For the last hour I've been standing at the door looking out past the covered deck and into our backyard. I love this view. I love it for the birds outside, our flowered Crepe Myrtle all in pink, my bonsai and plants on the deck.  And for Butters. Butters mandates an hour of time on my right forearm in front of this window filled door looking out. We do this once a day. She prefers the lunch hour. I think she inherited that from my own schedule. I walk away from the computer, and she jumps off her tree stand to call dibs on me.

She wants this hour for one purpose. To preen my arm, neck, ear, and shirt collar. I'm a mess obviously. She delicately and with a constant purr fixes me. I am a human without feathering. I fall short of beauty. She needs this time together. She craves it. It is important to her, it means something to her day and this action between us sends clear communication of our love, her safety, and the flock's health. 

Every parrot in this house has these Need Times. Personal communications between me and them. Little Winston, our male cockatiel, requires ten minutes of serious head scratches and neck fluffs every night at 7:30 pm. He loves his nickname, Little Winston. He likes the word "little". That word and that time tells Little Winston everything he needs to know about himself, us, and his flock.

It is imperative to create these moments and actions. They are the key to success in the bigger format of our companion parrot's physical and mental health. 

These actions will take time, and a little sacrifice. But then, all relationships require those investments. And like great love affairs, those around us will wonder if we are a bit crazy for it. You know those love affairs. We have all had them at least once. We end up doing some amazing sacrifices for our love. We deny ourselves, we change our schedules, and even beliefs. We become a different person in the name of love. Some of our friends think us crazy. Some think we are making a mistake or even wasting our time. And yet we carry on for our great love. At the end of the day, very few humans see this emotional overloaded investment for love as unusual. It's expected even. 

Because love is a need that proves purpose. Family cannot form without purpose. Flocks and family are first formed through love. And that love creates purpose. And that purpose needs reinforcement and fuel to grow. Need Time is that fuel.

A majority of issues can be wiped out with Need Time. And I mean issues of both parrot and human. Companion parrots crave Need Time. The best part of Companion parrots is the best part of Humans. Resiliency when offered love. They, and we, are amazingly resilient when we know we are loved. No matter the relationship issue for a flock, my prescription starts with love. Because we all need love.