The seed container's a rectangular plastic box, big enough to take two loaves of bread...
Usually I'll hold it by the short end because it's easier to not lose fingers if there's a distance between me and the bird if I hold the box out for it to grab a bite to eat from, ha ha.
One of the birds, in his infinite wisdom, used to jump up onto the box while I was holding it...
No warning was given... suddenly the bird would appear at the other end of the box, and begin helping himself... ha ha.
I'd carry him around the garden like that, as long as I didn't go too fast, and stopped every so often so he could squabble with the other birds, he was fine...
Put my hand into the box and scoop out seed for the other birds? That's fine, as long as he has his stash, he's happy, ha ha...
Now there's one who isn't completely confident, yet...
He stands there, fixes his gaze on me, crunches down then very nearly springs into action.... but not quite... ha ha...
Yesterday he had his wings slightly away from his body, as well...
He's building up to the big jump, but he's not quite sure, yet... ha ha.
If I open the door, the worst I get is a flurry of birds hopping out of the way... they're very considerate, ha ha...
Except for one, who's a relative newcomer...
His idea of the correct thing to do is to "Greet" me...
Loudly... ha ha...
To which, we then go through thirty seconds or a minute of my suggesting, in a calm and measured voice (having already found that yelling back doesn't work...), although sometimes with the use of expletives, ha ha, and he quietens down...
He's coming along well... it used to be that he'd scream the house down, but as the weeks have passed he's learning to be quieter.
It's just a matter of being patient, gentle, compassionate... Something in his past has left him, I'm not sure of the word... Damaged?
It's not up to me to try to rectify his past... what I can do, though, is provide him a place where he can feel that he doesn't have to scream...
Unless he wants to, ha ha.
If he yells, I'll go and talk to him...
Not every time, but often enough that he knows that he's not alone, ha ha.
One day I'll open the door and he'll smile, and I'll know that he's happy...
For me, that's what matters...
🙂
