Birds are pets, too!
It was not until I met the sweet pea, my friend Cockatiel that I realized a pet bird is not just a winged ornament that can only sit in a cage day after day to give the owners a little interaction and shows almost no personality. I've never owned a bird, then see a free-roaming pet Cockatiel dancing 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 work-out, but he kept his excellent rhythm - very impressive.
Over the years I have been impressed by the sweet pea's amazing bag of tricks, his engaging personality and his need for human contact. I recently told my friend that I am finally ready to admit that birds, too! Cockatiels, for example, can roam around the house if you keep them safe and do the necessary cleanup. My friend made some lifestyle adjustments. Ceiling fans are a no-no, even on hot days! If my friend wants to use the oven, it must be when Sweet Peas is safe in his cage. And of course my dog is not welcome to come with me to visit. We tried that once and Bear Dog made a snap in the air with his jaws. I quickly put him outside. And my friend can not in good conscience, get a cat given her the bird flying privileges. But, Sweet Pea is a social creature flying over to greet me when I visit, sitting on my shoulder, and starts playing with my earrings. Or if he is molting and has new feathers coming in, he can sit on my shoulder and bent his head down and invite me to scratch her neck. My friend says he has a weakness for blond.
Sweet Pea has a pair of big, beautiful bird houses where he sleeps at night or when he goes when his owners leave home or can not properly monitor him. My friend works at home, so sweet pea enjoy her companionship and sits near her desk during the day. His daily work is to play in his favorite channel, which plays in a couple of favorite drawers; diving in the air, trying to get into the lockers when they opened up, playing with toys such as foil balls, napping, and of course that visit. Sweet Pea loves to show up and have some great results and is an excellent Whistler. When his owner whistles a tune, he can do a great imitation and flute together. If his owner taps a pencil on a table, this bird will soon join in and start a little dance with rhythm. If coaxed, he dances to all kinds of music. And this is a Cockatiel who is willing to jump in the bath with his owner for his bird bath - he is a clean bird and think he is pretty handsome too.
What is a Cockatiel?
A Cockatiel now classified as a true member of the Cockatoo family. Cockatoos are recognized by their beautiful tops and curved bills. On average Cockatoos are larger than other parrots, but Cockatiel is the smaller cockatoo species. They are usually white, gray or black with colored features in the top, cheeks, or tail. Cockatiels in the wild are nomadic and indigenous to Australia
Is a Cockatiel the right pet for you?
Cockatiels in captivity live a long life - usually 15-20 years. There are reports of these birds that live up to 30 years, the oldest confirmed specimen lived for 36 years. Of course it is always important to consider before choosing a pet, if you're up to the task of providing for your pet for its lifetime and you should consider this before bringing home a Cockatiel.
There are so many things to consider when buying a pet, so if you're seriously considering bringing home a Cockatiel, or just want to learn more about these wonderful creatures, a great resource is the Cockatiel Society. This site contains a wealth of information on all aspects of Cockatiel care and what to look for when buying your bird.
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