HI Beth, Lisa, and the rest of the gang,

I picked up Band 283 at San Francisco airport yesterday without a hitch;
everything went smoothly.  I was very impressed with the quality and care
taken to "package" her up.  From the shade cloth over the vents to the
zip-ties and screws securing everything in place.  When I picked her up she
was happily sitting on her dish eating as if nothing phased her.  I kept her
secure until reaching my Dad's house as a mid-way destination. 
I took her out there and rubbed her cheeks while she closed her eyes in
utter happiness.  I was - again- very impressed with the quality of care she
obviously received; she is very tame and loving, not to mention strikingly
beautiful. 

She finally arrived to her new home about 10:30 pm last night and slept
overnight in her travel carrier right next to my bed. 
This morning she came out to play and has, so far, enjoyed hanging out
inside my shirt with her little head poking out, cruising around next to my
laptop, meeting her new BIG cage, and being a cutie pie.
I've officially named her Hanalei because that's the name that suits her
best after meeting her.  Hanalei is one of my most favorite places!  Hanalei
is enjoying exploring her new home and she has many years of happiness and
play time ahead of her.

Thank you so much for all you do so these incredible birds (Green Cheeks are
my favorite) can begin their lives in the best, most pampered way!  It
really does show and make a difference.  Anytime somebody has questions
about your birds and/or about shipping, please forward them my information.
I'd be more than happy to provide them with a raving testimonial!
Pics coming soon :)
Lisa

We're home!!!!!  He is just sitting quietly on my hand now.... he's not too interested in the food right now, but I noticed he attacked his millet in the crate.  He's beautiful!!  I will write more tomorrow, but for now, THANK YOU ALL!!!! Jean

Hi Beth and Girls!

Update on my baby (still no name)- first of all, if he is out of the cage he is not happy unless he is sitting on my neck or head!.  Last night, I had a plate of mash on the kitchen island, and he was on the island and I was standing... well, he flew right up to the top of my head!!  So I will heed your advice about clipped birds being able to still fly.  Maybe when he gets a little chunkier he won't be as able to fly.  I also put the flight suit on him without too much trouble, but boy, he was not happy!  He waddled around like a little drunken sailor and then went into his shipping crate which was still on the table.  He was mad at me!!!  My husband can't believe how tame he is and my daughter is coming up to meet him today.  What a little treasure he is! Oh, and he is sampling my mash, sprouts, and loves cherries (pitted, of course) and his appetite seems to be good.

I want to mention that I had ordered a trainer flight suit and a red one, and only received one in the envelope.  If you can sent the red flight suit with the lanyard that is on order that would be great.

Well, again, a big thanks for raising such a beautiful and well socialized bird!  I'll be in touch, take care, Jean
 

Hi Lisa, thanks so much for sending the flight suit/lanyard out.  I have to tell you, I am a sewer and went to the craft store and bought 2 yards of twill tape and a small amount of velcro and made my own lanyard.  Yesterday evening was so beautiful... so I put the little flight suit and lanyard on him and we went outside on the patio.  He loved it!!!  And he was so busy looking at the big beautiful blue sky that he didn't fuss about the flight suit at all!!

Thank you again for doing such a wonderful job raising him and packing him so carefully to come all the way across the country to live with us!  I wish you all the best, Jean

Beau and Rain are back on 4 babies!!! The last one just hatched today. Two of these are reserved.

Band 283 (reserved by Lisa H.)

napping in a kleenex box!

Band 284

(Finian is reserved by Sue P.)

Band 285
(reserved by Jean)

Band 286 (reserved by Megan)

All of Zumo and Kaida's babies are inside. We often find the babies lying on their backs sleeping away. With how warm it is here in AZ, they are already in a cage and out of the brooder. The oldest Green cheek is wearing a flight suit already!

We have started to bring in Zumo & Kaida's clutch, and there was a surprise in the box waiting for us! There are actually four babies instead of three! One had been hiding back in the corner, and had been totally overlooked.

Band 273  (disabled leg)

Morning Beth -
Peanut arrived just fine yesterday.  The guy in cargo was all worried, he said he hadn't heard any sound at all and wanted me to look before I left.  My heart sank.  But what he wasn't listening for was the sound of seed being devoured....  She was calm as could be, sitting on her food dish and chowing down.
Once we got home Sunny helped me get her out and into her new home.  I thought he'd be furious, but he was just super curious.  I got them both a plate of your/my 'special mix' and they both chowed down.  It was so cute, Sunny tasted the plate then Peanut did.  When they were done we sat on the couch.  Sunny groomed then Peanut groomed.  Sunny 'groomed' me and Peanut wanted in on that too, but I did draw the line there (for now), I don't want Sunny getting possessive with her yet.  And I was careful to keep Sunny 'higher' than her, I don't want to bruise Sunny's ego... :)
So we had a great first evening, she shipped well and is such a happy healthy bird, the love and attention you put into your babies just shines.
thank you !

And another email came in that was very funny!

