January 5, 2007

Parrots Do Love A Routine - Cute Story

Note: Seven years ago or so, I wrote a series of articles that appeared in the Quaker Parakeet Society's quarterly newsletter. This is the fourth of those articles.

Over the years, I've heard over and over again how parrots are creatures of habit. I also believe that they have an incredible sense of time, perhaps some sort of internal clock that keeps accurate track of the passing hours and minutes.

I was recently reminded of just how true this is when for several days in a row I got up a little earlier than usual to get some extra work done. Each morning I went out to the kitchen to get a caffeinated beverage to jump-start my day, walking past covered cages filled with my sleeping birdies in the process. I tried to be very quiet, but the sound of feathers being ruffled told me my birds knew of my presence.

However, what surprised me was not the ruffling of feathers, but what my birds said to me as I walked by!

The first morning, I disturbed my birds 50 minutes earlier than their usual wake-up time. Gator and Alex both let me know in no uncertain terms that it was still "Time to go night-night." Yep, I heard this phrase over and over until I had left the room, and they could settle back down again.

The second morning, I walked through the room 20 minutes earlier than usual. Again, I was told "Time to go night-night," although not quite as forcefully as I was the first morning. The third morning, I came through about 10 minutes earlier than usual, and I was greeted by excited little voices saying "Hi! Hi! Hi!" Now, that is what I'm used to hearing in the morning!

Of course, by now you may have noticed a trend where my early morning starts became less and less early each day. On the fourth day, I was back to my normal wake-up time. I guess many humans are creatures of habit as well and enjoy sticking to a schedule and routine. One thing I know for sure is that my morning routine would be greatly diminished without my Quaker Parrot family. I can't think of a nicer way to start a morning than to hear those sweet little voices joyfully welcoming the new day - as long as it isn't too early. <grin>

Filed under Parrots by Shelly Lane