The eagle has landed.

The new parakeet in our house has been exciting for everyone.  Oldest Boy named him Wren.  The bird guy told us it was a male - don't ask me how he knew.  I think he just said that knowing there's a 50/50 chance of being right, and we'd never call him on it.

The boys frequently check on the bird, and are concerned about him being alone when we're away.

Mary Schnauzer didn't notice the bird when we brought him home on Friday.  She played in Oldest Boy's room (where the bird lives) and we even tried to point him out to her.  It went right over her little walnut sized brain.   A squirrel can sit two feet away from Mary in the back yard and if it doesn't flick her in the forehead, she doesn't notice it. 

Finally, she saw the bird.  She's completely obsessed now.  She doesn't bark or growl, but she sits there... staring.  Like Eddie on Frasier.

We told the boys that Mary probably doesn't want to eat the bird, but she'd love to play with it, which would be bad.  I think they get it.

While we all get used to the bird and he gets used to us, a watchful little schnauzer named Mary will be overseeing the bird's every move. 

Comments

[Tristan]

Have you considered purchasing a body double? Just in case...

[the sits girls]

Mary does look focused on Wren. How funny! What a pretty yellow color he is!!

[the floydster]

Oh boy! I think you all are in for some adventures!!

[Mrs.D]

that's so funny! well at least the dog has something to do now.

[Kate]

The first comment from Tristan is actually something you may have to consider at some point (even if for different reasons). When I was eight, I had a yellow parakeet. We went away on vaction, and our neighbor fed the bird for me. The bird picked this rather inconvenient time to die. When I came back from vacation, I suddenly had a blue parakeet. My neighbor apparently didn't think I'd catch the changing of the guard...

[Jeanette]

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was reading through yours and loved the stories of NYC. That is someplace that I have never been but would LOVE to visit. I love your writing style. It is a lot of fun. BTW, my dogs would NEVER sit that politely and stare at a bird. They would be falling all over themselves whining and barking, either that or enjoying bird tartar. We just have to admire from afar. (sigh)

[csquaredplus3]

Tristan - Good thinking. Wren 2.0 on deck...

The Sits Girls - Hi! Thank you for the comment - and he is a pretty bird.

Anne - Let's hope not too many adventures. I'm already having trouble parenting through the basics.

Mrs. D. - The dog has plenty to do besides stalk the poor parakeet.

Kate - Ahhh! That's funny - almost like substituting a turtle for a lizard!

Jeanette - My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by mine as well. Bird tartar makes me cringe - yikes!

[Tristan]

Kate: I have some very close friends and I babysat their children when I was younger. While in college I lived near them and agreed to feed a certain frog while they were away. It too picked this time to die. I do not kid when I say that I visited EVERY pet store in the Salt Lake Valley looking for a match. There was none. So I settled for the closest one I could find. Poor Nick noticed, but I explained what had happened and that I thought it wouldn't hurt so bad if he had a new frog to take care of.

[Judy]

You're so nice! Our boys would love to have a bird but so far have agreed with my argument that it might be the one thing to get our cat of her sunny cushion. Not to mention Zelda thinking it's a new toy. Happy Birthday to the big guy.

[Sherri]

Just because that bird is yellow and pretty doesn't fool me. I'm fairly certain, if allowed out of its cage while you were sleeping, it would go for your jugular.

[Melanie]

Chris, this is so great. Now I have the link to your blog. What a fun way to keep up to date. Good luck with your new family member. You have way more energy than I do.Melanie

[chris]

Judy - I'm really not that nice. He just wore me down until I said yes.

Sherri - I realize the bird's a rodent with wings, and I have my suspicions about it's intentions too.

Melanie - Don't believe everything you read here. I make shit up. And I do NOT have more energy than you. Jeesh.

[michael.offworld]

Cool image of the dog eyeballing the bird and "Mr. Pretty Bird" gazing at himself in the mirror, narcissus-like. Maybe someday, he'll notice the dog and they'll be friends.

M

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

Like Eddie on Frasier. You crack me up.

[DaGoddess]

I miss having a bird around. Somewhere there are photos of my dad's bird modeling for me. I had him while my dad was in the hospital.

And really, most birds aren't evil. Just the yellow ones.

[Jennifer]

I can't wait to have a house with pets. The adventure and misshaps, great fun, in hindsight.

Are the boys good at taking care of Wren or have you gotten stuck with the job?

[csquaredplus3]

Michael - Thank you for stopping by. Your comments even use wonderful language.

Cheri - Thanks. I love Frasier.

Rena - His cage isn't "locked", but I don't think he can open the door.

Joanie - You're gonna scare my new BFF Sherri! She hates flying things. Be nice!

Jennifer - Funny you should ask. This morning as he left for school, Oldest Boy said, "Will you please change Wren's water today?"

[we_be_toys]

Mary Schnauzer does seem a bit preoccupied with the new addition - what a great picture!

[Stefanie]

I saw you comment on another blog saying your son has type1 diabetes. I too have a son with type1. It is a tough disease. People just don't understand. I looked at your blog, I have a minature schnauzer also. Roscoe. I love that darn dog.Good luck with the bird. My son got a cockatiel for his 11th birthday. Loved that bird. Talked, said his name, said my sons name, etc. The poor bird died and my son was devistated. Still talks about the bird. I will keep your son and his new friend, Wren in my prayers.

[Connie]

That is quite the guard dog you have there!

I have tagged you for a fun meme and the instructions are very easy. LOL! You will like this one...I promise!

[DaGoddess]

I once had a boyfriend whose parents came to visit. We went to the Wild Animal Park with them because that's such a fun touristy thing to do, plus I love the place. However, his mom cried and shrieked the entire time we stood in line to get into the lorikeet exhibit. I wondered why she would bother going in if she were really terrified of birds. "Because I want to spend time with my son." Um, yeah, and because she liked the attention. It was insane. So people being terrified of flying things no longer even registers with me. Apologies to Sherri.

Personally, I love birds of all kinds. They're awesome.

[tinsenpup]

That's a budgerigar. The boys have a blueish bit above their beak and the girls have a pinkish bit above their beak. This difference is more pronounced when they reach adulthood. Boys make better pets, so you lucked out. If you want to train it to talk (human), ditch the mirror, otherwise it'll just tweet away to its reflection.