Waking Up

Canaries are supposed to need total darkness for a set period every night, so I always cover Jack's cage up with a big beach towel around nine at night.  He seems content with this.  Most of the time he is almost silent in there.

I have to admit I sometimes wonder what he's doing, but no matter how quietly and carefully I try to peek, when I can see him, he is always sitting there with his eyes wide open looking back at me.  Maybe that's what he does, sit there wondering what I am doing.

Yesterday I woke up and looked over to see that I hadn't pulled the towel completely down.  Jack was down on the bottom of his cage, head cocked to one side, looking at me!

I try to uncover him every morning at nine, even if I'm not ready to get up, but if I sleep in, there is a problem.   I can sleep with him flying back and forth across the length of his cage, but his bathing habits are a little harder to ignore.

One morning I was awakened by someone flicking water in my face!  I had taken Jack's swimming pool out of his cage, but he had gotten down in the water bowl and then climbed out and flicked water all over me -- several times!  It was difficult to believe he didn't know what he was doing!

I suppose by bird standards sleeping in is a dangerous thing.  They don't see well in the dark, so once it is light it is time to be up and at 'em.

I, on the other hand, see just fine and if I can't get to sleep, am sometimes awake at 3 AM.  I don't appreciate the water, but I actually love it when he sings.  Lying in bed listening to that sweet voice warbling away is a beautiful slow way to wake up.

Life is pretty good when these are the things that I am thinking about.