Unless you want nightmares...

Don't read this book.

. . . in which Ms. Bell adopts a parrot, and despite advice to the contrary, lets it fly free around the garden. With the inevitable result.

Spring!

The AGP and I are looking forward to some serious outdoors time this weekend!

HR 669

There's been all manner of hysteria over a bill to ban importation of animals/plants without a review to make sure the species does not represent a threat to our environment. The bill specifically says,

Animals Owned Lawfully Prior to Prohibition of Importation- This Act and regulations issued under this Act shall not interfere with the ability of any person to possess an individual animal of any species if such individual animal was legally owned by the person before the risk assessment is begun pursuant to subsection (e)(3), even if such species is later prohibited from being imported under the regulations issued under this Act.

Which doesn't stop a lot of folk from claiming that if the law passes your exotic pet will be euthanized. It's also worth noting that the bill includes a list of animals that can not be declared illegal:

D) does not include any cat (Felis catus), cattle or oxen (Bos taurus), chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris), donkey or ass (Equus asinus), domesticated members of the family Anatidae (geese), duck (domesticated Anas spp.), goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus), horse (Equus caballus), llama (Lama glama), mule or hinny (Equus caballus x E. asinus), pig or hog (Sus scrofa domestica), domesticated varieties of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), or sheep (Ovis aries), or any other species or variety of species that is determined by the Secretary to be common and clearly domesticated. [Emphasis added]

So I think we can all, like, calm down.

The AGP is getting bolder. The other night she climbed off the couch and waddled over to the coat closet. The door was open, and she stood staring at the contents, appearing to be utterly fascinated.

Tonight, she climbed down from the back of the couch to sit next to me and try to remove the keys from my laptop.

Spring fever?

Don't know what's up with this bird, but after nearly two years in our home the AGP's suddenly getting adventurous: Last night she climbed down off the back of the couch onto the floor and went looking for the Birdfather in the kitchen.

It's only taken her about 12 years, but the AGP has finally figured out how to climb down off her table-top perch.

Custody battle

On Inside Edition tonight, there's a story about these two women slugging it out in court over Tequila, the African Grey, lost and renamed Lucky. He got lost, and after about two weeks on his own found a new home. Three years later, his two moms met at a coffee shop, discovered their common love of parrots, and one thing led to another. Woman #1 figures out that woman #2 has her old parrot. Woman #2 won't give him back, so woman #1 sues. And wins. Parrot went home today.