[Bobby's story, Part 2]
My little Bobby is a feisty creature. Once she becomes familiar with you it doesn't take long for her to warm up and greet you with gentle kisses, but on her first meeting with everyone she bites. Not hard enough that it'll draw blood but hard enough to hurt.
The first time I met her in that large aviary that's exactly what she did. This tiny warm bundle of blue fluff, she didn't make a sound except for some irritated grunts as she tried to wriggle out from my cupped hands. Not old enough to fly but quick enough to run away.
I remember how excited I was to show my family the photos my friend had taken of Bobby and I. It wouldn't be long before Bobby began sprouting enough wing and tail feathers to take flight and I could finally bring her home with me.
The days to follow would be difficult. Bobby was quiet and shy the first few months, she'd sit in her cage and just stare. It was understandable - moving to a new strange place with people you don't know. I was a little naïve in thinking Bobby would warm up to me as quickly as I'd warmed to her.
The first time I met her in that large aviary that's exactly what she did. This tiny warm bundle of blue fluff, she didn't make a sound except for some irritated grunts as she tried to wriggle out from my cupped hands. Not old enough to fly but quick enough to run away.
I remember how excited I was to show my family the photos my friend had taken of Bobby and I. It wouldn't be long before Bobby began sprouting enough wing and tail feathers to take flight and I could finally bring her home with me.
The days to follow would be difficult. Bobby was quiet and shy the first few months, she'd sit in her cage and just stare. It was understandable - moving to a new strange place with people you don't know. I was a little naïve in thinking Bobby would warm up to me as quickly as I'd warmed to her.
In the afternoon I'd spend hours trying to train Bobby to stay on my finger and not bite but nothing seemed to work. After a long day of coaxing Bobby out of her cage only to have her fly away from me I broke down in front of her. In-between the tears and tantrum I asked her why she didn't like me, how I wanted us to be friends and for her to stop biting my finger. She stared at me from the on top a shelf as we both sat in silence for a while.
After that I started being more patient with her. It was a long process but sometimes you don't build an instant connection with an animal like in the stories. You have to gain their trust and give it time.
The more time I gave us the less she ran away, the longer she'd stay perched on my finger, and the more she began to whistle and be active.
Bobby's a permanent part of our family now. She can talk, enjoys mimicking whistle sounds we make, and still hates being cupped in a person's hand (unless you're our mum, then she enjoys the occasional cuddle).
Recently though Bobby has developed a lipoma on her chest. It's been there for a few years but through a change of diet we've managed to minimise its growth. I'm not sure though if it's something that will ever completely go away. A budgie's life span is averaged to be 15 years; our little one has been around for six which is longer than what I could have ever imagined. She's happy and loves us and I couldn't be luckier to have a bird like her in my life.
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