Laura and Salty's story is part of a series on Hawkesbury people and their pets, featuring the work of Hawkesbury Gazette and Courier photographer, Geoff Jones.
LAURA Sultana hadn't planned to buy a budgerigar the day she walked out of Kellyville Pets with Salty.
Her beloved blue boy, now two-and-a-half years old, was a shoo-in, reminding her of the first Salty who came in to her life and lived to the ripe old age of 10.
"It was impossible to leave without him so I took him home," Laura said.
Salty suffers from anxiety, but he's right at home with 22-year-old Laura, her mum and her dad at their Vineyard property.
"He must get it from me," said Laura.
"He takes a long time to warm up to certain people, but once he knows someone, he gets very attached.
"I can probably compare him to a five-year-old toddler. He's very demanding. We can't eat anything in the kitchen without sharing it with him.
"He'll fluff his feathers and flap on his perch until he gets fed - which is three meals a day, sometimes more, mind you he does have his own food in his bowl."
His favourite meal is breakfast. "Every time the toaster pops he starts squawking," Laura said.
Salty likes to sit on top of the television and talk to himself. This week, he's been helping Laura wrap Christmas presents, putting his stamp on each gift in the form of chew marks in the paper.
"He likes to watch me do my makeup, he sees it to be very fascinating. Budgerigars are a very curious breed," Laura said.
Salty has helped Laura through some challenging times.
"He can definitely tell when something's not right for me. He gets that little bit more affectionate towards you. He'll sit with you that little bit longer," Laura said.
"I'm an only child, and that companionship is very important to me."
The original Salty was named after Laura's dad who got the nickname based on the family surname.
