The Wing Is Stronger

In this photo, you catch a glimpse of the injury to Friend's wing. It was from this vantage point that I first observed it. There was still some swelling in the joint, but he was able to flex it well enough to fly. Soon we were doing laps from the box to the music stand, music stand to the bed and back to the music stand again. Occasionally, he would rebel against being lowered into the box, perhaps enjoying his "play time" free in the room. Several times each day, he was allowed free rein for as long as he wished to fly and roam. When he was ready, he'd perch on the music stand and permit me to take it down. Held near the box, he would step onto the edge and hop down to his branch.

A new series of vocalizations had begun as well. In addition to the typical "CHURP!" note, he had begun voicing a tweety trill and as I recorded it in my notes, "a ch-thrrrrilll with a real buzz to it." He ate one big meal of sunflower seeds and diced raisins each morning, only nibbling the occasional seed during the remainder of the day. He still had a ways to go in his convalescence, but I knew that within a week or two, I'd be releasing my Friend into the wild.