MANGO IS A FOUR MONTH OLD BABY COCKATIEL who sits next to my computer on a perch and keeps me company. I don't know yet if it's male or female. If an egg drops in my keyboard, I'll tell you. I think adult maturity comes at about one year. We are practicing singing and English lessons now. He's starting to find his voice with sweet cascading gurgles and affectionate gibber-jabber. I think this kind of bird becomes talkative at around 8 months. He's still finding his balance and dexterity as well. He's learning to strut and flap his wings for attention and perhaps to attract women. I think Mango is waiting to have a nude photo shoot with the right person.

Before picking up a couple of cute parakeets at a yard sale a few months ago, I have never had birds as pets. This is all new to me. The parakeets are "Catalina & Alijandro." On the other side of my computer monitor is a torquoise Beta from Thailand named "Charlie The Tuna." It's beginning to look like a jungle around here ;-)