The birds are awfully fun to have around, and I really do spend as much time watching them as The Finster Log suggests! But after that first Year In The Lives Of The Finsters — from September 2002 to September 2003 — I've decided to spend more time on the birds, and less time on the blog.

Don't worry, there will still be stories to tell.

Peanut's favorite game is to hunt for snacks, anywhere and everywhere. Next up is biting cloth: either strips I hang in handy spots, or my clothes. He's never bitten a hole in the cloth — his beak might not be strong enough. Sometimes it looks like he's using cloth to clean his beak out, but he also seems to enjoy the feel of a big fold of cloth in his beak.

Another favorite activity, and possibly about even with biting cloth, is making spit balls: either from paper I hang in handy spots, or any nearby piece of paper that presents itself. I don't think he eats the paper, although I haven't been able to prove it. Thinner paper seems to be his favorite, partly because it's so easy to destroy, but he's also taken bites out of card stock.

This photo is of Peanut on his play gym in the office. The arrow points to the spot that I've blown up in the small photo — note the two half-circles where Peanut took a couple of bites.

Today, for the second time, Peanut climbed into his coconut. He squeaked, he turned around and around, and squeaked some more. It's very fun to watch.

It's happened before, it'll happen again:

In fact, I have a bird on my head several times most days. When we're in the office (me at the computer, Peanut on the perch of his play gym) Peanut lets me know he's ready to go by fidgeting, stretching up on his toes, fidgeting again, and finally, flying onto my head. That's what happened here, although he was happy enough to stay on my head while I went into the living room, got the camera, and took a few pictures. He's happy to stay on my head most times he flies there; Bruce calls me Peanut's bus driver.

...might make some birds healthy, wealthy and wise, but Frank and Sally aren't interested. They are always up, peeping to each other, the moment the first of the three lights on timers go on (whichever that happens to be). And they always stay up until the Finsterium light goes out — while the Societies all pile into their nest box when the sun starts going down. All the Finsters take naps during the day, so I wouldn't conclude that Frank and Sally are any more sleep-deprived than anyone else in the apartment. But the White-Headed Nuns have always been flightier than the other birds. Maybe they'd be party hounds, if given the opportunity.

You wouldn't think that sunflower seeds coud ever be evil, but when they're hiding around the corner of your house, tucked back just a couple of inches behind the tea towel that hangs on the back, that's just what they are. Pure, unadulterated evil. Apparently. Bruce discovered this "game," which I'll admit is pretty funny. Peanut stares, shakes his head, yells, stares some more, and just leaves them there, until you move the seeds just a half inch closer to him. Pretty funny. Click here for a close up of Peanut trying to stare the seeds into submission. One day, I'm sure he'll learn enough mind control to move them himself.

I got Bob the ficus tree shortly after I got Peanut. It was part of the spoiling process. But it turns out Peanut never liked Bob too much. I've put toys in the tree, and snacks, but for the most part, if I manage to get Peanut to stand on Bob, he'll only stay there long enough to fly home. But today, he flew from the office, into the living room, and got a little stuck in Bob. Click here for a close up of Peanut in Bob.

Frank On top of the first nest box from the left with Sally. But now, still there.

Sally On top of the first nest box from the left with Frank. But now, still there.

Tea Sitting on the white concrete perch. But now, on the top right perch, singing his Hunka Hunka Burning Love song, and dancing his Hunka Hunka Burning Love dance.

Earl Grey On the top right perch. But now, snacking on soaked seeds.

Goober Sitting on the porch of the fourth nest box from the left (not counting the Evil Plastic Nest Box). But now, on top of the left seed tower.

Bosco Snacking on soaked seeds. But now, snacking on soaked seeds.

Darjeeling Inside of the fourth nest box from the left (not counting the Evil Plastic Nest Box). But now, inside the fourth nest box from the left.

Decaffeinated Sitting on the top right perch. But now, sitting on the edge of the water dish.

Peanut On my head. But now, on my head.

Driving along a four-lane, island-in-the-middle, fairly busy road — although not during rush hour — I saw some Canada geese trying to get at something at the edge. Cars were being pretty good about slowing down a bit, and driving around them, but the situation was destined for trouble. There was an office park along the road, so I pulled into the parking lot to check things out. Turns out there were apple trees growing on the complex, and the geese were eating them. Walking carefully so I startled the geese away from the road, I got the apples out of the road, and smashed a bunch of them to make them easier for gooses to eat. Of course, the fruit will keep falling, but for now, the geese are safer.