eMail this entry!
Dinner Is Served!

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Caught on cam!

Posted by Ellen at 08:25 PM eMail this entry!
Sipin' a Sangria

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Posted by Ellen at 03:36 PM eMail this entry!
Tiki Bar Hotel

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There she is!

Posted by Ellen at 03:29 PM eMail this entry!
The Tiki Bar

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We dropped Swoozie off to DJ Feathers today for her vacation stay at the Tiki Bar. If you look closely, she is in the middle cage on the left side of the bar closest to the doorway in the back.

Posted by Ellen at 03:22 PM eMail this entry!
June 04, 2008
Streeeeettttch...

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Scott created a monster. He found her in the pantry ONCE. Now every time he is in the kitchen, she has to fly over and bat her birdy eyes at him to open the pantry door.

This is what happens when you try to remove her from it.

Posted by Ellen at 10:01 AM eMail this entry!
June 03, 2008
Parrot of DOOM!!!

Leave it to a small English town to generate a story about a parrot "terrorizing" a neighborhood. Praising quirkiness for its own sake is a famous English past time, but there have to be limits somewhere. Do you know how much one of those things costs?!?

Posted by scott at 10:38 AM eMail this entry!
May 21, 2008
Polly Wanna Go Home?

A very loud squwak No-Prize to Annie for bringing us this!

Swoozie... yeah not that smart yet.

Posted by Ellen at 09:11 PM eMail this entry!
May 16, 2008
At Least She's got the Birds

Anyone who can take care of (what looks to be) 20 macaws can't be all bad:

Once she was the world's richest vice queen, earning ten million dollars. She bedded Hollywood legends like Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando.

But now the only men's pants Heidi Fleiss sees flying round are the ones in the machines of her LAUNDERETTE in a remote desert town.
...
Today Heidi—who lost her fortune after being busted and jailed in 1997—lives in a trailer she shares with twenty parrots she took in when a pet shop closed down.

A little, well ok a lot, crazy maybe, but not bad. As long as you're happy, there's not a damned thing wrong with living in a trailer and taking care of a laundromat. There are other ways to be mighty after a fall.

Posted by scott at 08:22 AM eMail this entry!
May 14, 2008
Who Dis??

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Posted by Ellen at 09:10 PM eMail this entry!
May 12, 2008
I Kill You!!!!

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Annie came over on Sunday and brought over a mouse shaped LASER TOY! What did we all do...showed it to Swoozie!

Look for the red dot! It had to die. Much success was had!

Posted by Ellen at 09:47 PM eMail this entry!
Who Needs A Church Key...

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...when you have a parrot!

Posted by Ellen at 09:38 PM eMail this entry!
Birdy Wants Meds!

Behold the manic intensity that is a parrot at play. Swoozie gets this wacky over some of the toys in her cage, but since she's a pionus she's not as loud. Which is a good thing.

Posted by scott at 11:54 AM eMail this entry!
May 08, 2008
Old Bird

The deserts of western China have done it again, this time producing an extraordinary, and extraordinarily old, bird fossil. Every once in awhile Swoozie definitely puts on airs, looking at us like "my kind was soaring around dinosaurs when yours barely knew how to dig a hole." Of course, then she stumbles, falls off her perch, and bounces like a tennis ball when she hits the floor eight inches below, so we don't take her all that seriously.

SQUAWK!!!

Posted by scott at 08:28 AM eMail this entry!
May 05, 2008
A Compass with Feathers On

Scientists may have finally discovered the mechanism that allows birds to navigate using the Earth's magnetic field. Swoozy definitely knows how to get from the perch to the food bowl and back. So far, we've never tested if she could figure out going any farther.

Posted by scott at 12:26 PM eMail this entry!
May 01, 2008
Squawk!

It would seem baby birds babble just as much as baby humans. Swoozie had a couple of distinctive calls when she was really little, now gone. We're still trying to teach her R2D2 whistles.

What? You thought we were just acting nerdy?

Posted by scott at 02:37 PM eMail this entry!
April 28, 2008
Oh There Is a Birdy On A Boing!

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Taken with Scott's new Nikon VR 55-200.

Posted by Ellen at 08:17 PM eMail this entry!
April 17, 2008
For Swoozie

humorous pictures
see more crazy cat pics

Posted by Ellen at 09:54 PM eMail this entry!
April 06, 2008
NOM!!!

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Posted by Ellen at 08:21 PM eMail this entry!
March 20, 2008
LAAA!!!!

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Posted by Ellen at 05:12 PM eMail this entry!
March 12, 2008
Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head...

Swoozie is going through her first molt and is very itchy right now. After O's bath every night, Olivia and I give Swoozie her own shower. We even bought a new shower head to bathe her more easily.

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Posted by Ellen at 09:48 PM eMail this entry!
March 01, 2008
DUNK!

Swoozie decided to take a dunk in her water bowl today.

