New birdy (with pictures)

Tags: bird, conure, erythema, greencheek

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Having accidentally killed my old birdy Pistachio in my sleep a couple weeks ago, I decided I needed another bird to replace him. So here's Erythema, a 4-month-old Green Cheek Conure. She is not afraid of my camera (a Kodak V570) so I can get up close and take some great pictures of her (Pistachio was dead scared of inanimate objects).

She is a fan of shoulder-cuddling and, like most conures, will not poop when she's on your shoulder. I still have to teach her to step onto my finger, which is why I clipped her wings last night. I am generally loath to clip a bird's wings, as flying is kind of their thing. She can get her flight back once she's learned that she needs people to take her where she wants to go.

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Also, she never bites, even if you're poking her really hard. That may change but for now she's an excellent bird.

Right now she doesn't make many noises either, but I'm hoping to teach her a few whistles. Greencheeks are fairly unique in that they don't squawk or make loud noises like most conures do. It makes them great apartment birds.

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Erythema makes sure to look dignified for her portrait.

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She's got a maroon belly like most greencheeks, too.

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Macro mode is the only time my camera shows depth of field, so I like to take advantage of that. Here Erythema is trying to bite the little orange focus light.

And just in case you're wondering, the name 'Erythema' means a reddening of skin due to increased capillary bloodflow. It has nothing to do with the bird except that Erythema has a good sound to it.

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Update, Wednesday Dec26 2008: I found out she will lay on her back! Supreme cuteness ahoy.

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Sometimes she crawls on my belly and wants me to hug her with my hand until she falls asleep.

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Lately she's taken to laying on her back on my belly, though I have to slouch in order to make the right platform, so that kind of hurts my back, but it's worth it!

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