Introspective turn of thought

This is a picture of an Albino budgie (parakeet) which I raised and sold many years ago. I took the photo using a digital camera with no view finder or gauges...resulting in not a terrific photo...but, that camera only cost $30.

How did I get interested in birds? That question comes up a lot.
I've always been fascinated by animals. As a child I would fantasise about turning my bedroom (not really "my" bedroom with 11 siblings) into a jungle complete with dirt, trees and monkeys. However ridiculously impractical that idea was, it was the mind of a child going beyond the possible as only a child's mind can go.

Forty years later I am a little shocked that my childhood dream has taken shape somewhat in the form of a bird room in my apartment. Birds are exceedingly messy. I think that if I watered my carpet a complete garden would bloom.

It started with Budgies. I had a roommate many years back who had a budgie parakeet named "Baby". Baby was so funny! He was obsessed with bells. He loved to ring bells, throw bells, cuddle with bells, sleep with bells. And he talked a lot, which surprised me since I thought only the big parrots talk.
I thank/curse my roommate Amy for introducing me to pet birds. Eventually she and I both wound up with more than just one.


My first bird was my Meyers parrot named Dooby.
Every night I tell him he is my "big bird" and that I love him.
Once I was hooked on hookbills, I wanted to try to raise them.
So I bred Budgies, not too hard to do, to learn how it works.

The babies were like Tribbles (Trekkies out there?), warm fuzzy things that sit in your hand and give that warm happy feeling. Down-side of budgies is they are not worth what they cost to raise. So, although I loved the budgies, I was losing money. There was also the fact that they shed feathers a lot and I am slightly allergic to them.

The budgies ended up in other homes and I moved on to other small parrots. Almost all of my birds are happy accidents that just landed (pun) in my lap. I either won them in raffles or they were given to me.

Contrary to what it looks like from my photos, I produce very few baby birds. None at all last year and only 4 the year before. It's not a profitable venture.
First my birds are pets, and, if they happen to make a baby now and then it is a bonus.

I am full-up on birds now. There is no room in my space or my day to take care of and fully nurture any new birds (except the future babies, if any).
Relative to other "bird people" I have few birds. Perhaps if I were more energetic or owned a home it would be different? Don't know.

One blessing the birds offer me is companionship. They talk to me and are surprisingly good at letting their wants and needs be known. They fill a void where children should be at this phase in my life. I would rather have human children, but God knows best.

I suppose from this blog and some other angles it looks like birds are my all-consuming passion. Actually, I think of myself as more of an artist since that is my college background and natural aptitude. But even before that I feel I am a child of God. As such I wear many hats: missionary, counselor, helper, giver, and whatever else God tosses in my path to take up.

Right now I am thankful that I am a child of God, safe in His care.
I am grateful for many experiences in life that teach me and enrich my soul.
I am grateful for the creativity that wells up inside me and spills over whether I want it to or not.
I am grateful that God is pleased with me no matter how scattered or diverse my life may be.
I am grateful.

GratefulJoy