Cora Cockatiel - Part One

Cora Cockatiel - Part One

Cora Cockatiel was a smallish yellow bird with light orange cheek patches and tufts of soft feathers that rose in a gentle wave from her head. Cora’s mother, born in the Land Down Under, was brought across the seas to this colder part of the world where she had lived in a large cage with several other cockatiels. 

It was sad that Cora’s mother could no longer fly free through the trees as she had in the Land Down Under, but she was fed lots of fresh greens and fruit and always had fresh water.   

Each pair of lovely tufted birds had their own clean and cozy nesting box. All in shades of grays and yellows with orange patches on their cheeks, the females had soft pastel plumage, and males were bright and bold coloured. They gathered in handsome pairs that whistled, chattered and squawked. Into this busy tiny world, Cora was born.

Cora had now been with Mr. and Mrs. Winkle for a very long time and was one of their favourite birds. She and all of her other bird friends were pets and companions for Mr. and Mrs. Winkle, a lovely little old couple on a tiny farm on the edge of a tiny town.  

One day, while Mr. and Mrs. Winkle had been cleaning out their many bird cages, Cora decided to fly outside just long enough to see what it felt like to fly across the small yard full of flowers and into the big old oak tree across the lane. She squawked a promise that she would be right back, but the old couple didn't hear her or see her fly out. Finished their cleaning, they went out and were about to lock the cage door behind them, when Mrs. Winkle stopped suddenly. Putting her short, but determined, finger to her lips, she looked all around and up and down.  Then she said to old Mr. Winkle   “Mr. Winkle, what have we missed?”

“Nothing at all, Mrs. Winkle.  We've cleaned all the floors and all the walls. The nests are all tidy, especially the ones that have eggs for hatching. All is safe and warm. There is fresh lettuce and new raspberries in the feeding trays. All the water cups have been cleaned and filled with fresh water.” He ticked each task off on his thick and gnarled fingers.

“But I just know something is missing, Mr. Winkle. Are all the birds in the cage?”

“Yes, my dear Mrs. Winkle.” He began a new list on his strong old hands. “There is Wally and Cora, Anthony and Bodelia. There is Wesley and Wanda, Andrew and Antonio. Then there is Everett and Evelyn, Cory and Connie, Doris and Douglas.........” By this time he had run out of fingers to count on. And he almost ran out of breath!

“Oh now, dear Mr. Winkle, you don't have to name off all the birds. I'm sure you're right.” She tucked her dainty, but work worn hand, through the crook of Mr. Winkle’s arm and, side by side, locking the cage door behind them, they went into their house.

Mr. Winkle patted his dear wife’s hand. "We'll have our supper and think about it this evening, Mrs. Winkle." Supper finished and dishes done, they retired to bed early to be ready for an early morning on the farm.

*****

Origins:          The Australian Continent

Original Species Name:  Nymphicus hollandicus

Average Size: 12 to 14 Inches long

(Information from cockatiel.com)

"Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free."

~ Paul Tillich