I built the birds a perch, a while back.
It has a sturdy base and a couple of horizontal perching rails with plenty of room to spread their wings, if they want.
Up top there's a leafy (if artificial) canopy to make it feel a little more tree-like.
Of course, sitting on a perch isn't for everybody.
Give a bird an opportunity to go exploring...
He might be old, and sometimes I wonder how he makes it through the minus degree mornings, but neither have dampened his enthusiasm for seeking out new and interesting places to sit.
I cut out a couple of toy pattern pieces yesterday afternoon, then decided I'd take a break and went out to top up the bird's water and sweep the shelves ahead of putting down the possum breakfast. Because the shelves are above head height, I have to stand on an old plastic milk crate.
Having swept the shelf, I stepped backwards off the crate, onto a baby cockatoo. He's alright, apart from some literally ruffled feathers. I stepped on his tail, which is a bit like having your hair pulled - it hurts, and it's not a lot of fun.
Most of the birds are happy to sit and watch, possibly in fascinated amusement at me, but he likes to waddle around, and keeping track of him isn't easy. I won't single him out, all of the babies are guilty of waddling around and showing no concern for their surroundings, and hiding under benches, then suddenly appearing. They move silently, so there have been a few "Where did you spring from?" moments.
He's not shy, particularly, but he can be standoffish, and as we have proved, stand-on-ish, too, ha ha.
I made amends with him, so he's still my friend, if a little wary.
The next time I'm standing on the box, rather than step backwards I think I'll turn to the side and make doubly certain that the ground below is clear.
🙂
This little bloke is the one who likes to stay until the crack of dusk. He doesn't like the camera (looks down and scowls), but he likes the garden. This morning he wasn't exactly pleased - the bird baths were frozen over and he had to compete with the currawongs for the leftovers from the possum food. If he's going to make the effort of staying over, surely it wouldn't be too much to ask for a hot breakfast and running water? Ha ha ha. He's good value.
🙂
stand-on-ish, too 
No crawling babies or cats deciding to plop down just behind me anymore.
But still I check every single time, before I make a move.
I see it as self preservation now
DEB
LOL, Deb. 🙂
I remember a mate telling me about a six year old child standing at the bottom of a ladder. Not holding the ladder, because they'd been told not to touch it, just standing there. That must've come as a surprise to the person coming down the ladder...
Taking photos in the dark, lesson one -
Point the camera roughly in what you think the right direction is...
Take a photo...
Be amazed that it came out right!
This is the little bloke who likes to stay until it's almost dark.
Tonight, he's decided to stay.
In a tree? On a perch? No, on the side of a ceramic planter, with his tail barely brushing the ground.
All I can do is shake my head and reassure myself that he know what he's doing.
Sorry, the flash isn't kind, when it comes to glare.
He saw a water dish up on a bench, earlier on, so he jumped up onto the bench and walked over to the dish.
It was empty, so he looked at it and clicked his beak. I don't know what that means, but I think it might have been a criticism.
I filled the dish for him, and he had a drink. He could have waited until I'd finished filling the dish, but no, he wanted a drink, and he wanted it Now! Ha ha.
They worry frustrate me, sometimes. They know what they're doing, they know what's best for them, in their minds, and no amount of my pointing to perches or telling them that they worry me changes a single thing.
