End of Year Wrap-Up, incoming! I wasn’t the best at keeping up-to-date on the blog this year. Understatement! I am going to blame COVID-fatigue. I couldn’t plan or enjoy a significant amount of “real” travel. Also, I am looking forward to when SMS and I don’t have to travel for our commuter marriage, which will be ending June 2022. Don’t worry! Only the commuter part is ending! More details in the September photo dump, coming soon!
I am concerned that the birds fragile nervous systems may lead to their untimely death. SMS and I have increased their freaked-outedness recently. They really do get stressed out. First, SMS scared them due to killing house flies, which have increased a lot in the last week. Since the process involved sudden movements, loud “thwacks,” and killing of flying things, we’re pretty sure the birds thought they were next. Although their eyes are small, they seem to weirdly widen and roll around when they’re really freaked out. They also refuse to go into their cage. SMS has since developed a more subtle way of killing flies that the birds seem not to notice so they’ve recovered.
But then I decided to do a deep clean of their cage. After the great mite outbreak of 2019 after the extended stay in the bird hotel (although to be fair, the fig tree may have been to blame), I have worried when they seem to preen/scratch themselves a lot. I decided it was time to clean their cages and throw away all their toys. Boo! This was an unpopular move in bird land. I sealed the deal by spraying them with mite spray, which they haaate.
I went guilt-shopping though and bought new toys. So, now they have a new perch, sitting circle (currently ignored), and a new playground that they love. Joe-bird has also decided to fly towards the balcony door and hang out. I fear he may go the way of Edward-bird someday.
You know, I used to think birdwatchers were weird and boring. And now, here we are.
