The Pionus Point of View

For those of you wondering

2008-12-10T14:42:00.005-05:00

For those of you wondering if I create my own blog posts, the answer is YES! I oversee all aspects of the posts from copy to photographs. Most of the time I work from my office, but as you can see in this picture I stay home and blog from the comfort of my bedroom once in awhile. Everyone needs to take it easy sometimes -even smart blue headed pionus bloggers!

Violet lets Pippin author a post

2008-12-09T21:23:00.008-05:00

Hello, this is Pippin and I thought I'd start by telling you about today's tasty treats we got for breakfast. A bit of spaghetti squash, pomegranate seeds, a dash of my seed mix, and...
oh no! What are those uniform cylindrical looking things? Ick! I reminded my mom that I preferred Violet's pellets last time I tried them, so she got a little handful out for me and started reducing them to Pippin sized pieces.
I came over for a better view and to supervise the crunching up of pellets. Everything was looking good
so I tried some
and then I hopped in to eat some more. Delicious!

Yum! Pomegranate!

2008-12-08T23:29:00.003-05:00

Here I am again- and I have a new home!!

2008-12-04T13:49:00.004-05:00

I know what you're thinking.. "wow, isn't she CUTE, I'm sure sorry that I chose the face only a mother could love option when I voted." Few people thought I'd turn out okay and yet here I sit before you, oozing with cuteness and charm!

I have a new home with Violet and her flock. Violet doesn't know what to think of me yet, but I am rather small and unobtrusive, so perhaps she will accept me over time.
In the mean time I have found some really good places to hang out and observe my new surroundings.

I'm back

2008-11-06T20:54:00.004-05:00

Do you still think I'm cute?

It's viewer participation time again

2008-10-27T11:36:00.005-04:00

I know how much humans love to click repeatedly at buttons, so I have another poll for you. Hurray! Meet one of my friends at the aviary. We don't know if its a male or female yet, but we do know that it is quite nekkid, has transparent skin, large eyes, and looks lost in its new world. You get to decide:

Good afternoon!

2008-10-01T13:00:00.004-04:00

As you can see I have had a shower again. This time it was much more fun because my mom joined me under the spray.

See? Her feathers got all wet too.
Then she opened the front door to the house and we sat on the floor in the sunshine to dry out. It was very nice and warm in the sun and I dried out quickly.
I decided to climb up onto her head to see the view from the highest spot. She didn't mind me being up there, although she did say it was difficult to get a good picture of me. I guess I finally figured out how to get away from the camera although it was a little slippery walking around up there.

Rain on me

2008-09-27T18:27:00.005-04:00

I was given a brief shower today which worried me a little bit. I was fine afterwards when I got to preen near the window and watch the birds in the trees.

Watching

2008-09-22T22:50:00.002-04:00

Watch me eat

2008-09-18T13:20:00.004-04:00

Woah.. what's going on here? I'm dizzy from this background. Somebody disable my mom's photoshop please!

For the macaw lovers..

2008-09-16T15:36:00.006-04:00

photo courtesy of DJ Feathers aviary

how quickly they grow up!

Fire the cameraman!!

2008-09-15T14:32:00.004-04:00

Why am I sideways, and out of focus?

Sightseeing

2008-09-13T16:38:00.005-04:00

Hi there! I've been having a good time with my new flock. They are giving me plenty of time by myself so that I can rest and eat- and I've been doing a lot of both! My mom has been taking me to the window so that I can see what is happening in the back yard. We stand at the window together for a long time and watch the birds come to the feeder.. ..and watch the mean, fat squirrel chase away the birds on the ground. That squirrel must wake up on the wrong side of the nest everyday because he even chases the chipmunks.
I really enjoy my visits to the window! My mom says she wants to take me outside on walks, but not right away. She wants to make sure I am very comfortable being on her shoulder and trust her first. She has gotten something called a flight harness, and I will wear it around my body when we go out. It has a long leash that is very light weight so that if I fall, or jump she can help me stay safe.

Up on the roof

2008-09-11T14:02:00.005-04:00

Here I am on top of my new house. I can see trees and birds from my vantage point- it's really a nice view. I have a cup of food and water up here too so I never have to go very far to get a snack. Today I have dried peas and corn added to my food mix, and I'm munching on all of it. Yum!

My first big adventure

2008-09-10T18:54:00.007-04:00

Today I had my first big adventure since my hatch day. My mom came to the aviary this morning to take me to my new home. She said we had to make a stop at the vets office first for my check up. I didn't like this new carrier at first, but I settled down after a few minutes.

The doctor poked me in several places during the exam and since we are in polite company I won't go into details but believe me I don't want to go through that again! He said my heart and lungs sounded good, and my weight is good too. By the time we got home I was very tired.

My mom still had to put a few more pieces of furniture up in my new house and I happily waited in the carrier while she worked, then we had a little siesta on the couch.

Later on she fixed me a plate of food and placed it on the bottom of my cage. I also have food and water in shiny cups that hang in my cage. My cage is very new to me and those big cups worry me a little bit at the moment. Maybe tomorrow I will explore a little more and see what's inside them.
Goodnight!

