Among the gems within: The early German naturalist explorer Alexander von Humboldt wrote of encountering, during his travels in South America toward the close of the 18th century, a parrot that was the last living repository of the language of the extinct Atures Indian tribe.
Wonderful article. Half way through the article I took my parrot out of his cage and played with him even though he had just been out an hour before.
I have misgivings about people keeping parrots as pets because of the possibility of something happening to separate birds from their human flock. Lacking other parrots, a parrot bonds very tightly with human companions. I will need to live to 90 to have a good chance of outliving my parrot and my parrot ending up in a shelter years from now with strangers would not be a good outcome if he outlives me. He is 13 now, BTW.
I considered off and on about getting a parrot, but every time I read articles like this, it puts me firmly back into the "shouldn't get one" camp. I'm always shocked at how people can pay so much for one and then treat them so poorly. They're wonderful creatures, but I don't know if I can take on the responsibility of having something that's like a child that never grows up.
I'd probably feel a little guilty for also keeping a (tamed) wild creature in a cage. However, all the legally purchased ones in the United States at least were born here, so it wouldn't really be taking it from its wild habitat.
Crows would also make a fascinating pet, but having one as a pet would be illegal in North America[1].
For what it's worth, just because they can live very long doesn't mean they always live very long. If you buy a cockatoo when you are 70 years old, it will probably outlive you, for instance, but inheriting birds is not a usual thing. I got this from the person I bought my Senegal Parrot from - he said "plan on 15 years", and he's been supporting birds for decades.
Incidentally, birds are weird, weird pets. They become intensely attached and loyal, but discipline differently than any mammalian pet. If you do get one, find a good dealer that has a lot of experience, and spend time around their existing birds.
From what I know, most birds have a need to bond with someone. If it isn't another bird (parrots of different species can bond), it becomes their owner (or someone in the owners family). The bird picks who they bond with, so you might be the owner, but it doesn't always mean they bond with you.
You sort of replace their mate in the wild. That means they can also become a little jealous of other people when they vie for your attention.
He was 3 when I bought him at the bird store I worked at.
His name is Casanova, which is ironic because he doesn't like women except for me. He's a manly bird for manly men, but I have a motorcycle so I guess that makes me acceptable.
He was a lot more aggressive a few years ago. Since I started working him with a glove (for the same reason falconers do, protection and better footing for the bird) and making him wear a harness to go outside, his attitude has improved considerably.
"The day after she left active service, the helicopter she had flown in for the previous three years crashed in severe weather into the side of a mountain, killing six of her former crewmates. Devastated by the loss and overcome with guilt"
Yep, that'll do it. "People die, you feel quilt.
" That's a Hal Moore quote. [0],[1]
Among the gems within: The early German naturalist explorer Alexander von Humboldt wrote of encountering, during his travels in South America toward the close of the 18th century, a parrot that was the last living repository of the language of the extinct Atures Indian tribe.