Derek wrote:
> On 17 Aug 2006 08:54:28 -0700, " > wrote:
> >
> >What should she do with the sexually aroused cockatiel? Fling it
> >against the wall? Shake it hard? Throw it back in its lonely cage?
>
> Respect its animal status and get it an appropriate mate,

You don't get it. The reason humans hand-rear young birds, not
allowing females to nest and nurture their own offspring, is to get
them to bond with humans INSTEAD OF other birds. It makes them "better
pets", since birds who grow up in a flock aren't too keen on humans
reaching in and grabbing at them.

If you put a strange bird into a cage with a bird unaccusomed to
members of its own species, one of them is going to get hurt and very
possibly killed.

It would be difficult and probably impossible to undo the damage that
has already been done to this old cockatiel. Karen is making the best
of a heartbreaking situation.

> gently put it back in its cage where it can either calm down

Sexual instincts dont just go away, Derek.

> or do what it wants to do on a soft toy.

The bird sees Karen as it's mate and many birds are strictly
monogamous. It would have no impulse to treat a toy as a mate.

Besides, you can't give birds "soft toys". They would immediately rip
it apart and eat the fibers causing serious intestinal problems. Birds
only get hard toys, either hard wood which simulate tree branches and
are wholly digestible or plastic toys which most birds ignore.

>What she shouldn't do is debase it or herself by allowing it to masturbate on her
> hand.

What a prude! Sexual behavior in animals is not "debasing". Someone
else destroyed this cockatiel's ability to relate to his own kind,
that's debasing. If Karen is willing to offer this poor creature an
outlet for his frustration, more power to her. Anyone who cares about
her animal companion would do the same.