AGES & STAGES
She was living some 3500km away and had asked me to keep her company for her homeward journey. The 4WD was packed and the roof top tent would be our accommodation. The last item to go in was Cherub, an aging, yellow budgie. Although owned by my daughter, the bird had spent several years at my house. I believe 11 is quite old for a budgerigar and we lovingly refer to him as geriatric. We decided that if the worst should happen, then he’d had a good life, he loved going in the car and he’d be laid to rest where his wild mates flew free. The logistics involved in transporting the bird required some thought. This was no day trip. It was a trek across the country where daytime
temperatures hit 40C. The airconditioned vehicle was comfortable, but rest breaks were planned with precision. Picnic-style lunches were in the shade with the bird next to us. We even lugged the cage to the beach before heading inland, the cage draped with a towel drawing some curious looks from fellow beach-goers. Supermarket visits meant finding undercover parking and shopping in a tag team so as not to leave the bird unattended. We kept fuel and toilet breaks short so the inside of the vehicle would not get too hot. Each overnight camp was shared with a different plague of insects. Mozzies, ants and flies all found us irresistible. A particularly long, hot stretch of highway turned the tent into a sauna. Cool nights were non-existent. The robust old bird seemed to take it all in his stride and looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. The trip was spent eating, preening, napping and watching the world go by. The bird did the same! On our last night, we opted for a motel room, sneaking the cage in with us. I wondered if this made me a geriatric, budgie smuggler. Thankfully we arrived at our destination safe and sound and Cherub is happy and well. Life is a bird-brained adventure!
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