I'm free!

2008-09-08T21:38:00.004-04:00

Oh I'm so happy! Today someone helped me up out of my swimming pool that I've been learning to climb out of and set me down on the floor to explore. Yipeee!

Who's this again?

2008-09-07T23:29:00.006-04:00

What's this? The love fest between the eclectus and my mom is continuing! That bird was nuzzling my mom all over.. nibbling on her ear and preening her hair. Don't worry about me though I was out on my mom's hand getting my head rubbed at the same time the other bird was visiting. I'm really learning to like head rubs! I ruffle my feathers up on my neck and head and my mom rubs very gently- today I actually fell asleep as she was petting me.

Oh guess what? I get to go home with my mom this Wednesday!! I hear there is a new house with toys waiting for me. I can't wait!! I also overheard something about stopping at the vets office before we go home- eek..scary!!

A lovely visitor

2008-09-06T22:35:00.003-04:00

This pretty eclectus parrot sat with my mom and me for quite awhile today. She really likes chewing on the necklace my mom made.

The pose

2008-09-05T18:21:00.002-04:00

Uh oh.. caught!

2008-09-05T18:17:00.003-04:00

This is what a troublemaker looks like fleeing the scene of intended trouble making!

Okay, okay.. intended visiting.

Just look at ME

2008-09-04T14:25:00.004-04:00

Hello! Thanks to my nice neighbor Indy and his humans I have some new pictures to show you. First, here is Indy! Indy's mom & dad came to the aviary to visit her last weekend and I got to hang out with them and my human. Thank you Indy!
Look how I've grown!

Caique

2008-09-03T22:46:00.003-04:00

He's camera shy

Indy and Violet :)

2008-09-03T13:42:00.006-04:00

I've been a cheeky bird and swiped a copy of this photograph from the blog of Indy's human. I hope she doesn't mind too much, but I think Indy and I look very cute together- besides it's time to post a picture of ME! What is it with all the pictures of macaws lately? I'll have to have a word with my photographer.

Shh

2008-09-02T22:35:00.001-04:00

I'm growing feathers as fast as I can!

2008-09-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

A visit with the sun conures

2008-08-31T23:44:00.004-04:00

My friends the sun conures are having lots of fun running around and playing on their swinging toys today. One of them decided that they should take a bath in their water dish. They each took turns getting really wet, then they preened and gave each other spiky "feather dos".

The big vote

2008-08-30T00:41:00.006-04:00

It's a good thing that I'm a tough hen and don't get my feelings hurt too easily. The voter turnout on my poll was an abysmal failure. Only one person voted... heck!.. Only one person visited the blog that day. Sheesh! Where has my readership flown to? The macaws won with a landslide vote of ONE!!

Exhibit A): Military macaw smiling for the camera while getting a head massage (SO relaxing!)
Exhibit B): Green winged macaw caught in the napping pose.

Exhibit C): Military macaw playing with toy and ignoring the photographer's request to sit still for a second.
Exhibit D): The green winged macaw awake and snacking on some dried fruit is giving his favorite photographer the 'come here' look and gesturing with his foot.

One blue headed pionus wants to know

2008-08-28T12:14:00.001-04:00

Violet limelight

2008-08-27T21:40:00.007-04:00

I'm perching on a shoulder today.
See?
HELLOOO, anybody in there?
No answer so I guess I'll take a little ~~cat~~ bird nap.

Hey!! Is that the camera in my face again?!

Hello again

2008-08-27T00:48:00.004-04:00

Here is another one of my friends she is a greenwing macaw.
Ooh an action shot! Here I am having dinner ::: gulp, gulp:::

deelicious!

Play time!

2008-08-26T01:25:00.003-04:00

A happy Sunday

2008-08-24T23:37:00.003-04:00

What is this in your pocket? It looks interesting, do you mind if I feel it with my beak?
Ooh, I like it!
Wait! What's that in your other hand.. it's scary looking.. it makes me nervous. A camera?
Okay.
I let one of my friends try out my newest toy and he really liked it. He also liked the bumpy texture of my friend's shirt and was very gentle with his beak while exploring it. He didn't break any buttons. He goes home to his new family in a week and my friend and I are going to miss him.

Later on I was placed way up high on a stand. I was over everyone's head, even the big red macaw's head. He didn't seem to notice though as he was still getting his head rubbed. All I could hear him say was "oh, oooh, aahhh!" He was really having a good visit with my friend. I was having fun spying on everyone from my high look-out point. Did you know there were visitors in the aviary who didn't even notice me above their heads?

This rope is a satisfying chew.

Meet the new neighbor

2008-08-23T22:31:00.006-04:00

This is my new neighbor. She is a military macaw. My family here at the aviary suspect that she is a female; I guess we will find out soon enough. Today I had two visitors!! I spent the entire time visiting with the man. I sat on his hand and talked to him then I ruffled up my feathers and listened in on a conversation he and my lady visitor were having with some other people. I like to eavesdrop!

My lady visitor spent the entire time holding and preening this macaw. She even let her chew on my little toy. It's okay I like to share my toys.
This is another one of my friends. He likes to sit on people's shirts and chew little holes in them. I think he said he wants to be a tailor or something... I don't know, maybe he is just a designer and wants to rearrange their clothes. Here he is sticking his tongue out for the camera. Cheeky guy!

You bring food?

2008-08-18T22:49:00.004-04:00

My visitor made Birdie Bread muffins this morning and brought some for me and my friends to try. My friends liked the muffins so much they followed my visitor hoping for more.
Hi. I'm wearing the flight suit again.
It really bugs me at first.
A few minutes later I get over it
See?

I have people wrapped around my little foot!

2008-08-15T12:56:00.003-04:00

Watch this young birds, and learn my techniques for getting attention. Step 1,squawk a lot when your visitor comes to see you, sometimes it works and someone takes pity on you and gives you a mid-day snack even though you don't really need one any more. Step 2, Say thank you and then continue squawking because you have lots to say!

I'm Hungry (the sequel)

2008-08-12T20:43:00.000-04:00

Squawks & Chirps

2008-08-11T00:58:00.005-04:00

Hello!
The store was busy today and there were lots of people moving around my house throughout the afternoon. When my friend came to see me I was quite hungry and trying my best to let everyone know just how I felt! Some may say I was cranky, but I was just doing what comes naturally, and so I squawked, chirped and even made my raptor sound. All my vocalizations didn't accomplish too much since no one brought me a syringe full of food to enjoy. Oh well. "Let it out" I always say. There is no point in keeping those feelings all bottled up inside.

Squawking is hard work, and after talking so long without anyone coming over to feed me I became sleepy so I sat on my friends arm and took a nap. My friend said I did a real nice job of stepping up onto her hand when she came to see me today (yesterday too). My brothers get worried and scoot away, but I sit on my perch and think about what I am supposed to do then I step up. It's easy! I don't know why the boys get so upset. Hee, hee, I'm younger than they are but I'm learning more!

Here are two pictures taken yesterday. I didn't feel like being photographed today.

A busy Thursday!!

2008-08-07T21:50:00.010-04:00

I had a good day today. My visitor came and fed me and my hatch mates some dried vegetable snacks. The boys really liked the peas, but I was a little hesitant to eat them. My neighbors, the sun conures were eating the corn with such pleasure that it made me want to try a bite of this crispy snack, and I'm so glad I did. I was a little slow eating the vegetables so my hatch mates ate most of them- those boys are greedy.
Here is a picture of my other neighbor the eclectus parrot. She is doing the famous pose called "upside down head." I wonder how we look upside down?

After snack time we played with lots of our toys. I really like chewing on these long, tan colored things. I can chew, chew, chew and they don't seem to break. Of course my beak is still a little soft; maybe later when I am older I can cut apart these stringy things. "Raaaw" that's what I hear the macaws say when they are chewing on their toys!

Raaawww! Somehow it doesn't have the same effect when I say it. I'll keep practicing!

Then I heard something being said about the flight suit. I was wondering what this suit thing could be... and then I found out! Aack!! I had something put over my wings and under my belly. The lady was really gentle with me but it felt funny on my wing pits, and on my back.

Then she set me down on the floor so I wouldn't hurt myself. I ran around to get away from this small thing that was hugging me, but it didn't let me go. I wasn't sure what to do with my right wing so I stuck it out. Eventually I stopped running around and sat still; the thing was still hugging me but it wasn't too bad.
The little green suit was taken off me after just a few minutes, what relief! I know the people were sympathetic to me, but I still think they are odd for making me wear it. Maybe I'll understand what this is about later on, right now I'm tired.

I am so excited!

2008-08-06T23:42:00.010-04:00

La,la,la,laaaaa! I am so excited to be ~~pecking~~ typing my story on my very own blog! I get help with the typing and picture taking so I guess I can't take all the credit; but the stories are mine all mine! Here is a picture of me taken this afternoon.
This picture was taken last Sunday, August 3rd..
this one too.
This one too.. hee! I had fun that day. Two people spent lots of time with me on Sunday and they decided that they wanted to adopt me. I don't know what that means, but I feel like it's a good thing. One of the people visits me every day which I enjoy; she also pets me gently but I'm still having a hard time getting used to that. Sometimes when she pets me I get a sleepy feeling and want to nap.
Here is my baby picture I am only 5 weeks old here. Seems like so long ago. I remember being kind of cool because I didn't have all my feathers. Now all my feathers are in and I enjoy ruffling them up and preening.

last picture courtesy of DJ Feathers Aviary

How do I look?
	Cuter than ever!!
	I'm sorry for your unfortunate appearance.

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Is it cute?
	Cute!!
	A face only a mother could love

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Which bird would you like to see more pictures of?
	Me, me! (Violet)
	Macaws
	Eclectus
	Caiques
	Leave the camera at home

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