“Do you remember…the 21st night of September?” has been one of the most iconic song openings for decades, as the R&B hit by Earth, Wind and Fire perpetually serves as a catchy favorite for dance clubs, movie scenes and TikTok clips alike. However, “September” has also gained wild popularity among an unlikely group: pet cockatiels.

One cockatiel in particular has taken a shining to the song to the point of obsession, much to the combined delight and chagrin of his owner. You see, Kiki doesn’t just like listening to the song, he sings and dances to it. Loudly. Over and over. At uncomfortable hours of the morning.

Kiki’s owner has shared multiple examples of her pet bird reveling in his favorite song, and it’s hilarious every time.

@kiki.tiel Send help plz wheres the off button on parrot #fyp #foryou #bird #cockatiel #parrotsoftiktok #birdsoftiktok ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

Send help plz wheres the off button on parrot #fyp #foryou #bird #cockatiel #parrotsoftiktok #birdsoftiktok ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

But Kiki doesn’t even need anyone else around in order to sing his favorite song. Here he is singing and dancing all by himself when his owner left the room and left her camera running to see what he would do.

@kiki.tiel Partying without me 🙁 #cockatielsoftiktok #birds #fyp #for you ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

Partying without me 🙁 #cockatielsoftiktok #birds #fyp #for you ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

As cute and hilarious as this is, it surely gets old after a while, right? It’s one thing to watch in a video—it’s got to be entirely another to hear it all the time at home.

It’s also not just a Kiki quirk. Apparently, “September” is a “thing” among cockatiels. Other cockatiels have been known to love it and sing it, though not quite as well as Kiki does.

Someone on Reddit asked why so many cockatiels love the song—one person even said it was basically the cockatiel national anthem at this point. No one knows exactly why, but this explanation by Reddit user nattiecakes is as good an explanation as any:

“Yeah, cockatiels genuinely like the song in a way they don’t universally take to many other songs. My cockatiel is 17 and early in life basically seemed to max out his harddrive space learning a little bit of La Cucaracha, The Flintstones theme, the phrase ‘pretty bird,’ and this horrible alarm clock sound that is similar to the hungry baby cockatiel sound. We thought we could not get him to learn anything else because they do have some limits.

Then ‘September’ came. Every cockatiel loved it. We decided to see if our cockatiel loved it.

I sh*t y’all not, within a DAY he whistled the first three notes, which is really all that matters. He hasn’t been able to learn more, but he loves it.

Now our African grey whistles it to him constantly. He used to reliably whistle La Cucaracha to our cockatiel when our cockatiel would get angry and upset, and our cockatiel would start singing instead and forget he’d been upset. But almost immediately our grey switched to using ‘September’ 90% of the time. Like, it’s so plain even to our grey that ‘September’ is the song to unlock a cockatiel’s better nature. I think the grey likes it a lot too, but he has many other songs he likes better.

As for why cockatiels like this song so much… all I can guess is it really resonates with their cheery vibe. I think the inside of a cockatiel’s mind is usually like a disco.”

It’s pretty clear that Kiki’s love for “September” is unstoppable. His owner even recorded him singing it in slow motion, which is really wild to watch:

@kiki.tiel #onthisday ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

#onthisday ♬ original sound – ✨ Kiki the cockatiel✨

Rock on, Kiki. Just maybe not so early in the morning.

You can follow @kiki.tiel on Tiktok for more Tiki musical serenades.

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

A single door can open up a world of endless possibilities. For homeowners, the front door of their house is a  gateway to financial stability, job security, and better health. Yet for many, that door remains closed. Due to the rising costs of housing, 1 in 3 people around the world wake up without the security of safe, affordable housing. 

Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has made it their mission to unlock and open the door to opportunity for families everywhere, and their efforts have paid off in a big way. Through their work over the past 50 years, more than 65 million people have gained access to new or improved housing, and the movement continues to gain momentum. Since 2011 alone, Habitat for Humanity has expanded access to affordable housing by a hundredfold. 

A world where everyone has access to a decent home is becoming a reality, but there’s still much to do. As they celebrate 50 years of building, Habitat for Humanity is inviting people of all backgrounds and talents to be part of what comes next through Let’s Open the Door, a global campaign that builds on this momentum and encourages people everywhere to help expand access to safe, affordable housing for those who need it most. Here’s how the foundation to a better world starts with housing, and how everyone can pitch in to make it happen. 

Globally, almost 3 billion people, including 1 in 6 U.S. families, struggle with high costs and other challenges related to housing. A crisis in itself, this also creates larger problems that affect families and communities in unexpected ways. People who lack affordable, stable housing are also more likely to experience financial hardship in other areas of their lives, since a larger share of their income often goes toward rent, utilities, and frequent moves. They are also more likely to experience health problems due to chronic stress or environmental factors, such as mold. Housing insecurity also goes hand-in-hand with unstable employment, since people may need to move further from their jobs or switch jobs altogether to offset the cost of housing. 

