HANGIN' WIT DA BOIDS

The Sketchers had an opportunity to go out to Susan's Bird Sanctuary/Aviary again, a second chance to commune with the birdies. They were every bit as cool as they were the last time. In fact, I had so much fun with Sunday, Gleam, Frostbite, Brutus and the others that I didn't get much sketching done.

We walked in and, there they all were, waiting for us. The cages were mostly all open, so as soon as we sat down they were on our heads, on our arms, walking on our sketchbooks, chewing on our hats and trying to steal our glasses. Mostly, just vying for as much attention as we could give them!

This time we brought apples and bananas for their treats, which seemed to please them. It is amazing how strong they are. They can bite right through heavy sticks with a chomp. These guys had a great time chewing up a plastic scrub brush in just minutes. But they seem to try to be very gentle with their wicked looking beaks, and (so far) none of them has bitten me.

In order to have models who stayed in one place Susan and staff kept the two Hyacinth Macaws in their cage, which they were none to happy about. They wanted to be out like their buddies.

Hats are a pretty good idea in here, as someone is almost always perched on your head. Earplugs wouldn't hurt, either, as we found out when an eagle flew overhead. The screeching and screaming reached an incredible level 'til it flew away.

When Sue bent over one of the Macaws invited himself along for a ride on her bum, giving her a tail like a Vegas Showgirl. 

 

Gleam took a particular shine to my paintbrush and the top of my pen, chewing the one to shreds and flying off with the other.

Owner Susan's new Aviary Keeper, Sterling, recently transplanted here from Chicago, just to be with these birds. He is happy here with them, and I am delighted that they seem to be happy with him. 

Susan and the staff have welcomed us to come back again, whenever we like, to talk to the birds and be entertained by them. 

Oh, and to sketch and paint, too. If we can. I have so much fun with them I barely get any art done at all! This is the only sketch I got done in the three hours I was there, but I had the BEST TIME!

A DAY WITH THE BIRDS!

We Sketchers get to do the most amazing things! Today I went somewhere with the group I had absolutely no idea existed. Tucked way Way WAY back in the deep woods, in a meadow clearing is Susan's Aviary, a facility for rescued parrots, macaws, cockatoos and cockatiels. It is essentially a huge cage where over 50 birds fly free. They are almost all very friendly, tame and crave attention from the people who are lucky enough to get to come visit them. 

Susan welcomed us, told us the story of the aviary, gave us a few rules, and let us in through the airlock to be greeted by its inhabitants. Almost the moment we entered we were covered in friendly, curious birds who wanted to be part of our sketching action. They screeched and whistled, sat on our heads, grabbed our pencils, worked over our sketchbooks, competed for our attention, and really put on a show for us.

 Barbara hit it right on the head when she said it was like being in a room full of toddlers. 

I was totally entranced. I could have stayed there for hours longer - in fact I was the last to leave.

My models were captivating. Brutus, the pink Cockatoo, must have spent his whole pre-Aviary life in constant company of a short wave or CB radio - he talks just like one. And he screeches and hollers, and says "good boy" and "pretty bird". 

Sunday, the Yellow Crested Cockatiel was also a screamer, but she was so endearing - cuddling and putting her head against my chest and sort of purring. 

"A Selfie with Sunday!"

Frostbite, the Macaw, lost her toes as a result of a tragic accident during our freak blizzard two years ago, but their loss hasn't slowed her down. She stumps around very confidently. 

The little brightly colored Sun Conures flocked to us, sitting on our heads, walking up our arms, hanging on our pants. They were WONDERFUL (if noisy)!

The rest of the birds were just as colorful, just as much fun. In fact, I was pretty sure Susan and her crew were going to have to drag me out by force. 

I am no fool, though. I know that parrots can live 80-100 years, and that they require an immense amount of care and work. Which is why I did not leave with one. I WILL, however, make a return visit very soon to sit with them, talk to them and just generally enjoy them.
I did get a sketch done, but barely. All I wanted to do was play with the birdies!