For us, every New Year itinerary is the same: 1) Fly back from visiting family in landlocked Arizona, and 2) “fly” as fast as we can, via MetroNorth, to Bird Camp, a bird boarding shop on East 53rd Street in NYC, to pick up Kuno (our 20-year-old African Grey parrot and blog avatar) and “the pinks,” Floyd and Isadora (Australian Rosy Bourke parakeets).

Bird Camp is tiny storefront between 1st and 2nd Aves. You have to ring the bell for admission (prevents winged escapees!)

Jan. 2: Roz, the owner, beams as Alex says “Hi!” to Kuno (and vice versa).

New York City is a very noisy place, and Bird Camp is one of loudest within it. Rows and rows of “campers” line the walls. And just like people camp, they all go home singing new songs. In the video below, Kuno bobs excitedly and reconnects via The Andy Griffith Show theme (we always whistle it in the original key of F, by the way!) and Floyd and Isadora are politely escorted to their carrier. (Click white arrow to play.)

Kuno, Floyd and Isadora are regulars here. Name tags at the ready.

If the tag didn’t say so, Kuno certainly would.

Kuno in his “backpack.” Ready to take the train home (birds ride free!).

Alex and Kuno say “Good-bye” to the other campers.

Bird Camp recently created new business cards featuring happy customers. Anybody look familiar??

Happy 2015 to you and your family, from all of us at 2G3K  🙂