We lost Rogue today.

[Behind the Aegis]

He was a zebra finch. He was 10 years, 3 months, and 5 days old. Yeah, I raised him from an egg. We have had finches for a long time, but he, Aegis (who we lost a while back), and Antony, were the last of our finches when we returned to OK from New Orleans. I knew his time was coming because he had been fluffing for the past two months. I am actually a bit surprised he lasted this long. As per my tradition, I "buried" him in a tree so he can fly home.

We'll miss his chirping.

[fizzgig]

1. fly free, rogue

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Thank you.

He got his start from our Magnolia tree.

[catnhatnh]

2. Very cool...

...not a lot of people "get" birds, and even less finches-they seldom get U Tube videos....

So I truly sympathize with your loss. Your burial rite rings true.

Edited because I didn't read fully enough.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I always like finches.

I wanted one. My partner, now husband, didn't really like birds. But I kept up. Did he come home with a finch? NOPE! He came home with an $850 Blue-Headed Pionus parrot! We named her Willow. I eventually got my first finch though!

[catbyte]

3. I'm so sorry. They're all family.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Thank you.

Yes, they are. He was with us from birth. Moved with us to New Orleans, fled to GA with us, and moved with us back to OK. He would actually sit on my finger sometimes. I think he may have been confused about being a finch.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I'm so sorry. What is the normal life span for a finch?

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Thanks.

It can vary. Average is about 6-8 years. Some can live longer. In the wild, it is a bit shorter, but not always.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I am so sorry.

To have raise him from an egg means that he was very special. He had a long life.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Thank you.

His bunk mate, also a male, was also raised from an egg. It was the reason I kept them when I sold off my aviary.

[mopinko]

6. well you must be a really good bird keeper.

that is a long life for a little bird.

i love those little tweeties. i used to have a pair that sat right outside my bathroom door. they could not resist responding to the tinkle sounds.
i have a canary now, and his song is a constant joy.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. I try to be (I still have three brids).

I raised many finches. I kept really good records so I didn't have any interbreeding. It just got to be too much, so when we returned to OK, I sold off my aviary, except for the original ones I raised.

I used to have canaries too. Helios and Juno. Juno was a green canary. She actually would sing too. The only female variety that does (or at least that I found). She also would sit on my finger when I would clean her cage. I cried for days when she passed away.

Rogue was an odd one too. He also would sit on my finger when I would reach into the cage....sometimes.

[Omaha Steve]

7. I had parakeets when I was in grade school

A teacher was giving them and the cage away. I drew the long straw.

We went on vacation. So my maternal grandparents 2 houses away babysat them. They got so attached and enjoyed them so much, I never got them back. Didn't bother me a bit.

For Rogue

[Behind the Aegis]

18. That's a cute story.

My grandfather had parakeets too.

Thank you for the condolences.

[In_The_Wind]

8. There is something very special about love from a bird.

I'm sorry

[Behind the Aegis]

19. There is. Thank you.

People don't realize they have personalities too. Some have much more than others. Rogue was one of them.

[TorchTheWitch]

9. I'm so sorry!

I had my cockatele, Birdie, for 12 years. I still miss her. I buried her in a shoe box in the woods with the trees in the same sort of concept as your tree burial... so she could be with the trees.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Thank you.

Your method is more practical for a larger bird. When Caesar (pronounced in the Celtic way KAY-zar) died, I buried him under a tree.

[countryjake]

10. Hugs and peace to you.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. Thank you!

It is appreciated.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Ohhhh... I am so very sorry to hear this.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. Thank you.

I wish you could have seen my aviary. Alas, it is gone, like Rogue. Maybe some day you'll get up here to see my herd.

[magical thyme]

23. I'm so sorry for your loss...

I had zebra finches for many years. Miss their chirping as well.

[Behind the Aegis]

25. Thank you! They are underrated IMO.

I really do like their sound. They are just neat little birds. I was actually surprised when I looked outside one day, and could have sworn I saw a finch. Turns out, I was right! Oklahoma now has a population of wild finches! I am trying to attract them to the yard, but I have to be careful because we have some many birds of prey and I have little dogs.

[shenmue]

24. Finches are cute

[Behind the Aegis]

26. yes, they are!

I forgot I posted this pic.



The first finch is Rogue.

[livetohike]

27. So sorry for your loss of Rogue. Finches are such beautiful birds.

May every chirp you hear bring good memories of Rogue and all the years that you kept company

[QED]

28. So sorry for your loss...

I love finches. Such beautiful birds.