I have posted this in the "asiatic" secion (I do not know how to spell or pronounce the scientic name for them), but just in case no one reads it I thought I might try here as well.

I am considering another bird to add to my "flock". I was considering a male ekkie until my galah died. Then thought about another cockatoo. so I am tossing between a sulfer crested (which I have owned before) a rose breasted 'too (my girl passed away just over 2 months ago) a major mitchell, a male ekkie or an alexandrine.

I also forgot to say that my beloved galah (rosebreasted 'too) passed away on 27/08/05. I was devastated when I found out. I was at a dog trial when one of my older kids rang me to tell me. I think she had a massive heart attack from what the kids tell me.

I just thought I would pop in to show that I have let Skye's wing grow out and she can now fly. I have not been here for quite some time, but maybe some of you might remember me from the past. I have owned many parrots in a 30 something year period and all were clipped. I was too scared to not have Skye clipped so I did clip her. But now she can and does fly in the house. Mainly just to people, but she is flying just the same. I am also a member of "birdclick" where I have learned how to train some pretty neat tricks with her. I take her almost everywhere with us, even to volleyball comps and to dog obedience trials. She is always harnessed now she can fly, or in her travel cage. But I wanted to teach her to fly to me on command just in case she did get out, I hope I would have a better chance of getting her back if I found her in a tree or something.

Went away for 4 days to Brisbane for the state finals junior volleyball championships. Took Skye with us and left Bo with friends who love to have her. The husband would love a bird but his wife doesn't like them, so babysitting Bo is the best he gets. Firstly Skye was a very good girl. She was in a travel cage only in the car and spent the rest of the time on/in her playpen. Lots of people around cheering for their kids teams including me and we went to a lot of shops and a market. we kept her in her carry box while in the shops but I had her on my shoulder while walking around the markets and a huge plant nursery. All the people who stopped to look at her and ask what type of bird she was. Of the hundreds of people and I mean hundreds who saw her over the 4 days only one knew that she orignates from Papua New Guinea, he just did not know what her breed name was. Rhianna took her and her team mates all patted her and some even braved it and held her. Our volleyball girls are now the junior state champions of Queensland while our Senior girls are the Senior state champions. The senior state finals were held in Toowoomba in August and our coach put the juniors in for the experience and they actually came third, while the seniors came 1st. Our volleyball girls are very good. Now they go the nationals in melbourne in December. The seniors have come second all the time, maybe this year will be the first time they get gold and hopefully our juniors as well. It is unusual for a country team/school to do so well compared to the city teams, but our girls train very hard 9 times a week and we have 12 girls in America on volleyball scholarships with a couple more going over at the end of this year. That is enough bragging about my family now. I will finish dinner now.

Boy things change in a few days. I have not logged on for a couple of days and this site has changed. It has taken me forever to log in as I apparently forgot my password. Don't know how I did that, but anyway I eventually managed to get back on line. Not much else to say. Oh yes Skye let me scratch her around her beak the other day. She did not realise it until she realised she was enjoying it. Was quite funny actually.

I did not know how to tell a particular person something, so I am putting it out for all to read (could be helpful for anyone) but I have read and seen about Ruby and was thinking of her when I read this. So hear goes. I realise you probably have already explored all avenues for a cure for Ruby but thought I would post this anyway - just in case you have not come across this one. I am reading a book at the moment for the second time. I borrowed it from the library then decided to buy it. Anyway it is called My Parrot My Friend by Bonnie Munroe Doane and Thomas Qualkinbush. They have some case studies with some remedies and cures. In it they name something called "Annedda" or pycnogenol. It seemed to have helped in some cases of feather pluckers. Also I read that vitamin B can or lack of it can cause problems which may lead to feather plucking as well. Hope I have been helpful and not the opposite.

Nate told me that the file I sent could not be opened. My husband told me I had not saved it properly. So anyway I managed to save it properly (I hope). I sent it in separate files so they were smaller to download as the original file was 80MB and I got that down to 5.5MB.

Just to let anybody who is interested know that I managed to post a short video of Skye talking or attempting to talk. I am surprised myself what I think I heard her say. There was more stuff as I left the recorder going for about 20 mins, but obviously only put in the most obvious ones. This is mainly for those with Eclectus to show that they can talk, but I would love for all to look and listen. Remember I have only had her for 3 weeks when this was taped. I am really impressed, but some might say that I am easily pleased and have a good imagination. See what you all think.

I just discovered that if I click on forum or journals or photos I get to see everybodies not just mine or whoever I choose to look at. Pretty clever heh. Yeah I know I am Australian and a country person as well and maybe a bit sloooow.

Well I bet you guys are breathing a sigh of relief, that digital camera freak has not posted any photo's today. I was starting to worry myself. I guess, the novelty is starting to wear off. Thank goodness. Well Skye said "good girl" today. Rhianna and I both looked at each other and said did you hear that? It is just amazing how fast she is learning. I am so impressed with her. She is the smartest bird in the world - ok I have exaggerated a little bit. Maybe the smartest bird in my household. I take her into the shower with me and she probably does not like it too much, but I guess one day she might. It can be a bit dangerous in the shower too with a bird let me tell you (ha ha). No clothes for those sharp claws to hang on to. Oh well that is it for now. Oh Bo is fine too, nothing new to report on her.