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Posted by Ellen at 08:50 PM eMail this entry!
February 25, 2008
Insert Blue Parrot Sketch Reference Here

African Gray: 1, False Leg: 0. If ours is any indication, toys which can be destroyed are the best toys of all. Anything which can be destroyed is therefore a toy. No wonder they're such happy birds.

Posted by scott at 02:42 PM eMail this entry!
February 17, 2008
Scritches!!

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Swoozie kept asking Olivia for head scritches, but O would not have anything to do with it, so I stepped in.

Posted by Ellen at 05:40 PM eMail this entry!
Olivia and Swoozie

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Posted by Ellen at 04:58 PM eMail this entry!
January 28, 2008
Pizza Love

Olivia would not let me take a pix of her and her bologna sandwich, so Scott took pixes of Swoozie making a mess with pizza crust.

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We are dorks, what do you want from us?

Posted by Ellen at 09:07 PM eMail this entry!
January 27, 2008
SQUWAK!!

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Posted by Ellen at 09:13 PM eMail this entry!
Boing Boing!

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Posted by Ellen at 09:12 PM eMail this entry!
Turn The Heat Up Please...Is Cold Bird

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Posted by Ellen at 09:10 PM eMail this entry!
And Kick!

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Posted by Ellen at 03:48 PM eMail this entry!
January 23, 2008
I Can Has Pringles?

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Only 99 cents!

Yes, after spending dozens of $'s on toys, she likes the free ones the best.

Posted by Ellen at 09:13 PM eMail this entry!
January 22, 2008
January Bird

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Swoozie is finally getting whistling in her routine as well as chirps!

Posted by Ellen at 08:00 PM eMail this entry!
January 08, 2008
When Bird Forums Attack!

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Swoozie got captioned by another member of a bird forum I am on.

Posted by Ellen at 08:20 PM eMail this entry!
January 07, 2008
I Can Has A Wet Green Chicken?

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One more...

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We told you she luuuurrvvsss the shower!

Posted by Ellen at 09:01 PM eMail this entry!
Kthxbai!

Fortunately, Pionus do not have a reputation for being escape artists. Note the padlock in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Posted by scott at 02:48 PM eMail this entry!
January 06, 2008
BOING Part Deux!

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Posted by Ellen at 08:27 PM eMail this entry!
Swoozie and Her BOING!

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I finally got Swoozie's BOING up! She is in love.

Posted by Ellen at 07:26 PM eMail this entry!
Swoozie Vs. The Bendy Straw!

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Taking bets now.

Posted by Ellen at 02:33 PM eMail this entry!
January 03, 2008
Birdie Kisses!

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Swoozie finally has the 'kiss' command down pat!

Posted by Ellen at 07:03 AM eMail this entry!
December 29, 2007
Pretty Bird!

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Posted by Ellen at 08:42 PM eMail this entry!
I Can Has Chinese Finger Trap?

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Posted by Ellen at 04:23 PM eMail this entry!
December 25, 2007
Please Don't Peck Me!

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*Peck Peck Peck*

Posted by Ellen at 05:00 PM eMail this entry!
Swoozie Testing Wrapping Paper

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Swoozie tested and approved.

Posted by Ellen at 04:58 PM eMail this entry!
December 20, 2007
Wet Bird

Oh Nos! It's a wet bird!

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Shake it out Swoozie!

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Ahhh....blowdryer...we luvvvss the blowdryer...

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Fresh and clean!

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Posted by Ellen at 08:39 PM eMail this entry!
December 19, 2007
Bird Diaper

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Swoozie wears a special flight suit now. She is guaranteed to crap on you when you hold her. The diaper works really well and after 10 minutes of wearing it, she was OK with it.

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Posted by Ellen at 04:54 PM eMail this entry!
December 18, 2007
Little Chef

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Posted by Ellen at 06:58 PM eMail this entry!
December 17, 2007
Paper Munching

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Bonding. Yes, bonding. Even if it includes munching on the weekly church offering envelope.

Posted by Ellen at 09:05 PM eMail this entry!
December 15, 2007
Welcome To Your New Home Swoozie!

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AMCG's new member is home! Acting indignant and barking her displeasure at us already!

Posted by scott at 08:48 PM eMail this entry!
December 12, 2007
In Front!

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Swoozie is in the front. Her leg band is on her right foot. Her sister was banded on the left.

Posted by Ellen at 11:51 AM eMail this entry!
Which One Is Swoozie?

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Posted by Ellen at 11:48 AM eMail this entry!
December 06, 2007
What Is Swoozie Doing Now

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Posted by Ellen at 05:03 PM eMail this entry!
November 22, 2007
Somehow I Don't See Ours Being This Smart
Posted by scott at 08:44 AM eMail this entry!
November 21, 2007
Wakka Wakka Wakka

Those of you who've wondered what Ellen's bird sounds like? Wonder no more! The funny thing is, in the bird world, Pionus are considered the "surfer dudes" of the parrot world.

