as i write this, bentley is sitting on my husband's shoulder and dozing a bit. well, at least until my husband moves his arm, then he has a look on his face like "what the...? can you stop moving? im trying to take a NAP!"

he doesn't really care for me..he sometimes even tries to run towards me to fend me off from his cage, but i don't give him any attention when we makes these actions. he even gets a bad look from my husband, if he is there to see it. but overall, he's a great bird. i mean, he takes even the smallest treat from my fingers very nicely. he doesn't launch himself at me as long as i don't wear red around him (that seems to be a color that he doesn't think works for me).

bentley still has a bare chest and back, but we do see some feathers growing in. we are hoping that he keeps those feathers there, and lets the rest of the feathers grow in eventually.

bentley continues to be happily content spending time on my husband's shoulder. he will occasionally allow me to preen his head through his cage bars, but would rather keep me at a distance. i'm just glad that he doesn't try to jump on me as i pass his cage to get to the kitchen - he is definitely a well-behaved boy.

bentley doesn't like it when i wear red - it is one of those things that makes him even more resolved into keeping me away from him and his favorite person. it is funny that if my husband wears red, bentley is not in the least bit phased by it, but if i wear red...oh boy, watch out!

bentley loves to eat fresh sugar snap peas (pod and all), strawberries and, well, just about anything that he has seen YOU eat. he definitely has a good appetite and will try anything at least once.

bentley has been doing very well with me, considering he doesn't really care for me much (he just ADORES my husband). i have been starting him with targetting. he is very good at it, although most times it looks like he is running to attack it rather than just touch it. i will be working on this.

with targetting and a few pumpkin seeds, i have been able to get bentley to climb up on my leg (while sitting - legs out-stretched - on the floor) and sit comfortably on my thigh. i do think it is partially because he doesn't associate my leg to being a part of my body, but whatever works. i have not pushed the idea about being able to scratch or touch him. i have, however, been able to successfully scratch his head through his cage bars. (he bowed his head for me and i obliged!)

bentley does want to have his space when it comes to me, and i respectfully give it to him. but now, if he wants a treat, he has to work for it. after targetting, i plan on moving to holding a prop (like a ball or wooden ring) and later dropping it in something.

bentley will eat almost anything. so far, he has eaten sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots...its amazing. i guess it is that amazon hunger.

bentley playing with my husband...









i guess bentley had enough

the beautiful bentley...





here he is eating one of the first sugar snap peas i harvested today. the other bird ate it so fast i didn't get to photograph it, but bentley took his time and ate the whole thing - peas and all!

i tried targetting with him for the first time (since he was returned to mickaboo - i have done targetting with him when he first came to us and before he was adopted) and it seemed like he remembered. he went straight for the target. i hope to keep this up...as it can help our relationship.

bentley continues to be "in love" with my husband. he coos sweet nothings in his ear, until mama comes around (me) and he kinda gives me the "stink eye" to stay away, but if i do come a little close, or if my husband comes close to me with bentley on his shoulder, bentley rarely comes charging after me. whenever i do interact with him, i try to give him some treats to show him that i am not a threat. he has always been taking the treats out of my fingers very nicely.

note: he loves brown bread, pumpkin seeds, strawberries fresh from the garden, and raisins for treats!