January 5th is National Bird Day!
There’s no better place to celebrate National Bird Day than at the Parrot Garden at Best Friends Animal Society’s Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah; it’s a WILD party. The Parrot Garden currently cares for 136 parrots of all ages, colors, and sizes, including those from the Amazon, Macaw, Cockatoo, Conure, African Grey, Cockatiel, and Budgie family.
To celebrate our feathered friends, Best Friends put together a list of six fun and fascinating parrot facts:
- Can you hear me chirping? Parrot calls have been recorded at well over one hundred decibels.
- Every breath you take. Parrots have two airways to breathe and vocalize simultaneously, so they never have to stop for a breath.
- One smart bird. With intelligence thought to rival that of a three- to five-year-old child, parrots are always thinking and looking for ways to entertain themselves.
- Beak with a purpose. Parrots signature hooked beaks are built for cracking open nuts, breaking branches, and hollowing out logs to build nests. In the wild, those busy beaks would constantly be in use either foraging, preening, or using that booming voice to communicate with their flock across the jungle.
- Fit to fly. Parrots have circulatory and musculoskeletal systems that allow them to fly dozens of miles each day. Their flight focused physiology means a proper diet is crucial for a more sedentary captive bird. High fat foods like nuts, seeds, and fruits, can only be occasional treats for a healthy heart and a long life, which for some species can mean living over 80 years!
- He’s her lobster. Parrots are highly social animals who bond for life with a mate who they will virtually never part from. Because they are highly social, they also require a lot of one-on-one attention.
A parrot can truly be your lifelong friend. While a future with all parrots flying free in the wild is certainly one Best Friends hopes for, right now there are a lot of amazing pet parrots looking for loving homes.
With the right care and attention, these brilliant and sociable animals can make wonderful companions. They may have a voice louder than a police siren, but they also have the vibrant, charming personalities to match.
If you think a parrot might be right for you, check out Best Friends’ adoptable birds at https://bestfriends.org/adopt/
