Budgie
We always had budgies when we were growing up. My Dad was an excellent trainer of them. They mostly flew away because of a moment's carelessness with leaving a window or door open. One got eaten by a cat. The loss of each one caused heartache and tears. Eventually a trip to a breeders aviary was made to choose another bird. All in all, we got to look at the behaviour of a fair number of budgies:
Choosing a Budgie
Budgies are colourful and cute birds that make amusing family pets. When choosing one, it's worth bearing in mind that popular opinion says a male bird makes a much better talker than a female. Most people choose a male for this reason.
The training period.
Budgies bite a bit during the rigorous training course that they have to go through when first befriended by a well-meaning human. Yanked away from their mothers feathered bosom at the age of six weeks, it's no wonder. The dear little thing just hasn't realised how lucky he is yet with all the care and love he will receive. Anyway, I expect we'd bite if a giant finger was stuck persistently under the chest and then we were driven mad by a voice telling us how pretty we are over and over again. The first couple of times might be quite flattering but after that it's sure to be a bit wearing.
Temperament.
No two budgies are alike in personality. Some like to be friendly and make the best of life whilst others are always on the attack and have a lust for human blood. The latter usually draws blood from an offered finger but may also take it from the noses and ears of those brave or foolish enough to put their parts within striking distance.
The names we give budgies can range from an evil 'Talon' to a sloppy 'Beauty'. It's hard to tell how a bird's personality will develop in the early stages so a 'Talon' type might have been given the name of 'Beauty' or vice versa and nobody can be bothered to rename it later. Whatever its name, it's best to treat all budgies with initial caution.
Let's assume an average type of bird here. One that isn't the budgie from hell, nor is he a winged angel from heaven. For this reason lets give him the arbitrary name of Smudgie. So there we have him 'Smudgie the budgie'. Smudgie quickly learns that he'd better start faking pleasure and gratitude or he might not get his millet spray and budgie nibble. He soon has you convinced that he actually enjoys putting his head under the bell and knocking the stuffing out of a plastic effigy of himself.
Getting his own back.
He'll exact revenge for his captivity when he can. So long as the mischief he creates is balanced out with the odd cute trick he can get away with murder. Typical 'in cage' subversive activities are:-
* Causing unnecessary expense by destroying the sanded sheet, turning it into a pulpy dropping infested mess around the water pot.
* Seeing how far he can throw seeds across the room.
* Trying to commit suicide by jamming his head between the bars and, with fading vision, joyfully watching you panic.
* Making a dreadful squawking noise while the telly's on and not taking any notice whatsoever of all the threats of death and mutilation.
Launch time.
Once Smudgie tames down a bit, or shall we say resigns himself to his lot in life, the time comes to let him have a fly around the room. The first thing he does is make a bid for freedom by flying at the speed of a bullet into a closed window. The fact he and the glass survive this is a minor miracle. It seems that nature must have made a budgie's head that nice dome shape just so it could be used as a battering ram occasionally (and to fit nicely under the bell).
When Smudgie's had enough of being on the 'flight around the room' learning curve he'll usually bat into the wall, slide down and end up behind the sofa with his wings at all angles. The stars and planets revolving around his head are almost visible.
Damage.
Don't worry he's tougher than Rambo. He will quickly recover and learn how to live in his new environment without further damage ...to himself that is! It won't be long before that sharp beak gets to work on peeling the wallpaper and gnawing the furniture in places where it won't be immediately noticed. He leaves little markers all over the place that will remove the polish from tables and he never seems to get the message by having his nose rubbed in it (as with a dog).
Careful now!
Once all these teething (or beaking) troubles are overcome, or at least come to terms with, a budgie makes an amusing and lovable pet. From then on you must be careful where you sit down., where you walk and how you close the door. He could have decided to perch just anywhere unnoticed and it would be awful to hear a crunching noise during any of these actions.
Add to this the difficulty of getting the kids to understand that you just didn't see Smudgie playing on the sofa right where you decided to flop down and you'll wish to heaven that you'd never bought him in the first place. A flat envelope could be used for the burial if accidents of this nature were to occur.
Never make the mistake of thinking that the love you feel for him is mutual. At the first opportunity, Smudgie will seek out that open door or window and fly south towards Portsmouth and warmer climes. Contrary to popular opinion he won't be grateful to fly back to the cage left in the garden. He would, it seems, rather die young whilst enjoying a short spell of freedom. R.I.P Smudgie.