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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 11h

My Stickyfrogs 2027 Calendar arrived yesterday. It looks like the best one yet, and definitely has 100 Percent More Staring! Highly Recommended for all Frog (sticky or otherwise) fans!

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 14h

Sorry, Splayo, but The Warlike Smalus won't be ignored.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

The Warlike Smalus (left) and Splayo are definitely dating (or something) despite their four-year age difference. It is possible that The Warlike Smalus believes that Splayo has simply taken over the important task of feeding her.

Splayo, a four year old blue and white half-English Budgerigar, perches next to The Warlike Smalus, a five month old lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow shoulders and head, and attempts to feed her. This is probably a courtship activity but it is unclear whether Smalus gets that.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Splayo (right) appears to be exploring the possibility of feeding The Warlike Smalus -- who, based on his/her cere, may well turn out to be female, despite displaying a more male attitude. It's too early to tell.

Blue and white adult half-English Budgerigar Splayo (right) tries feeding five month old lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Splayo (left), who is four years old, doesn't understand why his girlfriend Cove (right), who is four *months* old, doesn't get most of his jokes and references... But they bond over their shared love of birdseed, so that's OK.

Splayo (left), a four year old blue and white half-English Budgerigar, perches next to his girlfriend Cove, a four month old grey/black/white parakeet with a yellow head. They are both perched atop a white bird cage against a beige wall.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today, lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus has decided not to bite poor Splayolito's tail feathers and is chatting with/at him by the big water dish instead.

The Warlike Smalus (left), a lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow shoulders and head,chats with Splayolito, a splay-legged blue and white parakeet who is half English Budgerigar. They are perched behind a shallow metal water dish, and in front of a window, through which can be seen a green lawn and trees.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus is still willing to perch on a human finger once in a while - especially if the human in question is tall and can provide The Warlike Smalus with the highest perch in the room (making him,at least temporarily, King of the Birds)!

The Warlike Smalus,a lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow shoulders and head - perches on a human finger in front of white curtains and a window, through which can be seen green grass and a tall, healthy tree.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Today, lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus (left) is annoying the other birds by biting their tail feathers. This will not go over well with Pilar (right), who has no time for The Warlike Smalus's BS.

The Warlike Smalus,a lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow shoulders and head, prepares to bite the tail feathers of Pilar,an older yellow parakeet with green and black-barred shoulders. They are both perched on top of a large white bird cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Luna opened their fall tour in Chicago last night. I've seen them many times over the last 30-odd years and they keep getting better. Although I do my best to continue discovering new music, I will never, ever tire of this band.

Luna (bassist Brittany Phillips, vocalist/guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Lee Wall and guitarist Sean Eden) on stage at Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL, USA on September 16, 2026.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus has apparently figured out that smartphones can take pictures. How do I know this? Last night, when my battery was dead, he hung by his beak from the bird room curtain rod, swinging around for more than a minute. But will he do it again now? Of course not.

The Warlike Smalus, a ten week old lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow wings and head, perches on top of a white bird cage and defiantly refuses to do any of the goofy stuff he was doing when my phone battery was dead.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Four-year-old Splayo (left), who is half English budgerigar and half "regular" budgerigar, is thrilled to have a girlfriend after years of being ignored. However, his girlfriend is four-month-old Cove (right), who may not know what she has committed to.

Splayo, a blue and white four year old half English budgerigar (and half "standard" budgerigar) stands with Cove, a four month old grey, black and yellow parakeet with a white face and a yellow patch on top of her head. Splayo and Cove have exhibited mating/pairing behavior for the past week or so, although Cove will not be sexually mature for at least another two (preferably eight) months and may just be glad that someone is feeding her again now that her parents have stopped doing so.

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A Democrat should file a bill on Monday for everyone to get $5,000 checks right now to see if Mike Johnson, John Thune and congressional Republicans will advance and pass it. Call their bluff. Pass the bill.

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Reposted by George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Good morning from Lake Ontario. ☀️

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus was not willing to do anything silly for your entertainment today, but he did consent to pose for a dignified portrait (after which he attempted to chew on the phone).

