fajrdrako | Pryde goeth before a fall...

My white budgie Pryde has been on a low-carb diet since the spring. She started gaining weight last fall, and lost her ability to fly. She has refused to come out of the cage, and pretends she doesn't notice when the door is open.

Until today.

I opened the door, and her cagemate Kaylee went flying happily around the room. Free at last! Caught up in the enthusiam, Pryde followed. She lost momentum halfway across the living room, and landed softly on the carpet. She wandered around for a bit, and started climbing along my computer wires, which I shooed her off - just in case she should decide to chew.

She explored the room occasionally taking off into the air, but from her position on the ground she couldn't get the lift she needed to fly up into the cage. A foot or so off the ground she'd go back down. She found many exciting things at floor level, occasionally going back towards the cage and looking up at it as is wondering how to get up there. I offered to lift her up, but she looked at me disdainfully. She is a budgie. Budgies can fly. They don't need to accept a ride.

Well, finally she got hungry and decided to swallow her pride. She climbed onto my hand and let me lift her slowly in through the cage door, where she delicately stepped onto her perch, and gave me a polite nod in thanks before going to the food dish.

I think she needs some exercise, not to mention stimulation. I was glad to see her trying to use her wings. Maybe soon she'll be flying properly again - if this attempt didn't discourage her.