Prema...
Prema means one who is full of love. This is sort of an inside joke for me because I am constantly trying to explain parrot behavior to people, often without any success. People often believe that birds are mean, nasty, or simply hate them. I patiently try to explain that while yes, some birds are mean, nasty, or just hate them in spite, most aggressive behavior is just a simple misunderstanding.
Birds reach with their beaks. Birds climb onto fingers using their beaks. Birds need to express themselves and if you aren't listening, the fastest way to your attention is in a nip. Often, as is the case with baby birds, they don't know their own strength. Getting angry with them will just upset them and hurt their feelings.Teaching them the difference between right and wrong is a lifelong challenge. There are sometimes minor setbacks. All this is similiar to having children.
The name Prema is to remind me not to get angry. She may be the embodiment of love, but she bites. People get really grumpy with God when horrible things happen and mumble, "If God really loves me completely, why does he allow this to happen to me." I'm trying to remember that the painful, difficult things that I sometimes have to deal with are neither good or bad, they are teachings. Things to be learned are all around.
Photo (above left): Upside down birdie. Prema is being taught to be handled. She gets praise and treats for being calm when I turn her upside down.
Photo (above right): Parrots like to be at the highest possible point. This represent the pecking order of a flock, with the head of the flock at the top. Currently, Prema's flock consists only of pillows and Pooh Bear.
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