The Warlike Smalus, a lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow wings and head, perches on a white bird cage in front of a beige wall. That's all.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus (right) has decided to spend some quality time with his parents - Hugh Oatcake (left, his mother) and Shadrach (center, his father) - neither of whom look anything like him.

Three parakeets perch on top of a white bird cage - - a grey/white/black-barred female, a green and yellow male, and their child, a mostly white bird with pale yellow wings and head.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Today, lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus is perching - on one foot - on the perch at the top of the big black cage, which is one of the highest points in the bird room. If nobody is sitting on the bookshelf, which is higher, he may believe that he is King of the Birds.

The Warlike Smalus, a ten week old lutino parakeet with a white body and a pale yellow back and face, perches on one foot on a wooden dowel perch that spans the open top of a large black bird cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Before Hugh Oatcake hatched four of her six eggs, our little flock had never increased by so many birds at once. It's been fascinating to see the older birds' annoyance at these young idiots who don't know the old ways or understand the (literal) pecking order.

Cove, a grey and white and black parakeet with a yellow face, and The Warlike Smalus, a lutino parakeet with a mostly white body and a pale yellow back and face, perch atop a white bird cage. These birds are siblings from two different egg clutches that hatched a few days apart. Both are a little over two months old.

Limoncello, a lutino parakeet with a white body and a pale yellow back and face, and Early, a grey, black and white parakeet, perch atop a white bird cage. These birds are siblings from two different egg clutches that hatched a few days apart. Both are a little over two months old.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus (left) and his slightly yellower sister Limoncello (right) tend to bicker and annoy each other if they spend too much time together... As indeed was the case shortly after I took this photo.

Two young sibling lutino parakeets - brother The Warlike Smalus and sister Limoncello - stand on top of a white bird cage. Both have mostly white bodies with pale yellow heads and backs. Limoncello'yellow coloring is slightly darker than her brother's.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Nine-week-old lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus continues to annoy all of the adult birds, either by landing on them, biting their tail feathers or just making a nuisance of himself. Here, he's about to get pecked by Fartwaffle (left).

The Warlike Smalus, a nine week old lutino parakeet with a pale yellow back and face and a white body, annoys Fartwaffle, a four year old yellow female parakeet with green/grey shoulders. They are standing on top of a large white bird cage, against a beige wall.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Bourke Parakeets Sweet Pea (female, left) and Schooner (male, right) are roughly halfway through their "enemies to lovers" arc.

A pair of two year old Bourke Parakeets sit side by side on a wooden perch in a white bird cage. On the left is Sweet Pea, a female, with a mostly pink body blue and white highlights on her wings, and a grey face. Schooner, who is male, has a blue and grey body with a pink belly and grey head feathers.

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Karly Kingsley @karlykingsley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

🎯

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Repeatedly over the last decade or so, older relatives and friends who've downsized or died have reinforced this lesson: your treasured stuff may not be valued by others and may even wind up in a dumpster. Has this stopped me from buying obscure limited-edition vinyl reissues?

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus may be almost nine weeks old, but he is not yet too grown up to visit his mother, Hugh Oatcake (behind him).

The Warlike Smalus, an almost nine week old lutino parakeet with a pale yellow back and face and a white body, visits his mother, Hugh Oatcake, a three year old grey parakeet with a white face. They are perched on top of a white bird cage, in front of a beige wall.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Thanks to The Warlike Smalus, the water dish is now just a swimming pool. Apparently they've all been craving a pool party.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

At eight weeks old, lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus has revealed that one of his ancestors was apparently a duck.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Say hello to "Fishing", which used to cause me no end of consternation (of the "Omg, a new #DoctorWho book" variety) when I spotted the spine or back cover in the rotating rack of my local bookshop. I eventually bought it to stop that happening.

The front cover of the book "Fishing" by J. H. Elliott, published in the UK by Target books (better known as the publisher of 150+ Doctor Who novelizations in the '70s, '80s and early '90s). It features a photo of a young boy wearing a green anorak, blue jeans and black wellington boots, holding a fishing rod and sitting in front of a large lake.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

It was worth hunting down some of my 20+-year-old gig photos to say this again: Rest in Peace, Glen Hansard.