One must only hope that, in our case, the dude abides.

Posted by scott at 07:42 PM eMail this entry!
November 19, 2007
Swoozie's Xmas Photo 2007

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Hopefully she will be home with us for Xmas!

Posted by scott at 06:30 AM eMail this entry!
November 14, 2007
11-14-07 Swooose Goose!

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Look how far 2 months shows!

Posted by Ellen at 07:08 PM eMail this entry!
November 10, 2007
11-10-2007 Swoozie

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Big difference since September huh!?!

Posted by Ellen at 02:57 PM eMail this entry!
November 01, 2007
November DjFeathers Photo Of Swoozie

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Posted by scott at 03:56 PM eMail this entry!
11-1-07 Visiting Swoozie

Scott and I went and saw Swoozie for our weekly visit today! Apparently her brother's new parent is coming all the way from West VA to finally come see him.

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Posted by scott at 03:47 PM eMail this entry!
March! March! March to the Beat!

Yes, Virginia, they really can be this manic. I'm pretty sure that's the kind we're going to get, but they all look pretty much the same to me, so what do I know? Dance birdie, dance!

Posted by scott at 09:31 AM eMail this entry!
October 27, 2007
10-27-07 Swoozie Visit

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Posted by Ellen at 08:30 PM eMail this entry!
October 23, 2007
There Is No Better Therapy Than Visitng Your New Bird

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Posted by Ellen at 07:10 PM eMail this entry!
October 22, 2007
Maybe They Really Are Useful

A family was saved from a fire by its parrot, which imitated the fire alarm so convincingly they woke up and escaped. From the little I understand of parrots, it's not that the thing was trying to help its owners, it was simply trying to yell down a rival that was burning down its house. The fact that it was able to do so speaks volumes about a parrot's ability to blow the windows out when the mood strikes. Whee!

Posted by scott at 09:19 AM eMail this entry!
October 21, 2007
Swoozie's Cage

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This comes this week for set up. We are going to start to move furniture around.

Posted by Ellen at 08:44 AM eMail this entry!
October 20, 2007
Swoozie Halloween Pix

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Pink's photo for Halloween from the breeder.

Posted by Ellen at 07:41 PM eMail this entry!
October 18, 2007
It's Swoozie!!

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It's official! Pinkie Pi is a girl! We have been waiting for a permanent name until we got the DNA results.

A bit on how we chose the name of our bird.

The "Swoose" is the oldest B-17 Flying Fortress in existence. It is also the only known U.S. military airplane to have flown a combat mission on the first day of the US entry into World War II and to remain in continuous military flying service throughout the conflict.

The aircraft is in storage at the National Air and Space Museum’s Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility at Silver Hill, Maryland.

This was the first "Swoose" flown by Frank Kurtz, and is the inspiration for his daughter's name, Swoozie Kurtz - the actress

Why did I pick the name? Well, Scott's a font of all sorts of useless trivia (shocking, I know), and the real Swoozie is on Pushing Daisies, our favorite new series. It was impossible to stop him from telling me the story, and the name caught my fancy. We've got one other pet named after an airplane ("Wobbly" is Goblin's "silent" first name), so why not? At least this one's supposed to fly!

And it's our parrot. We'll name it what we want!

[Why yes, we do both have Nerd merit badges, with oak leaf clusters no less. And thank you for noticing!-- Scott]

Posted by Ellen at 07:11 PM eMail this entry!
October 17, 2007
Pinkie Pi 3.0

I had the pleasure of getting to visit Pinkie Pi again today. I had the day off. Amongst running errands, I had to fit a visit in! I was told we should have DNA results any day now to see what sex it is.

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One More...

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Posted by Ellen at 07:05 PM eMail this entry!
October 14, 2007
Pinkie Pi 2.0

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My parents came to see Olivia for a much overdue visit. One of our stops was to meet Pinkie Pi.

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Posted by Ellen at 09:15 PM eMail this entry!
October 10, 2007
Everybody Dance!

Parrot dance.

Fun video!

Posted by Ellen at 09:52 PM eMail this entry!
October 09, 2007
It's PINKIE PI!

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I got to see our parrot today for the fist time! TOO CUTE!

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Posted by Ellen at 02:19 PM eMail this entry!
October 04, 2007
Egg-Specting

AMCGLTD has been 'egg-specting' now for a few weeks. We finally got pixes of the babies for us to choose from! Hopefully we will have a visit this weekend with more photos and a choice on our baby!

Hatchdates are 9-12 and 9-16 so they are 3 weeks old now. They should be weaned in about 11 weeks which is mid-December.

Ignore the bird poo! Ours is going to learn to wear a 'flight suite', aka-bird diaper.

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Posted by Ellen at 08:35 PM eMail this entry!