California is on fire. You'll be relieved to know that as of 4 PM PDT, the animals at the San Diego Wild Animal Park are safe. Some of the more endangered animals have been moved to the Park's veterinary hospital, but for the most part the Park's fire break and irrigated areas have been well tended. The San Jose Mercury News has a brief article: "San Diego's Wild Animal Park animals are safe and staying put," from the Associated Press (10/22/07).

However, despite the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, a bunch of people who were forced to flee their homes and ended up at Qualcomm Stadium ended up staying out in the parking lots, because their pets were BANNED. This tidbit is also from the San Jose Mercury News, in the article "Southern California fires force evacuations from Malibu to Mexico," published at 6 AM PDT, 10/22/07.

What happened to the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which was signed into law a year ago? It requires that emergency preparedness plans include consideration of people with pets and service animals before a disaster strikes. Isn't it common knowledge at this point that people will put themselves in danger, rather than risk the lives of their pets? Isn't Qualcomm Stadium breaking the law by making these people stay outside an official evacuation center?

People can be so stupid sometimes.

UPDATE: I just got word from somebody in San Diego that there are some evacuation centers that are accepting pets. That's a relief.

Harley's interest in Second Breakfast has continued. He still doesn't climb down every day, but often enough that we'll call it "normal." In fact, today he even came down for Second Lunch — since I've started putting the Finster Mix in two dishes, for breakfast and lunch, so it doesn't sit out all day.

I realized that the photos I published a few days ago depicted plain seeds. And yeah, I'm still a little lazy sometimes, and don't always mix chopped veg into the seeds. But here are a couple more pictures, because Harley is so darn cute! I'm not convinced any of the birds actually eat the vegetable bits, but at least they're there.

This dish has "Spring Mix" added — some now-forgotten mix of organic baby lettuces and assorted greens.

This dish has lightly-steamed grated carrot, and chopped kale and broccoli stem.

We were having an early Indian Summer over the weekend, so we all went outside Monday afternoon, once it cooled down a bit from the high of 90 degrees F (32 C). While we may be able to take Harley outside a few more times this Fall, the rest of the week has been much more typical of Michigan weather this time of year: overcast, wet, and under 60 degrees F (15.5 C). Not quite so good for taking a bird outside, and very different from what Harley was used to in Texas.

The weather change has us putting up new lights, since Michigan can be notoriously dreary, and we're a little worried about Harley's pretty feathers. Taking a bird outside to get some sunshine is the best way to ensure a bird gets enough Vitamin D, and keeps their feathers in good shape. This could be a long, cold winter for Harley.

Not to worry. We have plans for new games and lights and things. Plus, a better outdoor space that fits more than Peanut's old cage is on the top of the list of things to look for in a new place. You know, if/when I ever win the lottery we ever move.

(I've taken a few other pictures of Harley outside, but I lost them on the old hard drive.)

The weather change also has us a little concerned about Oolong. We periodically watch one Finster or another, a little concerned about their health. Usually the worry passes, but we've both wondered about Oolong lately. I'm hoping it's just the cooler days, since there isn't anything obviously worrisome about her behavior. We've had her for three years now, we don't know how old she is, and she's getting very naked. Who knows?

On a more optimistic note, Ginger still totally hangs onto the ceiling with her toes, and dangles there!

Sometimes Harley can seem perfectly content sitting on one of his favorite perches, watching the Finsters, preening, dozing a little. Sometimes we'll talk to each other, or sing. Occasionally he'll want a drink of water, or a little snack, but mostly he'll just sit and relax.

Other times, not so much. He'll climb down from the perch in the kitchen twenty times in a minute, or call out to me in his voice that clearly says "You must tend to me now!" And then when I do, he's all "Well, that was interesting, but what will we do now?"

I'm not complaining. I knew when I started out this relationship that I'd have to work hard to keep him occupied. But I'll admit, there are some days when I run out of new ideas to hold his interest. After all, how many times can you reorganize your cookware (pops) — particularly when he gets tired of it after only three minutes?

So sometimes I'll just pull out one of his toy boxes, and (gently) dump him inside.

The verdict? Fun for about five minutes. Ta da!

You may recall that I started modifying the Finsters' diet shortly after Wasabi (Peas) died. I fed the birds reasonably well, but with all the deaths from liver issues, and deaths possibly from liver issues, I decided it wouldn't hurt to try something new. You can get some details in the entry "Is This Food?" I still don't have all the details down, but I never planned to do it all at once. And while I still can't tell if the Finsters are eating any of the new additions, they have a bigger variety available to them, which can only help.

Harley is a different story. Things I know he swallows regularly: cheese; macaroni and cheese (obviously); nuts — almonds, pistachios, peanuts, and the occasional cashew; eggs; safflower seeds; mashed sweet potato — only once though, after that he just flicked the stuff around; and colored pellets (he only eats the plain ones if I feed him by hand, so those don't really count).

Things I know he chews and drinks but doesn't swallow: thawed, frozen carrots; apples; fennel; the rib of bok choy; and the rib of kale.

If there is water clinging to this he'll drink it, and occasionally tear it up into bits: any full leaf of greens or lettuce I give him, carrot tops, a big bunch of broccoli, and fingers. Drinking is a really fun game!

Obviously, we feed him more things than this, and he probably eats more things than we realize. He isn't losing weight, after all. But for the most part, he seems to ignore an awful lot of food and food-like items. For example, I fix him his own mix of soaked and sprouted grains and beans, all of which he seems to ignore.

Unless, that is, it's the mix of seeds and grains that I feed the Finsters — in which case he climbs down from his perch to the kitchen counter and dives right in!

Not always, of course, but at least three days this week — when it just so happens that I've added this very same Finster Mix to his typical breakfast of toast, apple and assorted things to ignore — he has happily climbed down to the counter after his first breakfast, and eaten so much I've been worried the Finsters won't get any!

I let him eat it for a few reasons. First, because he's so darn cute! Look at that face! (Look at that nasty toaster oven! No wonder I thought of replacing it!)

Second, because it's good for him. And third, because he's so darn cute!

Who am I to complain, as long as he's eating something besides cheese and carrot juice? I'll just keep adding more things to the Finster Mix, so the little guys don't, you know, starve to death.