Birds are pets, too! It wasn't until I met Sweet Pea, my friend's Cockatiel, that I realized a pet bird is not just a winged ornament that can only sit in a cage day after day offering owners little interaction and displaying almost no personality.
I've never owned a bird, so seeing a free-roaming pet Cockatiel dance in front of a small mirror to my friend's exercise tape while she did her workout, was an eye opener.
Not only did Sweet Pea do the work-out, but he kept excellent rhythm - very impressive.
Over the years, I've been impressed with Sweet Pea's amazing bag of tricks, his engaging personality, and his need for human contact.
I recently told my friend that I'm finally ready to admit birds are pets, too! Cockatiels, for example, can roam around the house if you keep them safe and do the necessary cleanup.
My friend has made a number of life-style adjustments.
Ceiling fans are a no-no, even on hot days! If my friend wants to use the wood burning stove, it has to be when Sweet Peas is safely in his cage.
And, of course, my dog is not welcome to come with me for visits.
We tried that once and Beardog made a snap in the air with his jaws.
I quickly placed him outside.
And, my friend cannot, in good conscience, get a cat given her bird's flying privileges.
But, Sweet Pea is a social creature who flies over to greet me when I visit, sits on my shoulder, and starts playing with my earrings.
Or, if he's molting and has new feathers coming in, he may sit on my shoulder, bend his head down, and invite me to scratch is neck.
My friend says he's partial to blonds Sweet Pea has a couple of large, pretty bird houses where he sleeps at night or where he goes when his owners leave home or can't properly supervise him.
My friend works at home, so Sweet Pea enjoys her companionship and sits near her desk during the day.
His daily activities consist of, playing in his favorite baskets; playing in a few favorite drawers; diving in the air; trying to enter cupboards when they have been opened; playing with toys, such as, foil balls; napping; and of course, visiting.
Sweet Pea loves showing off, and has some very impressive performances and is an excellent whistler.
When his owner whistles a tune, he can do a great imitation and whistle along.
If his owner taps a pencil on a table, this bird can quickly join in and start a little dance keeping the rhythm.
If coaxed, he dances to all kinds of music.
And, this is a Cockatiel who is willing to hop in the shower with his owner for his bird bath - he's a clean bird and thinks he's pretty handsome, too.
What is a Cockatiel? According to Wikipedia, a Cockatiel is now classified as a genuine member of the Cockatoo family.
Cockatoos are recognized by their showy crests and curved bills.
On average Cockatoos are larger than other parrots; however, the Cockatiel is the smallest cockatoo species.
They are usually white, gray, or black with colored features in the crest, cheeks, or tail.
Cockatiels in the wild are nomads and native to Australia where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water.
Cockatiels travel in pairs or small flocks, sometimes hundreds of birds will be drawn to a single body of water.
Is a Cockatiel the right pet for you? Cockatiels in captivity live a long life - generally 15-20 years.
There are reports of these birds living up to 30 years; the oldest confirmed specimen lived to be 36 years.
Of course it's always important to consider before choosing a pet, if you're up to the task of providing for your animal for its lifetime, and you must consider this before bring home a Cockatiel.
There are so many points to consider when buying a pet, so if you are seriously thinking about bringing home a Cockatiel, or just want to learn more about these wonderful creatures, a great resource is The Cockatiel Society.
This website provides a wealth of information on all aspects of Cockatiel care and what you should look for when purchasing your bird.
I've never owned a bird, so seeing a free-roaming pet Cockatiel dance in front of a small mirror to my friend's exercise tape while she did her workout, was an eye opener.
Not only did Sweet Pea do the work-out, but he kept excellent rhythm - very impressive.
Over the years, I've been impressed with Sweet Pea's amazing bag of tricks, his engaging personality, and his need for human contact.
I recently told my friend that I'm finally ready to admit birds are pets, too! Cockatiels, for example, can roam around the house if you keep them safe and do the necessary cleanup.
My friend has made a number of life-style adjustments.
Ceiling fans are a no-no, even on hot days! If my friend wants to use the wood burning stove, it has to be when Sweet Peas is safely in his cage.
And, of course, my dog is not welcome to come with me for visits.
We tried that once and Beardog made a snap in the air with his jaws.
I quickly placed him outside.
And, my friend cannot, in good conscience, get a cat given her bird's flying privileges.
But, Sweet Pea is a social creature who flies over to greet me when I visit, sits on my shoulder, and starts playing with my earrings.
Or, if he's molting and has new feathers coming in, he may sit on my shoulder, bend his head down, and invite me to scratch is neck.
My friend says he's partial to blonds Sweet Pea has a couple of large, pretty bird houses where he sleeps at night or where he goes when his owners leave home or can't properly supervise him.
My friend works at home, so Sweet Pea enjoys her companionship and sits near her desk during the day.
His daily activities consist of, playing in his favorite baskets; playing in a few favorite drawers; diving in the air; trying to enter cupboards when they have been opened; playing with toys, such as, foil balls; napping; and of course, visiting.
Sweet Pea loves showing off, and has some very impressive performances and is an excellent whistler.
When his owner whistles a tune, he can do a great imitation and whistle along.
If his owner taps a pencil on a table, this bird can quickly join in and start a little dance keeping the rhythm.
If coaxed, he dances to all kinds of music.
And, this is a Cockatiel who is willing to hop in the shower with his owner for his bird bath - he's a clean bird and thinks he's pretty handsome, too.
What is a Cockatiel? According to Wikipedia, a Cockatiel is now classified as a genuine member of the Cockatoo family.
Cockatoos are recognized by their showy crests and curved bills.
On average Cockatoos are larger than other parrots; however, the Cockatiel is the smallest cockatoo species.
They are usually white, gray, or black with colored features in the crest, cheeks, or tail.
Cockatiels in the wild are nomads and native to Australia where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water.
Cockatiels travel in pairs or small flocks, sometimes hundreds of birds will be drawn to a single body of water.
Is a Cockatiel the right pet for you? Cockatiels in captivity live a long life - generally 15-20 years.
There are reports of these birds living up to 30 years; the oldest confirmed specimen lived to be 36 years.
Of course it's always important to consider before choosing a pet, if you're up to the task of providing for your animal for its lifetime, and you must consider this before bring home a Cockatiel.
There are so many points to consider when buying a pet, so if you are seriously thinking about bringing home a Cockatiel, or just want to learn more about these wonderful creatures, a great resource is The Cockatiel Society.
This website provides a wealth of information on all aspects of Cockatiel care and what you should look for when purchasing your bird.
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