....and FRIENDS?

Dear Gentle Readers, I realize we have been absent for quite a while, but it's been hectic.

The budgies greatly enjoy the outdoors by (cage goes out to hang from the the front porch in the am, and goes in at dusk). That is not an uncommon practice in my neighborhood. Interestingly, most of the people who have budgies here are hispanic. Parrots seem quite popular as a pet in that demographic it seems.

Also, keeping the budgies on the porch during the day keeps them away from their new "friend", a kitty named Shania. As a dear friend said (and dear sister imitated by saying) "its risky...you can't reverse thousands of years of evolution". True, but we can make things work. Furthermore, this begs the question, "Is biology destiny?" The biggest problem, is that Shania doesn't realize that the budgies are PEOPLE just like her, and me.

Finally, note that Hedgies is gone from the title; it is now Budgies and Friends. I just can't think about getting another pet now, while I am working with two sets of creatures now. Perhaps a hedgehog will be in the future, but that could be far into the future.

Budgies Like Hanging out on the Porch

Gentle readers, I am sure you have been missing the budgie updates and worrying, needlessly as it turns out, about the cat.

The cat has gone through three stages: 1) not noticing the budgies 2) noticing the budgies and acting like Sylvester 3) being indifferent to the budgies (very similar to 1).

When the cat first started noticing the budgies, she got sprayed with the water bottle. At this point, she doesn't even seem to look at them. They get put out on the porch every morning, around 7am, and come in around 8pm. They seem to love this routine. Although in the house they had a closed room to themselves, there was just too much risk for a door being left accidentally open and mischief. They clearly prefer the porch (as manifest by singing, jumping around, preening). This may be because it is more light (and smells good) outside. Also, there are neighbor budgies who make the loud "ChIIRRRP" noise to our budgies. The neighbor also has his budgies out in the AM, inside in the PM. The other day, a mockingbird was in the yard making budgie noises. My heart leapt up with joy.

In the evening, myself, the cat (Shania) and the budgies all tend to hang out in the same room together. It is very peaceful. The cat and I play, or the cat sleeps while I read or watch TV, and the budgies wind down from their day. The cat shows no interest in them; she is more interested in her toys now. I hope it stays this way.

I have had to switch from the lovely victorian style cage to the more ordinary cage; it isn't as beautiful, but it is much, much lighter, which is key since I have to lift the cage, with one arm, twice daily.