Sink or Swim!
Here's the story ...
One day last week, I noticed that ET (my VERY dramatic pet
cockatiel) had one fairly long flight feather on one wing and
another just peeking out on the other. That morning, I had
decided to wait to clip those wings until both sides were out
far enough to do a good job.
One clipping is always better than two because he traumatizes me
so badly when I do the deed. Yes, I got that right. He
traumatizes me. He hates it!
Later that morning, I heard Adorable Dora (our resident sitting
mamma duck) raising hell, outside, and went tearing out there to
see what was after her. It was only one of The Twins (mallard
drake).
A friend also ran out. After we ran off The Twin, we were
talking, when she said, “Oh look! There's a baby out there!”
God help me, I knew before I even turned around - it was ET! It
hit me that I had run out that door and didn't close it, while
ET was on his playground.
That little sh** had flown the 35 feet to the lake and another
25 feet across it, before he came down. And, there he sat -
swimming like a duck and looking around, very confused.
I immediately thought about that cottonmouth in the lake - then,
put him out of my mind. I told myself not to panic because it
would panic ET. The ducks were all swimming around him as if
they were wondering, “What the hell is that?”
I went to the bank of the lake and started calling him as if I
were playing with him. As soon as he figured out where my voice
was coming from, and saw me, he started scrambling toward me.
He seemed to swim a little bit, then would kinda jump and flap
his wings, which would move him forward a bit more. He just did
those two things over, and over and over.
That 25 feet seemed a very long way - especially to that little
bird. But, he made it! He couldn't climb out, since the lake
level is a bit down. But, I offered my thumb, told him to “Step
up,” and he did.
I wrapped my other four fingers around him to keep him from
flying again. But, I don't think he could, anyway. He was
drenched. And, his little heart was beating so fast, I was
afraid he was going to keel over on the spot.
For two hours, he wouldn't leave my body - which was okay. I
was watching him closely for shock and keeping him warm. These
little parrots really can keel over at any trauma - either from
shock or heart attack.
I still held my breath as I uncovered his cage the next morning.
But, he was fine. Strutting around like he'd won a prize!
I guess he should. I didn't know a cockatiel had a prayer of
swimming, so I got online to see. Everything I read stated they
can not swim. In fact, one person wrote, “There isn't a parrot
on earth that can swim ...” Well, excuse me, but there's at
least ONE in Central Louisiana!
All I can figure out is maybe he thinks he's one of those ducks,
and he sees them swimming every day. I'll never know how he did
it without webbed feet, but the fact remains - he did.
The distance he flew didn't surprise me. He's always been a
extraordinarily strong flyer, which is why I have to do such
severe wing clips - 10 flight feathers back.
Plus, he always gets mad, and yells at me, when I go outdoors.
He wants to go with me. But, all he ever gets is to be put out in a
cage.
Now, all I have to worry about is what he might have picked up
in that lake. But, I'm dosing him. And, I've noticed, he's
been a bit less arrogant since it happened.
Of course, I'm doing my penance. For not clipping when I knew I
should - and for being so incredibly careless as to leave a door
open. That is beyond stupid when you have a bird - clipped, or
not!
Traffic Experiment
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Copyright Protection
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Have a swimmingly wonderful week, and ... Keep on Keepin' On!
jl
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