The late Glen Hansard stands in front of a microphone, playing an electric guitar and singing. He's wearing a green button-up shirt, a white t-shirt and jeans. He's on a venue stage, some time between 2000 and 2005. I believe the venue is Metro in Chicago. Photo (C) George Zahora

The late Glen Hansard sings into a microphone during a performance with The Frames some time between 2000 and 2005. I believe the venue is Metro in Chicago. This is a close-up photo showing head and shoulders.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The men who cut the grass are working today, and The Warlike Smalus is vexed about that. This is HIS territory and he will repeatedly (and potentially painfully) bite the fingers of any would-be invaders.

The Warlike Smalus, a seven week old lutino parakeet with a white body and pale yellow wings and head, sits on a white window and looks out into a courtyard full of trees and grass and sidewalks. Men are cutting the grass today and The Warlike Smalus seems quite annoyed about that.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Eight-week-old parakeets Limoncello (left) and Early have never seen a thunderstorm before, and they are fairly certain that they do NOT approve of it.

Eight week old parakeets Limoncello (a pale yellow and white lutino/albino) and Early (black bird Grey barred with a white face and upper chest) sit on a white windowsill. Limoncello is watching a raging thunderstorm outside, while Early has looked away after being frightened by thunder. Outside is a grassy courtyard area with sidewalks and trees, surrounded by townhouses.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Seven-week-old lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus believes that he looks particularly noble perched atop the bird room curtains (which he is also slowly eating).

The Warlike Smalus, a seven week old lutino parakeet with a mostly white body and pale yellow feathers on his head and back, perches atop some white linen curtains. He fits neatly between two of the loops that attach the curtains to the curtain rod. Daylight is visible through the window behind him. A small hole, which he has eaten in the curtains, is visible by his right foot.

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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 21/07/2026

I think the Governor of Kentucky has every right and responsibility to either see Mitch or declare the seat vacant.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

At six weeks old, lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus is decidedly non-Warlike (other than being a bit bitey). In fact, he's the most cooperative of his siblings. (We're keeping the name, though.)

The Warlike Smalus, a six-week-old lutino parakeet -- he's mostly white, with red eyes and pale yellow feathers on his head and back -- perches calmly on the poster's index finger, in front of a large open-topped black bird cage.

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MC Squared @mcsquared.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Somehow death by natural causes is the only thing that’s been able to clean up America’s corrupt political machine

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

One of our birds seems to have figured out how to open cage doors, and has let Abednego (shown here) out. Abednego hasn't been loose in over two years. She's feral. Seriously, this is how horror movies start...

Abednego, a blue parakeet with black wing bars and a white face, sits on top of a black bird cage. Abednego is pretty feral and is normally kept locked in her cage, but one of our other birds seems to have figured out how to open the cage door.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The Warlike Smalus is turning out, ironically, to be the tamest of our four baby parakeets. Like his siblings, he is learning that (a) other adult birds expect him to feed himself, and (B) landing on top of other birds is considered rude, even if you are new to flying.

The Warlike Smalus, a five week old lutino parakeet (he is mostly white, with very pale yellow details on his face, back and wings) sits on top of a large white bird cage, near a black carabiner clip that holds a bird swing inside the cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

This lovely toad has started sitting outside our front door at night to feast on the bugs that are attracted by the light. I asked it if it wanted to come and live with us but it did not respond.

A very healthy dark brown American Toad, approximately four inches in length, sits on the concrete pavement outside our front door, where it feasts on the bugs attracted by the overhead light.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The Warlike Smalus has finally left the safety of the cage and joined his fellow parakeets in flying around the bird room and making messes for us to clean up.

Five week old lutino parakeet The Warlike Smalus, who is mostly white with a pale yellow back, sits atop a large black bird cage. A grey, white and black parakeet, possibly one of his siblings, is visible in the background.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

This is baby parakeet Cove - - younger sibling of Early and Limoncello, older sibling of The Warlike Smalus - - identifiable by her yellow forehead patch. She's very skittish and this is the closest I could get without spooking her.

