Rain (on the left) and Shine are my two male cockatiels. Rain will be two in May 2003 and Shine is about four or five months older. Rain is a sweet bird who is always the one to be chased by everyone. He will sit on me forever if I let him. Shine has found a small dark place that he guards like a lion. His nest! Of course, no one around is available for nesting, but that doesn't deter him.
Shine is a second-home bird. It took about six months before he let me scratch his face and head. Cockatiels are mostly sweet, obliging little parrots who sometimes hiss first and ask questions later.
Rain and Shine were joined by two female cockatiels, Pooky and Fluffy. Pooky and Fluffy lived with a family whose young daughter developed allergies to bird "powder." The four share a large cage; the females lay eggs during breeding season, but they are infertile. The two males and two females are not interested in changing partners. Parrots are choosy about mates and friends. I guess, if they were human, we would call my four gay. Pooky and Fluffy lay eggs in the same place in the cage, then take turns brooding them. Sometimes Shine tries to sit on the eggs, too.
