Our Birds

Nikki, a Blue and Gold Macaw is the eldest of the group and has been with our family since she was 5-years-old in 1997. She likes to play games – she places the marble into the cup, knows her colors, says “hello,” rings the bell and tries to sing along with me.

Keeli, born in 2005, and every bit what you’d expect of a Scarlet Macaw, is the show-off. He rings the bell until the cows come home (no, I don’t have any cows), spreads his wings in a great display of color, is the most likely to actually talk when I want him to and hangs upside down doing the “bat bird” trick.

Max is a three pound Hyacinth Macaw. Hatched in 2008, he is my gentle giant, allowing 50 or more children to touch him, one at a time. He will stand on a child’s arm, an arm so small that his toes completely reach around the arm. I have to bolster the hand so the child won’t drop Max. Yet Max will not “grab” that tender arm and is aware that his feet could squeeze too hard on the smaller arms. He waits patiently for me to remove him. He knows “be easy” and takes his cue from me. When he begins to tire, he simply rests his head against my arm and hesitates to step up. He snuggles and speaks many words for his age, including “banana,” “hello,” “I wuv you,” “mama’s home,” “ha ha ha,” and some others I have yet to translate. He is learning to ride the remote control car.

The Red Front Macaw is indigenous to Chile and nests in the clay cliffs. Because it is a cliff dweller it has the unique ability to hover in midair like a hummingbird. it is the only bird that digs for peanuts. The Red Front Macaw is a highly endangered bird because it has learned to dig for peanuts and the farmers are less than happy to lose their crops to these resourceful Parrots.

Cash, the green male Solomon Island Eclectus parrot (the red and blue is female) was hatched in 2006 and is my personal favorite. He specializes in stepping up to anyone with an offered hand. He says: “Lemme out of here!” “Gimme kiss,” “I ain’t no bird,” “Mama’s home” and “I love you.”

The Black Capped Caique (pronounced “cake”) is from the north side of the Amazon River. Hatched in 2011, she is the favorite “birthday bird” and steps up many, many times in an hour-long performance. She is less intimating for smaller children and does the “grasshopper dance” and the kids love her!

Ginger, on the left, is a Cape Parrot from the Cape of South Africa and one of the best talkers ever, mostly in the morning. She was hatched in Florida in 2010. African parrots are not always the best pets, but the Cape Parrot might be the exception, though they are highly endangered birds.

Fletch (right) is a Hawkhead parrot from the Amazon River basin. Hatched in 2009, he is one of our most intelligent and trusting parrots. He talks, sometimes on command, and will do anything we request of him. Hawkheads are determined, sometimes obstinate and stubborn; however, Fletch loves to perform. Hawkhead parrots are endangered birds.