Reality

For years now I have said I was going to downsize my outside birds. As I get older, the chores of hauling water, checking food levels, and shoveling out aviaries have become harder and harder to do. I have a mass of zebra finches that I should never have let get so large. I have button quail in every possible cage and coturnix quail with them. My cape doves are in limbo, my ringneck doves are doing nothing but eating, and my rodent problem is getting worse all the time. The only joy out there is the gouldian finches: they are happy, healthy, and breeding, if slowly.

Spotlight on Dani, an Orange Front Conure

You may have heard the story from some years back when a member of my bird club passed away and we stepped in to find good homes for all her birds. Many were special needs birds, like my African Grays Bo Dangles and Blind Io. And after a while, some people realized the birds they tried to care for needed more attention than they could give.