"Sugar" is the lone male who pursues himself in any mirror he can locate. He's not a narcissist, exactly--more of a gentle soul who genuinely appreciates the only bird who gives him unconditional love. He's our family tragedy, but he tolerates little "L's" clumsy affection like a brave little soldier.
"Water" is a docile, independent female who can slip through the bars of the cage and do whatever she pleases. She is one of the most popular birds among the humans, though she only tolerates us because we feed her.
"Lemon" is the alpha male, who spends his time pursuing "Lemonade," or any craft supplies that remind him of his beau. These two budgies can be going on dates in the dishwasher, or in the guinea pig's litter box (picking up brown chunks of what I like to think of as recycled hay), or exploring the basement now that they've discovered how to navigate their way down stairs.
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| Lemon pursuing his lady love |
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| Lemonade's torrid affair with a ceramic suitor |
Every day is an adventure with these good, inquisitive folks. Just the other day, our dear Lemonade took a swim in the toilet, not realizing that small children seldom flush. Little L. came over to me and said, "Sorry, Mommy."
"Uh oh," I replied. These words seldom inspire confidence.
"We were in the bathroom, and Lemonade flew in the toilet," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."
I ripped over to the bathroom, not knowing how long a 'swim' Lemonade was 'enjoying' in the local 'pool' (the colour of lemonade, incidentally). Fortunately, the soggy and disgruntled bird had made her way to the kitchen. She had, indeed, taken a bath, but would recover everything but her dignity.
We have had many near misses in our household. Bola (named after L.'s imaginary friend) disappeared one day and was discovered wedged behind a dresser. How long had she been wedged? I honestly don't know, but I did search the entire house until I found her, immobilized and silent. Lemon went for a long swim in the fish tank when I left the cover off during a cleaning. And Water was rushed to animal hospital after consuming a pipe cleaner. She pooped black for a week.
My favourite moments with these lovable pests? I loved it when the children assigned each bird a detailed daily report card. I was amused when Water got stuck in a water bottle, and in a roll of paper towels (her obsessions). I was filled with respect when Lemon, upon being cruelly clipped, flew over my coffee and dropped a vengeance turd, missing my drink only by inches. And watching one of the budgies accidentally land on an adult, winged praying mantis was hilarious: the mantis was irate and the budgie completely confused.
Pets are good for kids. They teach them responsibility, and raise some pretty interesting questions. "Mommy, is it really okay for Lemon to marry his sister?" or "Mommy, why is Lemon jumping on that yellow pom pom?" We talk about the genetic potential of a budgie procreating with a pom pom (could the babies be any more adorable?), and the less inspiring genetic potential of a brother-sister union (thank goodness Lemonade flew into the picture and ended that).
Budgies are like people (though humans generally don't mate with pom-poms, as the genetic combination would be disastrous). And though you never hear the phrase "Budgies are man's best friend," these darling winged vermin sure come close.
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| A budgie-themed birthday cake (easier to create than a live-miniature-unicorns-flying-out-of-an- erupting-volcano cake) |
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| Sugar being tamed by "Sarah": both are considered equally "alive" in our household |
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| Water, Lemon, and Bola attending an anti-human conference |