Affordable homeownership creates a stable foundation for families to thrive, reducing stress and increasing the likelihood for good health and stable employment. Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes with individual families, but it also strengthens entire communities as well. The MicroBuild® Initiative, for example, strengthens communities by increasing access to  loans for low-income families seeking to build or repair their homes. Habitat ReStore locations provide affordable appliances and building materials to local communities, in addition to creating job and volunteer opportunities that support neighborhood growth. 

Everyone can play a part in the fight for housing equity and the pursuit of a better world. Over the past 50 years, Habitat for Humanity has become a leader in global housing thanks to an engaged network of volunteers—but you don’t need to be skilled with a hammer to make a meaningful impact. Building an equitable future means calling on a wide range of people and talents.Here’s how you can get involved in the global housing movement:

Speaking up on social media about the growing housing crisis 

Volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build in your local community

Travel and build with Habitat in the U.S. or  in one of 60   countries where we work around the globe

Join the Let’s Open the Door movement and, when you donate, you can create your own personalized door 

Shop or donate at your local Habitat ReStore

Every action, big and small, drives a global movement toward a better future. A safe home unlocks opportunity for families and communities alike, but it’s volunteers and other supporters, working together with a shared vision, who can open the door for everyone. 

Visit habitat.org/open-door to learn more and get involved today. 

Many dog owners like to commemorate their fur babies’ birthdays with a party. But this doggy birthday party takes things to a whole new level. 

Lady, an adorable spaniel turning five, didn’t celebrate her solar return with treats or costumes. Instead, her mom, Kat, arranged for her and her canine friends to go on a backyard “sniffari.”

The sensory adventure featured fresh chicken eggs (the crowd favorite), as well as a small herb garden, old socks and shoes, a pile of sticks, and layers of cardboard with treats hidden between each layer. And of course, participants could refuel themselves at the “pup cup station,” where they’d be served whipped cream, aka “pupaccinos.”

The TikTok video racked up over 500,000 views online, and people couldn’t help but praise Kat for her grade-A dog mom skills. 

@ladyandthepamp_ It’s Lady’s world, we’re just all living in it 🥰🐕 #dogtok #dogparty #dogmum #doggo ♬ suara asli – Wafee ||| BARU BELAJAR NGONTEN – Wafee

It’s Lady’s world, we’re just all living in it 🥰🐕 #dogtok #dogparty #dogmum #doggo

“What a unique and thoughtful birthday treat for your pup,” one viewer commented.

Another added, “You rock as a dog mom I’m done. I thought my doggo was spoiled.”

Why sniffing matters to your pup

As PetMD explains, our dogs “see” the world through scent. They use their powerful noses to understand and interact with the world around them, increasing their mental stimulation while lowering their stress levels in the process.

@ladyandthepamp_ Lady’s sniffari in action 🐕 Thanks everyone for all the love 💕 she had the best day with her friends. I’m so happy so many of you have decided to try and recreate your own with your own dogs. Pressure is on for her 6th birthday… #dogtok #dogparty #dog #dogmum ♬ Alright – Supergrass

Lady’s sniffari in action 🐕 Thanks everyone for all the love 💕 she had the best day with her friends. I’m so happy so many of you have decided to try and recreate your own with your own dogs. Pressure is on for her 6th birthday… #dogtok #dogparty #dog #dogmum

So sniffing activities are like the upper echelon of enrichment. That’s why experts recommend owners be patient while taking their dogs on walks and even reward sniffing behavior. The olfactory fulfillment they receive from it is crucial to their well-being.

Of course, that was just the beginning of Lady’s birthday celebrations

@ladyandthepamp_ If she can live until she’s 100, it really would be the cherry on top 🥰🐕 #dogtok #dogmum #dog ♬ original sound – Kat and Lady 🐕💕

If she can live until she’s 100, it really would be the cherry on top 🥰🐕 #dogtok #dogmum #dog

She and her mom also enjoyed some pampering during a beachfront hotel stay in England.

In a heartfelt follow-up video, Kat was in tears as she shared, “I think I just peaked in life. My dog turns five tomorrow, and I’m just so happy.” 

We get it, Kat. We really get it. 

Fun ways to throw your own “sniffari”

Inspired by Lady’s celebration, pet parents can easily create their own scent-based party at home. The key is variety and curiosity. Scatter safe, dog-friendly items with different textures and smells around your yard or living space. Hide treats inside boxes,........

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