Look what I caught

[Jen]

Yesterday Holly came over and while we were outside she thought she heard a budgie or something not near the avairy but up near the house. I had thought I had heard something earlier in the day too but just put it down to a native bird that I hadn't heard before.
Anyway today I was home sick with the flu and cleaning a bird cage in the laundry when I heard it again and right outside was a lovebird sitting on the fence. It flew down near the avairies when i openned the door and then later when I was hanging out the washing it flew down near me but the dogs scared it off. I went down near the avairies and it was sitting on the front of one so I squirted it with a hose and pounced on it.
I have no idea what I am going to do with it as we don't have any spare avairy space. But it's a real cutie and doesn't even mind being picked up.
Can anyone tell me what colour you call it, i know its not the standard peachface as its face is white with grey cheeks. I have never owned a lovebird before but getting quite attached to this little one. It seems fairly young too.

[Silvercloud]

Can't help on the mutation but it is a real cutie.

[bubbles]

Its a dutch blue. How lucky that you found it before something else picked it off. All i ever seem to do is lose lovebirds not find them.

[Jen]

bubbles said:

How lucky that you found it before something else picked it off.

I agree Bubbles. We have heaps of Kurrajongs, crows and Golden Whistlers who just love to chase and/or eat cute little birds like this. Not to mention "the crazy womans" cats that live up the road and have dared to enter our yard when they think the dogs are asleep.

[Matt]

Well done! Not usually easy to catch a lovebird, luckily he is quiet! I agree with Bubbles that it is a dutch blue, I have one the same here. Looks like you might catch a lovebird bug now, hahaha.

[Natenla]

What a lucky find! It is a real cutie! And such a pretty colour to! you know you would only need a budgie sized cage to keep him as a pet

[Jen]

Well now we have two! Another one came around this morning which looked like it had the full "peach face" but that was a bit shy and couldn't get close to it. But I saw another one hanging around also so I put the one we already had outside in a little budgie cage and Rob managed to slowly creep up to it when it came down to talk to its friend and he caught it with the net. It is the same as the other but there is no peach colour at all. I suspect it is even younger as some of its beak is black. Do they start off with black beaks and then fade like the eclectus do? And does the peach colour on top of the head come later or is this one different and won't get it at all?
Oh and you are right Matt, I am getting the lovebird bug, actually we had thought about getting some when we move and have more room, so this has just given us a head start!

[Silvercloud]

Wow, sounds like some escapees that might be from the same aviary. Don't know anything about peachies so can't help you on age etc.

[karen]

Real cute little one!
Better check out the local paper as it looks like someone has lost a few and might be looking for them.

[Jen]

yeah our local paper isnt very big so we wouldnt miss a lost notice in there.
If we hear of anyone having lost them they will certainly be returned.