A budgie’s favorite resting spot can be a little unpredictable: a curtain rod, the top of a door or, occasionally, someone’s shoulder. One feathered resident of a Brazilian household set a new standard when it chose a young girl’s braided hair as the perfect place to take a nap.
The girl, Valentina, was spending time with her family’s pet birds when one of the budgies wriggled between the sections of her hairstyle, made itself comfortable and showed no intention of leaving. Her father, well-known Brazilian animal trainer Russo, couldn’t believe his eyes. He grabbed his phone, and the clip quickly took off online, passing 10 million views on his Instagram account.
For a man who has trained everything from dogs to cockroaches, it takes a lot to be surprised by an animal. In an exclusive interview with Bored Panda, Russo shared how the unexpected moment unfolded, why the tiny bird felt so relaxed, and why he believes his daughter’s bond with animals may already be stronger than his own.
