Bringing Nigel Home

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:07 pm

I went and got my new canary last evening!

I think he is a he. He is yellow, with white tail feathers and a little black cap. 6 months old.
At first he just chirped and chirped - really loud, really repetitive, really annoying. I thought that I had made a mistake, all this repetitive, constant chirping is going to drive me nuts. My dogs, who had become used to the zebra's meeps, were really curious what this new sound was. This went on for 45 minutes or so.
Then silence . . .
Then suddenly Nigel starts tweeting and twilling, cheep, chirp, whistle, tweet, tweet, trill, chirp, whistle, etc --- so soft and so pretty; both dogs cock their heads like "What?"

I had to put my hand over my mouth, I was so happy and relieved and the dogs were cracking me up.
I did manage to control myself at the store, so the light orange canary is still there

.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:25 pm

Congratulations on your canary! They are lovely birds.

I bought a canary "pair" several years ago. Both turned out to be hens.

Fortunately, they both sing somewhat, when they're not "brooding". I would love to get a male in the future... but will wait til the hens have passed away.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:31 pm

All of this canary talk makes me want to get a pair!

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:31 am

Heh! It does, doesn't it? But I think I'll just stick with getting to know my new boy!

Congrats on your new canary!!! Post a pic! I want to see if he looks like mine!

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:44 am

Hey Rue,
Yeah, he does look a lot like yours. That's him in your avatar, right?

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:34 am

Yes, that's Mondegreen!

He LUVS his veggies...it's so funny to see him destroy them...

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:59 am

Nigel loves brocolli, I'm trying the different foods I've seen suggested here. The other finches like them too. The sproated canary seed is almost ready, we'll see if they like that.

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:32 pm

I love the name Nigel and good to hear that he is getting along well.

My canary is Ferdinand. His warning chirp is very sharp and piercing also, lilke Nigel's. I like Ferdinand's regular chirp though, it sounds like a cricket. His song is also very cheery, not as beautiful as my canary in the past, but full of gusto. I also had a variegated red factor canary a few years ago (who has since passed away) named Nicodemus.

I try and find canary songs online and play them (he and the finches are in the computer room). It's so funny to hear them try and outsing the computer.

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:45 am

Hoji, congrats on getting a new fid.
LOL at the dogs. I can imagine how surprised they must have been hearing the new sound in your house.

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:56 am

My husband recorded (downloaded) American singer songs from the Internet and put them on a CD that I play 5 or so times a week. It runs about 60 minutes and repeats two songs by two different birds (I think).
Nigel sits up, looks around, lets out a few warbling tweets, then flies back and forth. I hope this means he enjoys it and the other finches start singing too!

. His song is developing a bit. But if he never gets better (if he is actually a fairly talented she) I will not be sorry, he is so pretty and his little song so lovely just as it is.
He was one lucky find.