Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
My male purple honeycreeper just died today. I've had him and his green female cagemate for at least 12 years, but I have no idea how old they actually were. I got them as full-grown adults from an aviary keeper in CA. They were never what I'd call a bonded pair, but they were generally compatible. At least they gave each other company that spoke the same language and behavior they could understand.
They lived in an 8'x4'x8' mesh aviary indoors. One of the more important criteria for each of my houses has always been how well that aviary would fit (the realtor I used to buy and sell my previous two homes was always amused about that). I knew the birds were pretty much geriatric by this time and the male had suffered periodic events of unknown origin that left him unable or unwilling to fly for a few hours at a time. No exotic bird-savvy vet care available here which is a major reason I won't get any new birds in future. Not fair to them and in this case all I could do was give him some privacy and peaceful surroundings and watch my little friend leave. Trying to catch, handle, or treat him for an unknown problem would just traumatize him. Both sexes of honeycreepers sing, but the male's song is more complex, much like a winter wren. It was soft and beautiful background music and beauty every day.
I don't know how "lonely" the female will be from now on, but I'm sure she'll miss having anyone to engage with. The male would freely come right up to me as I arranged their food and water every day, but she never has. She was the suspicious one and the first to raise a stink over anything she didn't like. Maybe that stubborn toughness will help her adjust now. She's being very vocal now, almost as if she's stepped right up and commandeered the aviary for herself. Anyway, here's a photo of another keeper's male honeycreeper. All I know is my heart is really, really missing his gentle little presence!
Here's a photo of another male honeycreeper.
They lived in an 8'x4'x8' mesh aviary indoors. One of the more important criteria for each of my houses has always been how well that aviary would fit (the realtor I used to buy and sell my previous two homes was always amused about that). I knew the birds were pretty much geriatric by this time and the male had suffered periodic events of unknown origin that left him unable or unwilling to fly for a few hours at a time. No exotic bird-savvy vet care available here which is a major reason I won't get any new birds in future. Not fair to them and in this case all I could do was give him some privacy and peaceful surroundings and watch my little friend leave. Trying to catch, handle, or treat him for an unknown problem would just traumatize him. Both sexes of honeycreepers sing, but the male's song is more complex, much like a winter wren. It was soft and beautiful background music and beauty every day.
I don't know how "lonely" the female will be from now on, but I'm sure she'll miss having anyone to engage with. The male would freely come right up to me as I arranged their food and water every day, but she never has. She was the suspicious one and the first to raise a stink over anything she didn't like. Maybe that stubborn toughness will help her adjust now. She's being very vocal now, almost as if she's stepped right up and commandeered the aviary for herself. Anyway, here's a photo of another keeper's male honeycreeper. All I know is my heart is really, really missing his gentle little presence!
Here's a photo of another male honeycreeper.
We get so attached. Hopefully the female continues to thrive on her own
What a beautiful species of bird. I love that you’ve prioritized their space and well being and sounds like he had the best life with you. Hopefully your little female will adjust well and maybe she’ll become a little more daring. (((
)))