I thought you might enjoy a copy of Peanuts report card for the 1st quarter.
Student Name:  Peanut (aka Zooper)                  ID number:  Band 273
Math                     Excels, counts her seeds and fruit perfectly
History                  Quick to learn from past mistakes and successes
English                  Quick to learn phrases such as 'step up', 'step down', 'come here'
Mimicking              Enjoys mimicking silly noises and really enjoys it when you mimic her. 
                            Already trying to mimic words and the 'sing song' of phrases
Toilet training         a work in progress....
flight training          very boisterous little creature,
                            knows what she wants and how to get there quickly
foot training           just last week learned how to use her foot as a 'hand' and
                            is excelling quickly. 
                           Still having some issues co-ordinating the beak/foot ratio
                            but learning rapidly.
                           Interestingly enough, she uses the broken leg as her 'hand' for food.
                            A good sign.
bathing                 Loves it, just give her a cereal bowl and stand back.
                            very similar to a motorboat.
Outdoor Play        Loves the outdoors, very eager to explore her surroundings.
                           Got to ride on a motorized boat in the pool last week !
Other:                  Peanut plays well with others and is so quick to learn.  She is a darling little student to have in class.  She is a sweetheart with all people and delights in punking out other students (birds).  Not afraid to stand up for herself, yet not afraid to give and receive some serious pin feather grooming.  A bit overjealous at feeding time, will dive for watermelon.

Band 271 (reserved by Teri)

They are also very reluctant to accept our syringe of handfeeding formula because they are used to the hen's food. One day this weekend, we went to a horse show and so the babies missed their lunch time feeding. That night, they were all very hungry and desperate for food! So now, they have become much better eaters, and feeding time is so much easier on us...we don't have to fight them to eat the whole time! Here is a picture of me with my stallion, Warrior, at the show

Band 272 (home with Di in Flagstaff)

Beth and Family,  We named it Mango (Yellow Sided Green Cheek).  and it is doing so good. We have had baby Mango for four days now. Today Mango flew to Arden for the first time, landed on her shoulder and completely surprised her. Arden and I look at each other and said, "She flew!" even though we don't know the sex yet. We were getting her dinner ready and waiting for the temperature to cool down when Mango flew to her. Then we started playing games with Mango flying to us, and she just kept flying to us. It was really exciting. Mango really loves her mealtime with us, gets really excited and practically jumps in the food dish. She is getting stronger all the time, better with the flight suit each day (wears it at least twice a day) and likes our shoulders. Mango totally loves to snuggle and be with us. It was really amazing to watch a baby bird get its wings going and all excited about flight, it would just start flapping its wings and not got anywhere and just had to flap and then all of a sudden the time was right and it just took off. Its like seeing the first steps of a toddler, it is so cute and so sweet. And then it just wanted to keep flying. Arden said it flew up to the ceiliing and around and then back to her but I didn't see that, but I believe it. Arden is like the bird whisperer, she just glows everytime she holds Mango, I thinkg she alway needs a bird, she must of raised birds in the pre-existence!   Have a nice day you crazy diamonds,   Di   p.s. Let us know the sex asap, see we can start refering to it with more clarity!

By tomorrow, we will have 3 of Beau and Rain's babies inside with us. They began hatching on April 9, just like Rhett and Scarlett's.

Band 269 (reserved byStefanie M)

Band 270 (reserved by Rutu)

Band 271 (reserved)

Band 272 (reserved)

Band  268 (reserved by Athena)

Band 267 (reserved by Casey)

 

Band  268 (reserved by Athena)

Band 269

(reserved byStefanie M)

Band 270

(reserved by Rutu)

Band 270

April 18 All 4 babies are inside now. We sent in the dna samples to sex them. It is fun for us to guess before the results come back in as to which sex we think each baby is. After doing this for many years and many babies, I have decided that the differences between male and females are subtle enough that I cannot be accurate even 50% of the time. The odds are against me. It is tough this time because we need 3 boys and 1 girl to fill the requests of those that have reserved babies. Hmmmm....someone may have to wait on a Rain/Beau baby. There are now 4 in that nest box!

The flight suit manufacturer asked us to make a new movie of how to put on a flight suit. She wanted us to put one on very slowly. Lisa and Jess did this with a Crimson baby. Click here to see it.

Band 267

Band  268

Band 269

Band 270

Band 267

Band  268

Band 269

Band 267

Band 268

February 14 These 3 babies are at a fun stage for us. They fly to us, they can wear flight suits and go outside with us. They have personalities and like to cuddle! Two of the babies even took trips outside to smell the flowers.

Band 261

Band 262

Band 263

February 1 I plan on sending in the DNA on these babies today to see what sexes they are. The oldest baby moved to a cage and is getting mash for the first time. It is a challenge for them to figure out that their food is below them instead of coming from the great syringe in the sky. Hanging millet usually helps this process. They eat on it and end up following it down to ground level. This little guy looks very lost in his big cage!

Our Miniature horses are also keeping us busy. Click here if you want to see the exciting birth of a foal who underwent a red bag delivery (placenta previa) on January 26. My oldest (16 years old) is the midwife!

Band 261

Band 262

You can still see the ear on little 263

1/12/10

1/15/10

 

1/20/10 Look at how the eldest keeps the 2 younger ones warm with his wings!

Jan 1, 2010 Happy New Year. Our year started off with a hatch. This is the first baby since late summer. Our birds breed seasonally and we expect babies sometime early in each year. How fun to have one hatch on January 1! This baby is reserved by Mary! There are 5 more fertile eggs according to Jessie.