crossing the rainbow bridge

[Carlton]

My male purple honeycreeper just died today. I've had him and his green female cagemate for at least 12 years, but I have no idea how old they actually were. I got them as full-grown adults from an aviary keeper in CA. They were never what I'd call a bonded pair, but they were generally compatible. At least they gave each other company that spoke the same language and behavior they could understand.

They lived in an 8'x4'x8' mesh aviary indoors. One of the more important criteria for each of my houses has always been how well that aviary would fit (the realtor I used to buy and sell my previous two homes was always amused about that). I knew the birds were pretty much geriatric by this time and the male had suffered periodic events of unknown origin that left him unable or unwilling to fly for a few hours at a time. No exotic bird-savvy vet care available here which is a major reason I won't get any new birds in future. Not fair to them and in this case all I could do was give him some privacy and peaceful surroundings and watch my little friend leave. Trying to catch, handle, or treat him for an unknown problem would just traumatize him. Both sexes of honeycreepers sing, but the male's song is more complex, much like a winter wren. It was soft and beautiful background music and beauty every day.

I don't know how "lonely" the female will be from now on, but I'm sure she'll miss having anyone to engage with. The male would freely come right up to me as I arranged their food and water every day, but she never has. She was the suspicious one and the first to raise a stink over anything she didn't like. Maybe that stubborn toughness will help her adjust now. She's being very vocal now, almost as if she's stepped right up and commandeered the aviary for herself. Anyway, here's a photo of another keeper's male honeycreeper. All I know is my heart is really, really missing his gentle little presence!

Here's a photo of another male honeycreeper.

 

[GrannyK]

Oh I’m so sorry. What a beautiful bird. I know it’s not him but still a beautiful species. We get so attached. Hopefully the female continues to thrive on her own

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

My condolences. The Honeycreepers in your avatar and picture are spectacular.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[DocZ]

I’m so sorry
What incredible animals

 

[MissSkittles]

I’m so sorry. What a beautiful species of bird. I love that you’ve prioritized their space and well being and sounds like he had the best life with you. Hopefully your little female will adjust well and maybe she’ll become a little more daring. ((()))

 

[Carlton]

Update on my remaining honeycreeper. Her behavior definitely changed for a while after the male died. I watched her like a hawk, hoping I wouldn't see her just sitting quietly somewhere uninterested.

To liven things up for her, I began playing environmental soundscape CDs from around the world. Started collecting them years ago to play at work while struggling to write very complex, long-winded environmental damage assessment documents. Put on the headphones and take myself to Borneo or wherever. I have soundtracks of weather, rivers & streams, bird and other wildlife calls from Africa, Madagascar, Australia, SE Asia & Indonesia, north, central and south America, Middle East and a couple from Europe. Most of my birds usually reacted to the sounds of rain or running water quite a bit.

Anyway, she now seems almost as active as she always was though the house is definitely quieter. She rarely sings but is physically active. It's a relief to see she isn't too bored living alone. I normally don't feed outside birds year-round, just during the hardest part of winter to give the permanent resident birds a little extra. Leaving feeders up in summer tends to habituate local bears. That just gets them shot by less tolerant scaredy-cat neighbors. This year I've left the feeders up to keep more birds around. My honeycreeper gets to watch and defend her turf. I just have to remember to take the feeders indoors every evening just in case.