TulsaPets Magazine January 2021

January/February 2021 • TulsaPets 27 where you can’t catch them.” When no owner stepped forward to claim the bird found at school, Evelyn and her family adopted her and named her Sprinkles. The Fowler family includes two dogs but is new to bird ownership. They have enjoyed getting to know Sprinkles and learning all about parakeets. “It’s fun to play music for her and figure out what she likes,” Elle said. “Right now, her favor- ite thing to listen to is ‘Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’ the NPR news quiz show. And we think it is because it has laugh tracks and clapping and bells and talking.” Evelyn added, “She has this weird thing where when she gets excited, she starts singing, and she starts bobbing her head and walking left and right—she dances!” Sprinkles stays in Evelyn’s room and enjoys being let out of her cage to fly around. She also has a playground, enjoys watching movies with the family and really likes taking baths. The family is planning to get a second bird to keep Sprinkles company once she is more settled in and bonded with the humans of the household. “If you get them a buddy right at the begin- ning, they’ll bond with that buddy and want nothing to do with you,” Elle explained. “So, our thought is when she seems really comfort- able with Evie and is doing well at being trained to go in and out of her cage on command and things like that a little bit better, then we think we will introduce another bird so that she has got a bird playmate to talk to during the day when we are not home. Also, she can help the other bird kind of figure out what to do, and they will both still be bonded together with Evelyn.” Evelyn has been working at training Sprinkles to step up on her finger, high five and handshake. “So far, Sprinkles does not have a treat she will be motivated by, so what I did to teach her stuff like step up is, I put my finger behind her and directly lifted one of her feet. She naturally put her other foot on, and then I said the com- mand,” Evelyn shared. “She is doing it on her own, and she’ll hop up even when I don’t say the command as long as my hand is in the cage.” Evelyn’s advice to other kids wanting to get a parakeet as a family pet is to have patience. “The main thing is that it is really important that you are patient with your bird,” she said. “They are not going to know immediately how to talk or how to do tricks.” Evelyn also said she was surprised at how easy it is to care for Sprinkles. A lot of websites make parakeet care sound complicated, but it has turned out to be easier than it sounds. “They need a few toys, food and water and a way to bathe,” she added. Elle agreed that the bird has been easy to care for, adding, “They are really joyful to watch.” Evelyn and Sprinkles FUN FACTS ABOUT PARAKEETS • Parakeets are indigenous to Australia where they are known as budgerigars or bud- gies. In the wild, they prefer to nest in hollow trees instead of creating their own. • There are more than 120 sub- species of parakeets. • Parakeets have four toes, two forward-facing and two back-facing toes. • Parakeets are very social, both with people and each other. Parakeets will bond and mate for life. They also enjoy human interaction, playing games and having conversations. • Parakeets are very curious and love toys such as puzzles and foraging games. • These little birds also love to climb and hold objects; how- ever, they do not use their feet to hold food when they eat. • Parakeets can be taught to speak. In 1995, Puck the Bud- gerigar held the record of bird with the largest vocabulary with more than 1,700 words, according to the “Guinness Book of World Records.” • Parakeets love water activities. A small container of lukewarm water every two to three days provides them a chance to bathe. Or fill a spray bottle with warm water, making sure to avoid direct contact with your bird’s face. • A parakeet’s beak is con- tinuously growing. Providing cuttlebone and chew toys will prevent overgrowth. Source: Petco.com