Our Cockatiel Friends

I have owned 5 cockatiels in my life, two I gave  to new owners as I realized that was just too many birds in our small house. As I write this only Buster remains,he will be 14 yrs. sometime this year.(2008) He is the background you see.

A white face.The only bird we ever bought. Well should I say swapped as we had purchased a mean little love bird and as soon as the breeder got a white face tiel, we got him to replace the mean bird.

This page will feature the two I lost. Max died yesterday and he was between 18-20 yrs. We had him since 1991.
 

Here he was before leaving the circular cage for the square one. My research told me circular cages aren't really a good choice. I read they should be able to spread their wings and fly across a cage.

He never flew across the cages he had. He climbed all over them.
Here he played on the broom. Not the least afraid.
 

You were brought down from the heavens, My baby cockatiel. You stole my heart, And never gave it back. I never forgot you, I knew you were close. Although your not here I know your near, Deep down in my heart. I shall see you again My beautiful star Up in the heavens it isn't far But till now I shall keep Your spirit close. By Mariel Fulham Sydney, NSW

Murphy is the pied tiel on the top. I don't have but two pictures with him, this is the best one.

We lost him in 2002 and he had hid his illness before we noticed it and couldn't be saved. I was devastated.

I can't remember where we got him but he was a sweet bird.
 

If there was a reflection anywhere you would find Max just singing and whistling to it. The first picture is where he used to bathe. I would spray him at the same time as he was a bit lazy. In his older age he wasn't as enthusiastic about being sprayed though.
 

Here he was looking for trouble. He would chew any paper he found.

We used to let him roam in a desk drawer at first until he flew out one day biting because he had decided that would be a good nesting place. Or he thought he owned it, your guess.
 

I cracked up the day I was passing the room and saw this.

While I changed seed containers he would still fly to my shoulder when I got to the feeding area.

He liked to eat potato, egg white, lettuce occasionally, pasta, corn. I forgot I used to give him pieces of corn on the cob (uncooked). They should have it for calcium. The tiels only ate the corn off the cob.

He played with cuttlebones more than eating them.
 
 

This picture ran in the local newspaper one year. Clipping surely is around here somewhere.

It got where we couldn't open a file drawer without his help.
 
 

We finally got him a perch to play on. He'd rather stand and chew the edge and eventually chewed it off!  Did the second one too. He never sat on that little swing
 

ANGELS' IN DISGUISE  My little birds are so sweet  Perhaps, it's true their not so neat  What such joy  they bring each day  One look at their sweet faces  erases any traces  of sadness away  Little angels in disguise  Who could doubt that they are wise  How do you correct the little creature  When their antics resemble a comedy feature  With a will so strong, I admire  Independence they desire  When dinner is over , the day is gone  Tomorrow will begin with a soft sweet song  This endless love I must relate  Is truly an act of heavens' fate   C.R. Ying    North Carolina

Had to move the books of course. He could see himself in the glass on the picture.
Max chewed spots on the windowsill as well as the door he is sitting on here. I worried about the paint from the windowsill. He also pecked pieces out of the seal on the window when it was up. He loved to come call you when he saw you outside. Wolf whistle and Andy Griffith theme were two of his favorite notes. He loved music boxes and he loved the tape with Bobby McFarren "Don't Worry Be Happy" whistles.

I've not regretted one day we had since son brought Max here. He brought much joy even when he was looking for something to get into. Thank You son for introducing mom to the world of 'tiels'.
 

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