Socar's Law of Packbawky Participation

Socar's Law of Packbawky Participation: The lovelier the music, the more enthusiastic the avian response. This refers not only to the personal effort put forth by each bird, but to the number of birds involved. When plied with a particularly delicate melody, outside birds may join the domestic chorus, screeching their enjoyment from nearby trees and windowledges. These guest performers often express their thanks with gifts: "Loved the nifty tunes. Here's a nice coat of whitewash for you."

That is to say, this morning's presentation of Die Fledermaus has been brought to you by Clemens Krauss and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, accompanied by Messrs. Yellow and Snagglebeak, Misses White and Blue, and Messrs. Crow, Starling, Starling, and Gull. Thanks a lot, ladies and gentlemen. I now have a fair idea of how German operetta might sound, performed by Eminem, Toni Basil, and Britney Spears.

This burdie, all fetching and meek,
Is nowt but a rotten wee sneak!
He's out to deceive--
You'd never believe
The things that come out of his beak!

This is me trying to comfort Mr. Snagglebeak after he decided the best way back to his mates was directly through the bars of his cage. Poor wee sod was hysterical. Unfortunately, he didn't seem too taken with me, either--about two seconds before this picture was taken, he bit me right on the thumb. He did it again two seconds afterwards, and at two-second intervals till I returned him to his perch. I'm not entirely sure what to do for him. He can't go back in with the other birds till his mites have finished clearing up, but twenty-three days on his own is starting to seem rather cruel. Maybe he just needs more toys.

Looks rather sweet, right there, doesn't he? Fact is, he's cheeping away like a Scot at a rummage sale. Please note the conspicuous lack of bird-lime on his towel. I've been risking life and limb, here, to clean it out by hand every few hours. You'd think he couldn't peck too hard with that mite-burrowed beak, but you'd be wrong! He's got a mean wing on him, too. It almost feels like Stella's come back to the Rat's Nest.