travis
03-30-2006, 07:28 PM
Trips to the local birdstores always seem to have some sort of interesting events for me. Yesterday I stopped by one of the three larger ones in San Diego, Bird Crazy, to see if I could find a small travel cage for Archimedes since I'm moving tomorrow. A large family walked in and went straight for all the larger macaws and cockatoos. It seemed like the employees in the shop were having some sort of day, sans the girl at the front counter, and weren't really ethusiastic about being there (which was odd because the last time I was there my girlfriend and I had a private tutorial about all different kinds of birds and their basic handling, but we all have our days sometimes). Anyway, the dad is so impressed that one of the blue and golds came over to him, he decides to put his terrified daughter right out in front of it and have the bird climb to her arm :mad: . The scared girl looked near tears, so I went over and took the bird from her, and showed her how to properly have a big boy like that perch on her arm, and how basic body language can tell you if it's okay to scratch or if you should simply visually admire the birdies. The blue and gold was an absolute sweetheart; I've played with him there before and he's always fun, but the girl was still scared to death of them. Loud squaks will do that. Apart from that, I asked one of the clerks why they didn't carry lovebirds, and was told that they are known to carry some sort of disease and show no symptoms, but can easily pass it on to other birds. Never heard of that, and all the other bird shops in the area have their lovies out with the other birds, so I never questioned it.
After that trip, I managed to stop by Birdland, the store where I purchased Archimedes. In my pre-purchase research, I always read that lovies were suppose to be seperate from other birds, but when I bought Archimedes, he was in a general tame cage with cockatiels and budgies, and although shy, was getting along fine. Granted him being little and alone may have had a lot to do with it, but I found it interesting, and completely forgot to ask about it. They were closing up when I got there, so I found what I was looking for quick and went to check out, where the manager was holding this gorgeous toucanette, emerald coloring. I mentioned something about him being gorgeous, and she said she was worried because his bill was cold. She then saw my shirt ( I was in my uniform from the San Diego Zoo, where I work, but not with birdies :( ) and quickly thrusted the bird in my face while simaltaneously asking me what it might be. He hopped to my arm before I could say anything, and gave me one of those priceless looks that made me want to take him home, ignoring his $1200 price tag. I had to tell her the unfortunate truth that I simple manage one of the gift shops, and have no experience with softbills.
I went back today to get some seed I forgot to buy, and turns out he is okay thank heavens, but again I wasn't let down, when I watched Rascal, the blue and gold greeter, try to steal mcdonald's fries from one of the clerks, and then engage in a shouting match because of it :eek: with the clerk. I didn't want to be the one questioning if you should yell at a bird like you would a dog, who responds to that kind of verbal enforcement, but moments later she and the bird were playing and necking, so I just assume that have some sort of love/hate relationship, or that's how it works for them :roll:
All in all, I always love bird shops over the chains any day. I better get back to Archimedes...I decided to write this while he is in time out for biting again :evil:
After that trip, I managed to stop by Birdland, the store where I purchased Archimedes. In my pre-purchase research, I always read that lovies were suppose to be seperate from other birds, but when I bought Archimedes, he was in a general tame cage with cockatiels and budgies, and although shy, was getting along fine. Granted him being little and alone may have had a lot to do with it, but I found it interesting, and completely forgot to ask about it. They were closing up when I got there, so I found what I was looking for quick and went to check out, where the manager was holding this gorgeous toucanette, emerald coloring. I mentioned something about him being gorgeous, and she said she was worried because his bill was cold. She then saw my shirt ( I was in my uniform from the San Diego Zoo, where I work, but not with birdies :( ) and quickly thrusted the bird in my face while simaltaneously asking me what it might be. He hopped to my arm before I could say anything, and gave me one of those priceless looks that made me want to take him home, ignoring his $1200 price tag. I had to tell her the unfortunate truth that I simple manage one of the gift shops, and have no experience with softbills.
I went back today to get some seed I forgot to buy, and turns out he is okay thank heavens, but again I wasn't let down, when I watched Rascal, the blue and gold greeter, try to steal mcdonald's fries from one of the clerks, and then engage in a shouting match because of it :eek: with the clerk. I didn't want to be the one questioning if you should yell at a bird like you would a dog, who responds to that kind of verbal enforcement, but moments later she and the bird were playing and necking, so I just assume that have some sort of love/hate relationship, or that's how it works for them :roll:
All in all, I always love bird shops over the chains any day. I better get back to Archimedes...I decided to write this while he is in time out for biting again :evil: