My new bird friend, Buddy.

[Akoto]

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I am physically disabled, and courtesy of my parents, Buddy is my new companion. :D

He's an 11-week-old Sun Conure. Very friendly, loves to play. His favorite food is dried papaya. As you can see above, he's repurposed my dad's hoodie into a cuddle burrito.

[Kali]

1. cute

you will be entertained well, they can be really loud but the clowning and affection mostly make up for it. A blue and gold macaw named Watson owns us.

[Akoto]

2. He does squawk and screech, but it doesn't bother me.

I grew up with parrots and other kinds of birds in the house, so I'm probably used to it. My mom used to breed them way back when. :)

It seems that Conures typically pick a 'favorite' who they prefer, and mom seems to think he's chosen me, which is good! He loves to be on me, to play, to be cuddled. I think he's a little confused, however, in that he keeps putting his beak to my lips and doing the 'dad, feed me' motion. Buddy's doing well eating fruit and seed, so my mom believes it to just be an affectionate gesture.

I'm really happy with him. We get on well and he gives me both companionship and a reason to get going in the morning.

[siligut]

3. Buddy is a cutie

And I love how he repurposed the hoodie.

[livetohike]

4. He's gorgeous! Will his colors stay that bright?

I've never had a pet bird :-(. I wish you and Buddy many, many happy years together!

[Akoto]

5. He will actually get even brighter.

They don't have their adult colors until they're about a year old. Before then, they have more green as a natural defense in the wild.

[livetohike]

7. Thanks!

:hi: Looking forward to seeing more pictures while he grows up.

[Lucinda]

6. He's very cool!

Three cats here so I wouldn't even try a bird, but I do love them. The hoodie cracks me up. :)

[RebelOne]

8. Really sweet looking bird. n/t

[Pool Hall Ace]

9. Oooh, how sweet!

Reminds me of little Grace, the parrotlet (I can't remember which DU poster she owns!). :)

[Kat45]

34. I'm the one owned by Grace.

Thank you for thinking of her, though she's much smaller than the conure: parrotlets are only 4 inches tall--but packed with personality. :D

[pitohui]

10. wonderful -- already a cuddler, this bird will be a great pet

conures are highly social, and buddy will make a great companion as long as you're aware that he truly prizes time spent with you, where he can see you and if he can't see you, where he can hear you

the sun conure is one of the most splendid of parrots or of any other birds for that matter

having watched conures in the wild i now have a better appreciation of how much it means to them to have their special friend with them, my first conure took me as his mate and it meant so much for him to spend time with me, even doing silly things, like typing on the computer or fixing dinner

[Akoto]

18. He already seems bonded to me.

He even puts his beak to my lips and tries to feed from me, as he would from his bird parents! My mom, a bird breeder in the past, says it's rather an honor as bird gestures go. ;)

[pitohui]

35. oh that's a marvelous sign

he has already accepted you as "the one" and he is trying to feed/care for you, it is a deep sign of love with a conure

[pacalo]

11. How sweet! I hope he'll be able to speak.

:hi:

[applegrove]

12. Pretty birdie!

[madrchsod]

13. i have a sun conure....they are great birds

you have a wonderful friend for many years to come. if i`m not up at a certain time he makes sure i hear about it.

[Akoto]

16. Yes, he already does that to me!

I don't go to sleep until late, so he typically wakes me up around 10am or so. :) I have a bath and then bring him out for breakfast on the table. He seems to like eating and playing while out with me.

[bluesbassman]

14. That's awesome!

Social birds like Conures are wonderful pets. Here's to many happy times with your new companion!

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. How cute!

[MiddleFingerMom]

17. A beautiful bird and already a good friend. I envy you (though I'd have trouble with the noise),.

.
.
.
From what Kali says about the alpha-beast nature of her macaw...
any of you with a cat/cats who think THEY rule the house obviously
don't have a parrot or something similar.
.
.
.
I'd like to see some before/after plumage shots when he grows up.
.
.
.

[Akoto]

19. I will hopefully remember to do that, as many want to see it.

My understanding is that, in the end, he will have less green and more orange/red.

[marzipanni]

20. He looks like a fun little friend!

I agree with Buddy, dried papaya is delicious, but I haven't seen any lately.

Have you seen 'The Parrots of Telegraph Hill?' I saw it on PBS several years ago and really liked it. I'm going to see if it's on Netflix.

Here's a 4 minute video about it-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OMiVruHMPA

[FloridaJudy]

26. That's one of my favorite movies!

Netflix has it. "Heart warming" isn't just a cliche.

Oh, and dried papaya is my favorite snack as well.

[marzipanni]

32. About 40 years ago I walked up the Filbert Steps on Telegraph Hill

It was such a beautiful place with bougainvillea vines and all kinds of other plants and trees on either side, and little cottages built on the hillside. It was fun to see that area again in the film.
I just looked at the Filbert Steps satellite view on Google maps, in street view (blue dots instead of a blue line) some good photos are displayed that people have taken there.

Have you had dried papaya that is thin slices, and kind of "leathery" and chewy?



I have only seen a different kind lately that looks brighter orange and kind of like candied fruit.

[KT2000]

21. beautiful bird!

He sure looks happy!

[lovemydog]

22. here's to many happy times

together.

I love animal companionship. I volunteer at a horse shelter once a week and really enjoy the horses.

[KC]

23. Buddy is beautiful

I hope you keep sharing photos !

[LynneSin]

24. Oooo look a Conjurito

Conjure + Burrito - Conjurito

:D

A lovely bird

[lillypaddle]

25. Buddy is a beautiful boy!

Good for both of you.

[Arugula Latte]

27. Beautiful and adorable!

Congrats on your new buddy, Buddy.

I'm curious -- do they live to a ripe old age like other parrots?

[Akoto]

30. Sorry for the late answer ...

My understanding is that, with proper care, they can live for 20-30 years. So, he's around for a while!

[TK421]

28. Beautiful! May he bring you happiness! I still can't go near my brothers Amazon

especially after a slight mishap when I tried to feed him a piece of pizza crust..in the blink of an eye he took a gash from my finger and I didn't even think I was that close to him..until I noticed blood dripping onto the kitchen floor. I think that one trusts me a bit more now..

maybe...that bird has some nice colors!

[Fire Walk With Me]

29. What an excellent bird. Glad you have a new pal!

:hi:

[GoCubsGo]

31. What a beautiful birdie!

I hope you will share more photos of him with us.

[Kat45]

33. That is so wonderful that you have this beautiful bird.

I'm sure you'll enjoy many wonderful times with him. The fact that the noise doesn;t bother you is a big plus. (I know how noisy sun conures are.)

[hibbing]

36. Awesome

Hi,
I have always wanted to try a bird, but they sound like a lot of work and I don't think I would be around enough to give one the attention it would need. I did read a fantastic book to anyone who has pet birds or is interested in them.

The Parrot Who Owned Me by Joanna Burger. It is a fantastic read about how she inherited an adult bird and how long it took her to get the bird to accept her.

Peace

[MrMickeysMom]

37. Looks like he's hooked on you...

So gorgeous !

[Enthusiast]

38. Isn't he beautiful!