photo credit: flowerdreamy.blogspot.com
Quick Facts About Parrots
Parrots are a medium-sized group of birds that are best known for their extremely bright colored feathers and their unique ability to talk and mimic sounds (a-z animals, n.d.). There are hundreds of different species of parrots and they can be found in nearly all of the warm climates across the globe. The largest diversities are generally located in Central America and South America. All parrots have curved beaks and are zygodactyls, meaning that they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward (National Geographic, n.d.). Typically, parrots feed on fruit, seeds, nuts, flowers (when in the wild), some vegetables, and insects (when in the wild). Take a look at a few species of parrots in this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7g0lDLcEKE.
Parrots as Pets
photo credit: www.petcaregt.com
As stated by National Geographic, parrots have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical. Parrots are not considered domesticated like dogs or cats. Their nature is very much the same as if they were in the wild. Parrots can chew through your walls and furniture, scream to their heart's content if not trained properly, make a lot of mess, are constantly active, require a diverse and varied diet, and they are very expensive to care for (Avian Welfare Coalition, n.d.). Parrots are social animals and require daily socialization and attention. Even though these behaviors seem a bit pressuring, you can train your parrot and teach them right from wrong. A marvelous advantage with training and teaching your bird is that they can talk and understand what you're telling them. What makes parrots bond to their owners even stronger than a cat or dog is that they live very long. In fact, the largest of the parrot species, the Macaw, has been known to live for up to 80 years.
Parrots are amazing creatures. Unfortunately in the wild, many species of parrots are becoming endangered because of the growth of many predators and the destruction of their habitats like the Amazon Rainforest. The best way to help these birds is to help save the rainforest and other habitats as well as create a more captive method of living for them to protect them from becoming extinct. The more captive parrots that find homes within families, the more that can be saved and have a promising life and future. Do you think that you would be interested in owning a parrot? If the answer is yes, there are many certified aviaries all over the country that would love to give baby parrots a good home. If you would like to know more information on parrots or owning a parrot, read 10 Facts About Owning A Parrot by Rebecca K. O'Connor.
Works Cited:
Parrots are amazing creatures. Unfortunately in the wild, many species of parrots are becoming endangered because of the growth of many predators and the destruction of their habitats like the Amazon Rainforest. The best way to help these birds is to help save the rainforest and other habitats as well as create a more captive method of living for them to protect them from becoming extinct. The more captive parrots that find homes within families, the more that can be saved and have a promising life and future. Do you think that you would be interested in owning a parrot? If the answer is yes, there are many certified aviaries all over the country that would love to give baby parrots a good home. If you would like to know more information on parrots or owning a parrot, read 10 Facts About Owning A Parrot by Rebecca K. O'Connor.
Works Cited:
a-z animals. (n.d.). Parrot.
Retrieved March 20, 2013, from a-z animals:
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/parrot
National Geographic. (n.d.). Parrot. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from National Geographic:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/parrot/
The Avian Welfare Coalition. (n.d.). Keeping Parrots as "Pets". Retrieved March 20, 2013, from
The Avian Welfare Coalition: http://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/pets.htm
You bring up a very interesting argument here. The more captive parrots there are, the more popular they become, right? And the more popular they become, the more they are hunted? Or are they bred in captivity? How are current parrots in pet stores and sold acquired?
ReplyDeleteYou have brought up in this post something that I have wondered about: what happens to pets like Macaws that live such a long time? Is there a big secondary market for birds from owners who pass on? Also, how expensive is owning a bird, and, finally, I'd love to see another post that highlights the ethical nature of owning a pet. Of course, I have two dogs, and I've always wondered whether we do more harm than good to actually "own" pets. What do you think?
This is a very well thought out blog post. Not only do you provide the reader with videos and well accredited sources you leave them with additional sources to read if interested in owning a parrot.
ReplyDeleteLast post you talked about how all pets need a home, although parrots are not as domesticated purchasing a parrot is not as difficult as projected in the post. Maybe an additional post talking about what happens to the birds that dont find a home or even as the professor mentioned a secondary market for the longer living birds. I really enjoyed the sense of persuasion that was sensed throughout the post, being the owner of two cats I'd love to be able to teach my cats right from wrong and have them understand instead of the usual blank stares.
Great post!
I liked your post very much. There was so much in here I did not know. I thought parrots only had three toes but its actually four, wow. After reading your post, I got interested in adopting a parrot. I have a dog and a cat, and both of them are not that interested in learning. If I try to teach them something, my dog just waits to receive a treat and my cat just ignores me. Maybe a parrot is what I need, because I enjoy teaching animals and it seems parrots like to learn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting.