Conservation Wins

Some good news is certainly needed in these last months of the year. I’ve been heartbroken myself over finding out that no matter how much plastic I put in to be recycled, the big companies, especially the oil industry, set that up as a placebo to let consumers feel better about water bottles and detergent jugs and so on. Is there a better solution? None has turned up in my news feed yet. But keep your chin up and smile as we explore positive outcomes.

The Continuing Button Quail Saga

I love my button quail. I really do. But they are such “special” critters and I have learned the hard way how many things can go wrong. They are terrible parents, they won’t tolerate other quails of the same sex, and they will fly up at the worst possible moments. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not that they can’t survive in the “wilds of suburbia”. At least, I’ve never seen the dozen or so escapees again.

Preparing for the Future

With the loss of friends and relatives to COVID-19, on top of losing celebrities that meant a lot to us, Mike and I have pondered the end of our lives. He has told me I can’t leave him alone with all this going on in the world.

“But you’d have all the birds to take care of. You won’t miss me.”

“If you die, I will need to rehome all the birds.”

“Even Maynard?”

He turned to look me straight in the eyes. “Maynard will be the first to go.”

Hanging Parrots

One of the best memories I have from the early days with my bird club is when we traveled north to visit the artist, Gamini Ratnavira at his Hidden Forest Gallery. His art work of parrots and other birds is breath taking. He grew up in Sri Lanka and learned things about the parrots around him sometimes by just laying on his back under a tree and observing.