I open the door to the Finsterium every day for maintenance. While the birds aren't too happy about it, for the most part they're used to it; they don't stay on the floor, but they sit pretty calmly on the perches. But when I open the door to take pictures, they get a little panicky — fluttering, flapping, and Finstipations.

You wouldn't know it from this photo of Cassia (on top of the box) and Ginger (on the porch). Once they settled here, they sat pretty calmly while I snapped pictures. (And no, I can't really tell if that's Cassia or Cinnamon on top, but we'll say this is a photo of the two Finster Girls.)

This is Szechwan (Pepper), sitting calmly on a perch. I'm not sure whose tail is in front of him, but it might be Cinnamon. This photo doesn't show the top of his head, which has gotten pretty bald, poor thing; although it does show off his naked neck. Somebody sure does like to preen this bird (and it isn't me!). This photo also shows off his pretty breast feathers, so you can click here to see a close up of Szechwan (Pepper).

Frank, the old-timer, has been around since April 4, 1998, so he's quite used to me opening the Finsterium door and taking pictures. That's why he's sitting so calmly on the white concrete perch (remember when that was Evil?). There is exciting news in Frank's life, though: it took him about six years of watching the other birds, but he's finally learned to eat corn! He's such a good bird!

In a mild show of Flutterpations, here is little Oolong, hanging on the back wall of the Finsterium. She often hangs on walls, usually above and just to the right-or-left of a nest box with some Spice finches on it. She wants to join them, but she must be low in the pecking order. Don't worry, she spends time with lots of Finsters (including Earl Grey!), but she's a little timid when it comes to settling down.

Here's the photograph you've all been waiting for: Finstelarium! These are the photos I usually capture when I bring the camera into the Finster cage: pure panic, except they're usually out of focus. This one turned out pretty well, so you can click here for an extreme closeup of Finstelarium. Bruce glanced at this and wondered if I was taking pictures of Bird Pr0n — but no. Just Wasabi (Peas) in mid-flight, about to knock Cinnamon (maybe) off the perch, with Cassia (maybe) in back, and Szechwan (Pepper) in the front.

I'll have to try this more often!