FinFin makes strange noises when he flies!

[tanja]

Hello everybody,

I am wondering if that is normal. Yesterday was one time when I got FinFin out of his cage and he stayed with me on my chest, on my finger and my shoulder. But then he began to fly around, because he wanted to go back to the closed cage! He landed on the floor, he had not a long enough range, from where I stood with him to the cage. Then after the landing he started flying up again and towards the guest bed left beside my desk and this was, when he suddenly made these strange noises while flying. It sounded really strange. Like a clicking and gurgling noise with every wing flap. This was the first time I ever heard that noise! So it sounded kind of strange for me. But what is also funny is, whenever he jumps from his down perch to the up perch on the right side, he makes a noise that sounds like a "uh" He does not make it, when he jumps down to the perch, only when he jumps up. I am wondering if that are normal sounds for Budgies, or if anybody else heard these before!

[phoebe]

I'm thinking that it's time he goes to the vet. I've never seen this before but noises like what you describe can come from the lungs and that's not good.

[tanja]

phoebe, the thing is that he does it not always. He was flying before and I did not hear that sound. It's also hard to describe, it could also sound like a giggling while flying? Hard to describe. He was flying the same evening before and no noise was heard. Maybe he was exhausted from not being used to fly for longer times? Well I will keep an eye on him, because he doesn't seem sick, even though he is very unadventurous, would not come out of the cage himself. But I wouldn't say he is sick, from the sight of it. Today he is quite active actually, jumping around from perch to perch I will see what to do, if I continue to hear that noise when he starts getting used to flying.

[ffiscool]

Can you maybe try videoing so that it records the sound,to put in here?

[tanja]

ffiscool, It's not like it's very obvious when he does the sound or not. But I will try next time I get him out of the cage and if he flys a longer distance, if he does it again. I will do something else. I have a microphone here and when he is out, I could let it record the whole time, so I do not miss it. Then I will have only the sound but no video. If that is ok?

[ffiscool]

Definitely and lots on here know loads, so might be able to identify the noise.

[phoebe]

Good idea, if you can get it on video maybe someone will have had the same experience and have an idea. It may take some work to get it on film obviously. Good thing he doesn't seem ill though.

[Hezz]

Regarding the "uh" sound Finfin makes to jump up, don't worry about it. I am almost positive that this is simply an effort sound, he has to try that much harder to get there with his wings clipped. My little fatty makes this very noise when she jumps onto my shoulder from lower down. Smudge doesn't have the excuse of clipped wings, unfortunately.

[tinker]

Is his flying getting worse over time? If so it could indicate his is becoming gradually unwell with an illness and is weakening.

[OP]

Sorry Tinker but FinFin is flying high in budgie heaven.