Ever wonder why they call it the birds and the bees?

So we have this bird....

We got him just about a year ago.

I don't know what possessed me.

We were at the fair and the girls were looking longingly at the parakeets for sale.

They hadn't even really asked me, but I knew...

I knew that they wanted a pet parakeet.

So before I could stop myself, I said, "Yes."

They were stunned.

So was I.

I don't even like birds...

I mean wild birds outside are cool,

but birds in the house?  Not so much...

I really hate those bird feeding exhibits at zoos.... ugh... shiver.

What was I thinking?

But he turned out to be pretty cool.

We fed him and loved him and called him George Mr. Abotty.

At Christmas time he tweeted along to "All I want for Christmas..."

That was amusing.

 He had a favorite toy.

A bell

He'd hit the bell with his beak, jump to another perch, come back and hit the bell some more.

As time progressed he'd ring that bell more and more and more often.

We joked and called it his girlfriend.

We didn't know how right we were.

A couple of months ago, it seems that our baby bird has come into his maturity.

And lately he's been... ahem... taking advantage of the poor bell.
(At least that's what he seemed to be doing... I'm no expert on birdie sex.)

It was weird and it kind of grossed me out.

The rythmic "ding ding ding ding ding ding ding" was more than I could handle.

I understand that a bird has needs... but I really don't want to hear it.  

So, after a rather vigorous bell ringing session, I had had enough!

"Get that bell out of that cage!"

I'm sorry, Mr. Abotty, but your girlfriend has left you.

 We've replaced the bell with a mirror.

I'm not sure that he's fallen in love with himself, but at least if he does, it will be far quieter!

Yes... I do have a couple of archived photos here... but I needed them.