RIP Clem

There are no good pictures of Clem.  It is most unfortunate because he was quite unique.   Clem was a small brown Society finch with a tuft of feathers on the top of his head that made him look like he was wearing a bad rug.  He had bulging Peter Lorre eyes and a posture like Quasimodo.

He was spunky.  He came to live with us in Novmber 2011 along with two other Society finches.  Flora and Roger were not unfriendly to Clem but they never really warmed to him either.  Clem was determined however, to be close to his brethren.

He had a injured wing and couldn't fly, so those first few days in his new home, he would climb the wall of the cage to join the others where they were perched.  (In time, his wing healed.) 

Flora and Roger died about two and a half years later.  Clem had other companions over the next few years who also died.  Society finches, in general, don't like to be alone.  Clem was a particularly gregarious Society finch.

That is Clem wedged in the middle.

Clem was enthusiastic about food.  Whenever a new fresh something would appear clothes-pinned to the side of the cage, he'd be the first to taste it.  The daily birdcage clean up routine around here involves removal of the seed cup for an hour or more.  When fresh seed was placed in the cage Clem would always rush to the cup even before the cage door was closed.  

I shall miss saying to him, "you starvin', Clem?"

That's Clem on the left.

In April 2016 a Society finch named Stanislaus moved in with Clem.  (Alas, there are no pictures of Stanislaus at all.  It's a pity.  He is a handsome bird, burly, dark brown back, pale underside, a large white patch on his head.) Clem and Stanislaus bonded strongly. They perched close together most all the time, bathed together, groomed each other,  murmured to each other....

This morning as Clem sat on the bottom of the cage unable to move anymore, Stanislaus stood beside him.  When Clem died, Stanislaus became agitated and flitted around the cage.  Clem's body has been removed.  Stanislaus now perches solemn and alone.