Gallery is mostly open only for a short while

last modified: Friday, July 25, 2008 (3:13:15 AM CST)

Hello there:

I have been doing some changes around and I have decided to open most of the gallery for public viewing only for some time. I have to finish with all the details before it is finally done but that may take a bit of time, in the mean time I hope that you enjoy your visit and what you see.

Thanks and take care...

Jose

Bonnie's Story plus new Cockatiel update

last modified: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 (9:05:27 PM CST)

Well, I wanted to share Bonnie's story with you all and perhaps that way some of you will understand why her dying was so hard on me.

First time I have had a couple of birds(male & female), didn't know much if any about Cockatiels to begin with and to my luck they just happen to be of opposite sexes. Happen to find out which sex they were when I saw them flirting with each other and doing what couples do (~_^), long story short Boni came about to be. I took on learning something about them since it was apparent that I would have to do it.

She was born April 11 the first of 3 that were born then, I will not forget it because that event filled my life with joy, love and a sense of amazement that I still don't know how to describe. I guess the best way to put it in my own words is "Life just hit me right then and there".

When they were born in my infinite wisdom I thought that leaving them with their parents as long as possible would be their best chances of survival. Well, the first time I cleaned their nest is when I found the other 2 chicks that were born after her had died. I was torn but glad that at least one survived, so I left her to be with her parents because they were still taking care of her and that was the easy choice to make. It just so happens that when the time came to clean up their nest again when I pulled her out it was obvious that there was something wrong with one of her legs. I immediately thought her leg was broken but I wasn't sure not being a Vet or an expert in bird physiognomy. I tried to get her an appointment with the Vet as soon as possible to see what could be done.

Vet saw her and he told me that my suspicion was right about the leg. I was heart broken for her because I felt guilty for leaving her with her parents too long and this being the consequence of it. She was not in very good shape either, she was malnourished and she wasn't processing food all that well. He was concerned that maybe something bacterial or other was causing it, he wanted to get her taking antibiotics to see if we could bring her health back to a point where her leg could be amputated because there was nothing we could do to help her broken leg. In his experience he told me they can live with one leg just as well if they have good health, strength and good balance. The health issue was the only the problem at the time, so we were hopeful if her weight and health could be improved she would be able to survive. Her blood work came out ok, so the only thing right now that we are still focusing his her weight and health until the next visit.

The bill of the Vet came to be $260, this is 2 times or perhaps 3 what these birds cost in a pet store, but I just had to give her the chance to see if she will be able to get through all of that.

I took care of her every single day, giving her her medicine twice daily in her feedings with the baby formula that had to be fed to her 4 times daily until it was time to reduce the feeding rate. I thought she was improving and she was showing signs of getting better...She was playing so much with a toy that my mom and I bought her, she was so very special. Funny thing is that every time that I had to go out and came back to the house she would be quiet until she heard my voice and I would call her out and she would get so anxious for me to take her out and have her with me. She was my baby and that she was...I miss her...

Well, that is that, I am sorry that it is kind of long. I humbly thank all of you that followed the updates and shared with me their comments and thoughts, they mean the world to me, thanks.

Also, the Good News that I had not shared with you all was that I have 3 new baby Cockatiels that were born on May 5th through the 9th, their pictures are in the photo album section that I just added if you are interested in checking them out. Thanks again and I will update with more news later....until then.

Jose

My little Bonnie has passed away...

last modified: Friday, June 27, 2008 (4:07:18 AM CST)

She wasn't among us long enough as she only lived 2 months and a half but it was sufficient time to fill my life with so much joy and happiness.

