Golly how the time does fly. Popeye and I are doing wonderful. He is as calm as he can be now. He seems to be a very content Amazon.  The past year has been fantastic. Popeye continues to thrive under my care. I am careful to make sure he gets handled each and every day.  One of the ways I do that is to Keep him in a day cage by day with lots of toys and lots of room and a night time cage for bed time and quiet time. I keep no seeds in the night time cage. He gets fresh water and  unlimited supply of pellets in that cage.  When I started doing that he started eating his pellets more regularly. He ends the day eating pellets and starts the day eating pellets. In his  Big Daytime Cage we keep plenty of healthy seed , fresh water, and pellets. This is also when he gets fresh foods and treats  from the table. I also cover him at night. He never squawks to wake me and he seems to be fine on whatever schedule I maintain. I sometimes am up all hours and due to wanting him to have human companionshiop I have opted to just keep him on what ever schedule I am on.  I try to make sure his is covered 10 to 12 hours a day. He seems to pay no attention to time  and does well with this scedule. He also does not seem bothered by change. I can put him in any room I like. I can re arrange his cage and anyroom in the house with no reaction from him. He seems to like the change of scenery when I do move him around. I have opted to not do anything on a regular schedule so as to NOT have him Demanding Food or Treats at certain times of the day or night. This may not work for most Amazons but seems to work fine with my guy.

I am getting ready to have his wings clipped again this week as he decided to fly from the top of his cage to our couch the other day. It is freezing cold this past week so am having my favorite wing clippers come to the house again. I would love to keep him flighted but I knw the risks are far too great to allow that. Maybe someday.  Not yet. Maybe never.

I have gained firm contol over his beak by handling it as much as I can. I actually massage his beak.. He allows me to massage inside up under the top near the point AND on the bottom where his tongue rests. I can now massage his toes one by one. Recently I started trying to open his wings. Right now I just open about half way and let go and say good boy. I  will continue to do this until he lets me open the wing all the way with no grumbling.  At the moment he grumbles as soon as I touch it. He does not bite me tho and when he grumbles I say okay  and let go... I am hoping over the next few months to be able to open each wing and look at it so eventually I can clip him my self.   He still resists me touching the rest of his body and  I respect his wishes with only the occasional attempt to touch him under a wing or on his chest or back. I also want to eventually be able to touch him anywhere on his body. Not for the need to touch or pet him but for his benefit in the event that I should need to touch him.

I am still workign on socializing when I can.  I recently took him to my favorite Pet Shop and he stepped right up for two of the girls in the store. They were very pleased to see that he was willing to let them hold him. I make sure I keep a close eye on him so I can take him off whom ever is brave enough to let him step up.   I watch his eyes and tail and his breathing. If i get uncomfortable even for a split second I reach for him and tell him to step up. I would be very upset if I let hm hurt someone in my need to socialize him.

We have been together just about  18 months now and I am so pleased with him and myself for our progress. He has taught me so much in the time I have had him. I maintain... Patience, Respect, Understanding is the way to any birds heart. Unconditional love and Never ending Patience.  Respect for the type of animal he is ..   Birds are diffferent from any other pet  you may ever own. The entire Relationship is one of Trust and Respect. I always practice caution around children and the all knowing I can pick him up show off.  I do not allow them to practice their ignorance on MY BUDDY.   One stupid moment could undo all our harad work. 

If you are reading this diary and have rescued a friend yourself... Feel free to email me and share your experiences.  I love the bird world and the people in it. Most of All I love my Companion, Popeye..