Cove, a five week old parakeet with a grey body, black and white barred wings and a yellow face and forehead, sits uneasily on a wooden perch in the open top of a large black bird cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Now to find a suitable public place to flaunt my indie-rock (or, less flatteringly, old white guy music) cred by reading this...

This is a photo of the cover of the book, "If I Could Write Poetry", a collection of lyrics by Dan Treacy of Television Personalities, as well as pieces about Treacy and the band by various fans and luminaries. It's a mustardy yellow cover that includes a black and white photo of Treacy playing an acoustic guitar.

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Big Finish Insider @bigfinish.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Friends, colleagues and family pay tribute to Justin Richards, who sadly passed away at the weekend: bgfn.sh/jrRIP

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This is Limoncello, clutchmate, fellow lutino and slightly older brother or sister to The Warlike Smalus. Limoncello is deciding whether they want to climb this ladder (they eventually did).

Limoncello, a five week old pale yellow and white (lutino) parakeet, sits in the pine shaving-filled bottom of a large black bird cage, where he/she contemplates climbing a 12 inch wooden bird ladder. She eventually did climb it.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Baby parakeet The Warlike Smalus (it's from The Winter's Tale) considered making today the day he attempted to fly for the first time, but subsequently thought better of it.

The Warlike Smalus, a four-week-old pale yellow and white lutino parakeet, perches in the open doorway of a large black bird cage. A white food dish, a wooden bird ladder and one of his clutchmates, as well as a lot of pine bedding, are visible in the background.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Baby parakeet Early is up and ready to tackle a busy day of pretending to be an adult parakeet.

Early, a five week old grey, black and white parakeet, perches on the open top of a large black bird cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Say hello to The Warlike Smalus, the youngest of Hugh Oatcake's babies, who continues our tradition of naming birds after deep cut Shakespeare characters. (The warlike Smalus is mentioned in The Winter's Tale, and the name suits this guy's size and temperament.)

The Warlike Smalus, a four-week-old pale yellow and white lutino parakeet, sits in pine bedding at the bottom of a large black bird cage that, yes, needs a bit of a cleaning.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Say hello to Early, the oldest of Hugh Oatcake's batch of babies. "Early" may seem like an obvious bird name, but it's fitting as she is flying, perching and climbing well before her siblings. She is also almost identical to her mother.

Early, a five-week-old grey, black and white parakeet, climbs down a wooden bird ladder in a large black bird cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Baby lutino parakeet #1 is almost ready to tackle the big, wide world (aka our bird room)...

A five-week-old lutino parakeet - basically an albino, with red eyes and only white and very light yellow feathers - sits in the bottom of a large black bird cage, its floor covered with pine shavings.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

It's weird how baby parakeets look like weird alien dinosaurs until one day when they suddenly start looking like parakeets.

Four month-old baby parakeets - two yellow and white, and two grey, black and white - huddle together in the back corner of a wicker shelter at the bottom of their cage.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

The baby parakeets are doing well and looking more like actual birds (and less like tiny, freaky dinosaurs) every day. Amazingly, two of them appear to be albinos, although you can't really see it here.

Four baby parakeets, aged between two and four weeks, huddle together in the corner of their nest, a rubber-lined glass bread pan filled with pine shavings, topped by a sort of wicker hut. The babies are getting their Grey, black and white feathers, but the younger ones are still showing a lot of pink skin. Two of the babies have red eyes, indicating albinism.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

The baby parakeets are wide awake and looking around! (There are still four of them, but the littlest one is hiding in the corner.)

Three baby parakeets explore their nest -- a rubber-lined glass dish filled with pine shavings, protected by a sort of wicker basket with an open side. The three babies' grey and white feathers are starting to come in, but you can still see their pink skin. There's a fourth baby, but he is hiding in the corner.

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George Zahora Has Gone Beyond the X Dimension @georgezahora.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Our female parakeet Hugh Oatcake has hatched four of her six recent eggs, and the two oldest babies came out of the nest for "walking around practice" today.

A pair of three week old baby parakeets take their first awkward steps across an off-white carpet that, yes, is absolutely going to be vacuumed as soon as there aren't any baby parakeets exploring it.

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