My hawkhead would love nothing more than to be on my shoulder 24/7, he's clearly the sweetest bird on earth--very sweet and affectionate. But, it is not a good idea to have a bird on my shoulder the entire time I'm home. ....for instance today I was standing at the stove making soup....or cleaning the bathroom etc.

He clings to the side of his cage if he even catches a glimpse of me walking by---his cage is super big and he has plenty of toys--he's in the room with two other birds that is bright and sunny----the tv is playing most of the time....

He's a bit on the skiddish side and If I leave him out of his cage I'm never sure what he'll do---once he flew over to have a chat with "Evil Ethel"

-----he would just rather be with me and not sure the "kind" folks at work would understand.

I just feel a bit guilty I guess that I cannot "always" be with him.

I feel the same way about Ollie. She is so used to being out whenever I'm home that on the rare occasion that I'm busy and leave her in her cage she gives me this pitiful "Do you not love me anymore??" look that just breaks my heart! I wish I could take her everywhere with me, but like you said, people just wouldn't understand.

So glad you posted that, Mary. Those birds have such a bad reputation when, in reality, they are sweethearts. We have had about 5 at the store - all of them wonderful. Of course, they come from a great breeder, so they come in sweet. In fact, today, one of our babies came back to visit. The owner said he is just the love of his life. Having been home for several months, he's still just as sweet as when he left! (Of course, proper mommies and daddies keep birds sweet).

Are the hawkheads in the banner yours?

No the ones in the banner are Gary's & JR's. Mine is the little nekked guy in my avatar. I could have a dozen if I thought they'd all be like "Chief"----he's a living doll.

He was found a bit over a yr ago in a cardboard box at the shelter. My vet was summoned to bring him back to health. He is featherless and has only 2 toes on one of his feet. He made the sounds of a creaky cellar door and talked in muffled tones. I assume that is because from his basement "dungeon" all he heard were muffled sounds through the ceiling

After he and I got used to the fact that he compensated for his lack of toes by using his beak as another foot---he's never tried to bite me and is just a loving wonderful little bird.

...by the way, those "sad sounds" have now been replaced w/oohs and ahhhs and laughter.

Mary, thank you for taking him in, he loves you as much as you love him! That is what having birds is all about.

It's the guilt...isn't it a killer?
You WANT to have him on your shoulder all day (or anywhere on your person...like Tuki) but it's just not possible.

Tuki will waddle around and follow me room to room and when I stop for a moment, he will begin climbing my leg!
Oh, the guilt.

Old Grumpy Seymour does the same thing when Amber is home. His love for her shines brightly every time she enters the room. He dances and fly's to her arm, his gentle nature toward her brings a happy sense of well being. Every part of there daily interaction is cherished by both.

I can't even put into words the love that I feel for Pita...and I think he feels it for me. It's a feeling I've never had with any other pet. Birds are different. I think for me at least, it's the fact that they never really loose thier wild instinct, yet allow us into thier world, and trust us unconditionally. I think I love Pita more than he loves me....lol

If I'm on the couch next to his cage, he'll get whatever he's eating, and climb over to the arm of the couch, and eat away, just so he can be near me. Not good when it's a peanut or blueberry....Then when the sun goes down, he crawls under my shirt and will snuggle & purr until I put him to bed. He's happy as long as I am in eye shot, the minute he can't see me, he starts screaming.

I'm really not sure what I'm trying to say or contribute to this thread, but I have never loved anything like I love that little bird

Oh Mary - that's such a sad story with a fabulous ending! Poor little fella. And he still knows how to love. That is amazing. Kudos to you for taking him in and loving him.

O/T: So I am really getting jealous of Gary and JR. They have two hawkheads, two hyacinths.... what other beauties own them?