Quaker Parrot Frank Frank talks
Here is a long (10 minute) video of me and Frank Frank enjoying some quiet time together. If you want to see the sweetest part, move all the way to the end to see us “cuddle”. Watching it showed me how far he and I have come in this short 6 months together.
Watch this video on YouTube.
Pluto, my Quaker parrot hero
I was surfing for Quaker Parrot videos on YouTube (because I am lame and have no life?) and found Pluto, my Quaker Hero. He is the singer of “the Quaker Parrot Song” and you must have a look at it. Here’s his official website and I like it’s feel. It reminds me of our site and I told them so. If you like Quakers, check this site out at TalkingQuakerParrot.com.
Weary dog fosterers
The work load is almost unbearable now…I am letting everything go. Luckily, ever since Chloe’s been back my son is interested in playing in the puppy pen again! I don’t know why but he has always liked her, and I suspect that she keeps Willow busy and out of his hair…
The puppies have figured out (with Willow and Chloe’s help) how to get into the other half of the side yard. This morning I was washing dishes and saw a puppy up on the second floor deck!! I hustled her down the stairs, which she handled well to my surprise, and found three more waiting. When they saw me they all started coming up! It was funny. I corralled everyone and as soon as I bent down to take some pictures the whole group promptly fell asleep. So, not the greatest pictures but a funny sight for me.
I have had my heart, head, and will-power all set for being DONE with all fostering duties on August 7th when the puppies leave. Alas, it seems that isn’t going to be the case (due to Willow and Chloe still being with us) and it is making me stressed. I am aware of that old tendency I have of projecting into the future and then feeling really overwhelmed by what I see there. I am trying to just trust and be with this moment. I know I am feeling overwhelmed, and tired of fostering. As much as I love it I need a break. A L-O-N-G break. I worry about Willow finding a good home but mostly I worry about Chloe. Won’t someone out there give her the chance she needs??! Sigh. I need a miracle.
I have never had an adult female dog in my home as a foster because of our Lollie who is dog-aggressive. Now I have our Quaker parrot, Frank Frank. I have to always ask myself: where’s Lollie, where’s Chloe, where’s Willow, and is anyone near the bird? Thank god we’ve had nice weather as I can put everyone outside and get a moment of peace. I have access to a wonderful doggy daycare, soon to be reopened as The Water Bowl and I need to take advantage of their willingness to have my foster mamas there, free of charge. Tomorrow I plan to drop the two mamas off in the morning and hopefully not see them again until I go into work there in the evening.
I know this will end…right?
Franklin is very good at hide and seek
Tuesday night, after Chloe returned I went into my room to put Frank Frank to bed and he was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! I panicked and immediately jumped to the thought, “Bella (our dog who is a firmly dedicated critter hunter) ate him” We started looking everywhere, deciding he must have gotten out under the 1.25 inch space under the door. But so much didn’t make sense…HOW did he get under the door and if Bella ate him, why wasn’t there a “crime scene?”
We looked for an hour and then cried and cried. Ryan was distraught, he said, “I wish magic were real so we could wish Frank Frank back” So sweet and so sad. Finally, at 9:40 Ryan said, “will someone please put me to bed?” and we did. I finally got to bed at midnight and as I was trying to calm down I heard the unmistakable sound of wings fluttering!! I opened the closet door and FOUND him standing in my laundry basket! He must have climbed up my pant legs and was hanging out in my clothes the whole time! What is amazing is that we were all crying and calling out to him and all the lights were on and we were literally tearing the room apart! He never made a sound! That stinker…he seemed very happy for all the attention in the middle of the night…I of course woke everyone up and we all celebrated. Franklin was warm and happy and just sat there chirruping and preening. What a night! Here’s a link to another post of a similar thing – apparently Quakers do this sort of disappearing act regularly if they get the chance.
Franklin says hello
Here is a short video of Franklin, my Quaker parrot, saying the first words I’ve taught him…
See this video and others on YouTube.
How to make a bird play stand
Here is a little break from puppy news…
I recently built a fabulous play tree for my Quaker parrot Franklin and thought some of you might like to know how I did it. So here goes a brief description with pictures of course!
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Franklin continues to amaze me
Franklin the parrot has been with us for a month now. We’ve worked out our little routines. I have found that like dogs, birds seem to thrive on routines. I do too, so it makes sense to me.
He is starting to really get into his life here. He is willing to try any food I offer and has some favorites: for breakfast he LOVES oatmeal, toast, pancakes (but only with pure maple syrup) and soy milk (which he calls “water”.) For lunch and dinner he is eating peas, corn, carrots, onions (!), apples, potatoes, sweet potatoes, noodles and toast. I eat a lot of toast. He is trying to eat greens but is taking to them slowly. He ate more tonight though than he has yet so there is hope.
He has figured out how to communicate when he wants more of something to eat by making a little “pip” of a sound. When he’s had enough he’ll turn his head a way or take the food and (more…)
Parrots are different than dogs
Franklin gets puffy
Our Quaker parrot Franklin has been with us for a week now. He is a love but the honeymoon has definitely worn off. He has started challenging me more, standing up for himself and not doing everything I ask. During those first few days he was like the perfect bird, very compliant and easy going. But for the last few days he’s been more stubborn. Tonight for example, he was pulling my hair. I made it clear that I didn’t like it and usually he would stop. But today he hissed at me and did it again! So I went to shake him off my shoulder and he flew off before I could and landed on my arm. I was impressed that he anticipated my reaction. Since he changed his behavior I let him stay there. But I fear that I am either totally misreading his cues or that I am acting like a push over.
