Parrots Do Love A Routine
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by Shelly Lane More cute stories of Quaker Parrots that show what these wonderful little birds are like to live with. This is another article in the "Living with Quakers" series that I wrote for the QPS newsletter. Does your parrot like a routine, too? Let me know by commenting at the end. |
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>
1 Comment on Parrots Do Love A Routine »
April 18, 2007
Allicia Houser @ 10:18 pm:
Hello,
My name is Alicia Houser and I am writing you this letter to let you know that I thought your story was very cute, I enjoyed reading it. I have a Quaker Parrot that is very independent, Her name is Speedo she likes to have things done her way or no way at all. She has a routine that she follows and that is to go to bed at 10:00pm when my husband locks the laundry room up and she likes to get up at 7:00am when I get up to unlock the laundry room. Speedo also likes to have pasta to eat on occasion, and she likes to eat bananas, as well as some wheat bread and white bread and cooked oatmeal, as well as some lettuce, and her bird food. I was wondering how to get our beloved Quaker Parrot Speedo to like to eat bigger seeds, she throws the food all over if she doesn't like it. She prefers cockateil food over parrot food is that harmful to her. I did start to integrate some parrot food into her diet she is getting used to it. I was also wondering what types of human foods could kill my bird besides avocado.
Sincerely
Alicia & Michael Houser (proud parents of Speedo W. Bird our beloved Quaker Parrot)