I've been popping in to the Extended Care Unit as often as I can, just to check up on Babe, Lina's girl. She has continued to mutilate her legs and last week I was terribly concerned that she was weak and losing weight and so on. I went to the Refuge today, my usual day planning to weigh Babe again. I headed for the Refuge today with a carrier in the car, intending to have a very serious talk with the Director about letting me bring Babe home. Of course when I arrived the Director wasn't there; the manager was. I also had my weigh scale with me to weigh Babe again. If her weight was down again that would reinforce my request with the Director. Anyway, I told the manager that I was really worried about Babe and had been stewing about her all week. And I went ahead and weighed Babe again. I guess there was something wrong with my scale last week, because I weighed Babe three times to make sure there was no mistake today. She weighs 552g, much better than last weeks 506g. Also, quite awhile ago I had told both the Director and the manager that the collar on Babe was too small; it wasn't stopping her from reaching her legs. And all the while she can reach her legs, she won't leave them alone. Today, what does the manager tell me? They had to find a way to keep Babe from reaching her legs, because if she can reach her legs she won't leave them alone. Duh! Sigh. They've also changed the cream that they are putting on her legs. Anyway, although her legs are still bandaged, the manager says her left one is almost totally healed and her right has only one spot left to heal. I told you also that last week Babe seemed terribly weak. So I wanted to see just what is going on there. I sat about four feet away from Babe and called her to me. Well, she came waddling over to me. It was obvious the bandaging is making it awkward for her to walk. But apart from that, she had no difficulty. But once she was on my lap, she got all limp and soppy. It really was quite funny. What a foxer she is! If I skritched her head, she put her head down on my lap like she couldn't hold it up. If I skritched her jaw bone and around her ear, she put the side of her head on my lap and closed her eyes. But when I said that's all she perked up and was fine. And...Babe seems to be making friends with Sore-Toe. Now that would be nice. They are both sweet gentle birds.
Bertie had started mutilating again, up under her left wing. Then she barbered all her feathers on her left side including her left leg. So, she was moved into the Extended Care Unit to see if the change would interrupt the behavior. It didn't, but she loved being there and seeing the visitors and hamming it up for them. And she started to fly short distances. A couple of weeks ago, she flew about six feet to my shoulder. I couldn't believe it. I was ecstatic. At nineteen years old, this bird is learning to fly! Earlier this week though, when I dropped in to check on Babe, Bertie was missing. Because she's started flying she was starting to scare the other birds in the Extended Care Unit. She'd been moved to the intake area, or what used to be the gift shop. It's where Michele has been doing her volunteering. I've visited Bertie there twice now. It's so very obvious that she's delighted with her new digs. She's made friends with Lucy (maybe Luke) another Moluccan. She doesn't bother coming to me now, though she teases by putting her foot up then putting it back down and hopping away. LOL
I visited with Chris today too. She too has settled right in at the Extended Care Unit. Sometimes I think she's making friends with someone; at other times she's sitting alone. But she's quick to come toward me when I call her, her weight is stable and her vocalizing suggests she's comfortable there. After visiting I went to do some of the recycling. Staff were anxious for me to get rid of some of it. Today, my back and hip were better than some days. So, I was able to put together a couple of bags to drop off on my way home. Oh oh, Bobbie is telling me it's time for bed. So good night, Mom.
Love,
Pat
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