November 27, 2006

I couldn't spend much time with these guys today since I had to go to work. My husband made sure that they got fresh water and food in the morning and I checked in on them when I got home.

Lots of great, healthy poop. They ate all two avian cakes and the millet my husband put in there. So I replenished it with two more avian cakes and they got millet from my hand. I pushed the millet spray into the cage through the bars. They ate happily, even when i pushed the spray in all the way that my fingers were resting on the cage. Luca was even trying to get at the millet seeds near my fingers. Petrie is still a little more apprehensive, but does eat the millet from my hand as well, just a little further from my fingers.

They seem to respond more to me when i sing or whistle to them. They chirp back more (not a whole lot, but a small chirp here and there). I played some happy budgie tunes from youtube and more chirps came out of their small mouths. so cute!

They also seem to become more curious. even after finishing the millet spray, both birds stay on the bottom of the cage (they don't automatically fly back to their favorite corner of the cage) and look at me as i talk/sing/read to them. They first look inquisitive at me (probably hoping to get another millet spray) and then the longer they hear my voice, the more close-eyed they become - that fluffed, half-opened eyes look. it's just amazing how calm they are around humans. It's just a matter of being calm yourself when approaching them.

Depending on how they react when I approach them tonight, I may try to open the cage to offer the millet from my hand without the cage door between us. we'll see. maybe that is too much to ask at this point.