He taught me many things about birds. I learned from Munchkin that birds are intelligent, have problem-solving skills, and have a wide range of emotions. He, and the parakeets, have always been exceptionally good at navigation. When in a new environment, they look around very carefully, take a couple of exploratory sorties, and then seem to know from then on where everything is. As to emotions, his crest indicated many - anger, depression, alertness, happiness, contentment, annoyance, anxiety. He expressed varying degrees of each.
Munchkin loved visitors. Some birds don't like strangers, but Munchkin welcomed them. He had immediate reactions to people. He would either fly to a person's shoulder and watch their every move with interest, or if he wasn't sure, he would sit on my shoulder and observe from a distance. If he felt someone was trustworthy he would even sit on their hand. If he wasn't sure, he would yell at the hand if it made any movements towards him.
I learned that if I was observant of his behavior, he would communicate to me his needs and wants. For example, I would often give him a treat before I left the house or RV. If I forgot to give him the treat, he would squawk to get my attention, then turn his head to look down at his food dish with one eye. He "trained" me to respond appropriately!
Munchkin loved showers with Lee, and he understood the word "shower". Lee would say the word, and Munchkin would fly to his shoulder. He didn't like my showers though, and generally ignored me when I announced I was taking a shower.
I think I mentioned that he knew what was involved in preparing his favorite foods. He would get very excited when he saw me retrieve a tuna fish can from the cupboard or pull out the popcorn popper. He had to be put in his cage for his own protection if I was cooking chicken, eggs, or pasta.
Munchkin adored head scratches, but only when he was in the mood, which was at least twice a day, sometimes five times a day if the opportunities presented themselves. He had a soft little chirp he would make when I scratched his head, indicating his delight. If he didn't get a satisfactory head scratch one day, he would want one twice as long the next day. His sense of time was impeccable in this regard.
Munchkin would say "Hello pretty bird", but never on demand. He would often say it if he felt I was sleeping in too late, and he decided it was time to get up. He knew it would result in a response, because I always echoed a "Hello pretty bird" back to him. He made me laugh, and it got me out of bed every time. He could also wolf whistle, and for awhile he knew the theme song to Close Encounters of a Third Kind. He and I would often play a game where we whistled back and forth to each other, trying to match the other's tune.
I met Lee three months after Munchkin came into my life. At first Munchkin wasn't sure about this new person, but eventually he and Lee became best buddies. I will be forever thankful to Lee for treating Munchkin like a friend, and for understanding him in the same ways I did. It takes a special person to truly respect and love a small animal. Birds require respect. If you respect them, they will respond. Lee respected Munchkin as an equal.
I especially appreciate that in the last few years, as Munchkin slowed and became more fragile, Lee allowed Munchkin to sit on his shoulder and snuggle up against his neck. Lee and Munchkin had a routine they went through each day which required at least some nap time for both of them. Lee would sit for hours reading or working on his computer while Munchkin slept in the warmth of his neck. I was still working after Lee retired, so they enjoyed this special time together while I was away each day. When I was home, I moved too often and too fast for Munchkin to keep up, so Lee was the perfect alternate.
Thank you, Lee. I don't know how I can ever thank you enough for being such a good friend to Munchkin.
I am not sure I would ever own a bird again, although perhaps the lessons I learned from him made his domestication worthwhile. Birds are meant to fly free, not to be constricted by the walls of a house or by the habits of the people with whom they live. I was always very aware of this, and of how much the quality of Munchkin's life depended upon me. I tried to make his life as happy and as comfortable as possible. It was my duty, my pleasure, and my very great honor to assist him in any way I could.
Farewell Munchkin, dearest friend. I know you are flying free now.