Today I was woken up early in the morning to continue with this existence that we call life, everything seemed fine until my Mom went to take Bonnie's cover off her cage. She sounded kind of startled and with obvious sadness in her voice she muttered Bonnie is dead, she knew immediately that I would not take it lightly as I am very attached to my pets and especially her. I have yet to tell her story but eventually I will, it won't be today. My heart just dropped in disbelief, after having her most of Wednesday out of her cage with me in my chest as I laid on my recliner watching some TV as she so kindly slept as I caressed her fragile head, occasionally when she was awake she would trimmed my beard as she enjoyed doing every time she was close to my face. I choked and tears just started flowing, the so familiar feeling of loss was with me again, I was heart broken. Some of you may think that it is only a bird and I shouldn't feel this way about this, but I don't have kids of my own and to me my pets are just that, MY KIDS. I take care of them, I feed them, I love them and I enjoy having them around because they bring so much joy to my life. It is strange trying describe and make someone understand what you feel for your pets sometimes, but it is so easy to know why you love them so much.

After getting back my composure and finally coming to grips with her loss I buried her outside my Bedroom window so I can have her close to me...I wrote her a message that said something like this " Now you are free to do what you couldn't do, I will always love you and may the Lord keep you safe".

I wanted to write this just to get some of the pain of my chest, but I have to admit I do not feel any better.

There is good news that I would like to share as well, but it will not be today, that will have to wait for my next entry.

Thanks to all of you that took the time to follow my updates, also lots of thanks to those wrote and added their thoughts along the way.....

I AM A GRANDPA!!!!....kinda (4th Update)

last modified: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 (9:46:30 PM CST)

Hi

It took some time but I have finally put up the picture of my only surviving Cockatiel in my gallery, she is almost a youngster but still have a little bit to go. She has come a long way and you will probably agree with me if you only knew her story....I will share that in my next update that I hope to do in about 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks so much for following this little update, by the way her name is Boni (which reads as Bonnie) and that is short for bonita which in my native Spanish language means "pretty".

Thanks

I AM A GRANDPA!!!!....kinda (3rd Update)

last modified: Saturday, April 26, 2008 (4:08:13 AM CST)

Well, this time around the news isn't cheerful, lost 2 of the 3 babies and none new have hatched.
It has really made for a really yucky day.

I was checking on them today as I walked outside and the parents were for some reason very jumpy and seemingly nervous. I decided to clean their nest and then I discovered the 2 dead babies inside. Don't really know what happened from yesterday to today, it was so sad that it just basically ruined my day.

But on the bright side, the surviving chick is getting so big and I had it with me for a little while, it was so amazing. I find myself in odds about how ugly they look when they are at this point but at the same time it is the most beautiful and precious little bird that exists in my world. I can only add that when I was holding it I felt the beauty of creation right there in my hands, it was so amazing.

Well, I haven't gotten the pictures yet but hopefully I will get a camera soon to take that picture.

I thank you again before hand and hopefully in my next update I will have better news and a picture to show for....

Take care everyone...

I AM A GRANDPA!!!!....kinda (Update)

last modified: Friday, April 18, 2008 (5:07:46 PM CST)

Hi everyone:

First of all thanks to those of you that took the time to post your thoughts, as well to those who read the post.

I said I would update the situation in a weeks time so here is the news as it has happened. The "babies" are fine, emphasis on babies because there are 3 now and they all look to be fine and well. The parents are doing their job and feeding them fine, so I am VERY HAPPY to say the least. There are more eggs in the nest so I yet don't know what the final count will be but I'm hoping that all of them will hatch.

This is a totally new field for me, so needless to say I am impressed and in awe with every new development. In the end all I want is for them to be healthy and well so we could watch them grow.

I will try to get a picture later if I can, I will also update in another week and give you a new number if any change occurs....

Thanks again for taking the time to read this and for sharing your thoughts...have a good one....^_^

I AM A GRANDPA!!!!....kinda

last modified: Friday, April 11, 2008 (2:24:13 PM CST)

It has been a while since I wrote anything here (worth reading anyway) but today I when I was changing the water and seeds of my cockatiels as I finished doing that and heading back inside the house I heard a faint chirp inside their house. I thought to myself can it be, so I decided to get a closer look inside and to my surprise my lovely cockatiel couple have finally come through.

I was completely engulfed with joy because she has laid eggs before but unfortunately since the male cockatiel was so young they had not produced chicks before. I am so thrilled....

So anyways, that is it, I am a grandpa and it feels good to be one....^_^.