Cockatoo Ed.

[fotografr]

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Dee,

I figured you to be a kind soul to birds and animals. I imagine Ed is set to take over.

 

You got it Bill. Ed's got her right where he wants her.

[tundraline]

He must be related to the alpine parrots (there is indeed such a creature) I encountered in the parking lot at Craigieburn, a small club ski area in New Zealand. These parrots were expert at removing rubber seals from car windows, eating rubber antennas, eating through convertible tops, chewing on car wiring, and so on. Unbelievably destructive animals.

[platypus]

That would probably be the New Zealand Kea. I don't think they are related to the sulphur crested Cockatoo (that's Ed) but obviously they are a big parrot with a similar mind set.

Big parrots seem to be too intelligent to be trapped in a bird's life style, they get bored so quickly and become destructive in an effort to keep themselves amused, then they're surprised when we humans become annoyed!

[paulsydaus]

I've heard that when they develop brown feathers on the chest, they've been eating too much human food like bread. Is that true?

[platypus]

I've heard that when they develop brown feathers on the chest, they've been eating too much human food like bread. Is that true?

 

I've never heard that, nor have I ever seen a sulphur crested cocky with any brown feathers.

We have a lot of these birds, hundreds at certain times of the year, but they are all wild and therefore don't get bread to eat. It could be true....or not.

[paulsydaus]

I only mentioned because in your picture the bird has some brown colour on the chest feathers... Could be an old wives tale...

 

 

I've never heard that, nor have I ever seen a sulphur crested cocky with any brown feathers.

 

We have a lot of these birds, hundreds at certain times of the year, but they are all wild and therefore don't get bread to eat. It could be true....or not.

[platypus]

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I only mentioned because in your picture the bird has some brown colour on the chest feathers.

 

So he has....being allover white it must be difficult for cockatoos to maintain an absolutely pristine appearance all the time.

Ed had probably just been down to the river for a morning drink and inadvertently got some mud on himself.

But anyway thanks for the warning, I'll be careful not to feed him any human food no matter how much he asks for it.

[paulsydaus]

There are great healthy food options that he'll love like those seed roll things.

[platypus]

I give him the packaged Wild Bird mix of seeds, it contains corn and sunflower seeds as well as a mix of smaller stuff including millet and some wheat.

He also likes the Finch mix that I put out for the smaller wild birds, but he finds the larger seed mix easier to pick up in his big beak.

He does okay, in fact he hardly ever leaves the garden these days as he has no need to.