Budgerigars have become one of the most popular caged birds worldwide. These bright, cheery, cheeky characters are entertaining mimics; they can be masters of observation. The meaning for budgerigar is supposed to be ‘good tucker’, however one would imagine them to be appetisers rather than the main course! They can certainly feed the soul with their antics as a reminder of FUN.
One Dreaming from the Kalkadoon people around Mt. Isa, Queensland[1], says the Great Spirit put the souls of two children lost in a bushfire into two parrots, to ease their mother’s heartache. Her companion, a Dingo, barked to warn her of this change in her environment but the woman, in her grief and unable to assess what the fuss was about, angrily struck the Dingo with a burning stick to quieten him. To this day, the Dingo does not bark, and all parrots chatter. If you listen, they really do sound like children excitedly talking. Budgerigar might point to the presence on another level of something you think you have lost. You haven’t; it’s just changed form!
If Budgerigar appears for you, is he caged or wild? Is he alone or with company? If caged, is Budgie content or unhappy, noisy or morose? Budgies are very gregarious birds and needing company (or perhaps an audience?!), do not breed well if only in a pair. Budgerigar caged and alone asks you to seek out an inner cage which restricts the expression of something you have which could be shared. What represents the bars of a cage in your life? How can you reach more people with your talents and skills? And how can you bring out qualities of showmanship, like our brother Budgerigar?
Budgerigar alone is like the single piece of a jigsaw puzzle – they naturally fit into a larger picture. Together they can form a bright, colourful, noisy cloud. Solo Budgies will be entertained by a mirror; however they will often quietly sit still and look very much alone / lonely. Do you seek company in mirrors? Free or caged, Budgerigar bring issues around the concepts of freedom and restriction in one’s life; self and one’s niche in a community.
Did you know budgies can see in the ultraviolet range? Here’s a fascinating short doco on the budgerigar:
And here’s another snipped on the budgie – the flock is amazing!
and it continues here with them evading a falcon:
[1] Thankyou to George Apps, previous manager of the Kalkadoon Aboriginal Sobriety House, Mt Isa for sharing this Dreaming.