Pet Parrots

Green is the color of Mean!

There's a being in my household that hates me with a passion. He is a green-over-grey four-ounce winged creature who thinks he is ten feet tall and bulletproof. His name is Dash. He's a Quaker, or monk, parrot. He can fly like the Green Hornet, turn on a dime, expertly land on the back of your neck, remove a chunk of flesh, and fly off with it, cackling madly. He has a favorite human in the household --Rick. When Dash is around, Rick must not be touched, looked at, or spoken to -- or else.

Dash speaks both Quakerese and human. I used to be a smoker so, in his language, he decided that my name was that nasty morning smoker's cough. He will tell me to "Be QUIET, Be QUIET, Be QUIET" if I speak too loudly. He is very sensitive to human emotional voice tone and volume. Like many parrots, his tribe is part of a flock. Body language, voice tone, and actions are always closely observed so that actions can be determined -- Should we fly and escape? Should we come closer and see if that is something good to eat?


Dash came to be my master because a family had purchased him from a pet store. They kept him for four years, but their lifestyle and his behaviors became too much for them to deal with. This is very common with pet parrots. They gave him to me, and he has been part of my family (and part of my heart) since 2003... even though he hates me. I suspect though that he doesn't truly hate me. I am merely the rival for his chosen mate, Rick, so therefore must be chased away. Parrots are emotional beings and form lifelong bonds with mates. Jealousy is
part of that bond.

Young psittacines must be taught by their parents to find food, escape predators, recognize threats and safety, so they spend much longer with their parents than do other birds. Therefore, the parents must form a strong bond pair to nurture their offspring. Humans love parrots for this ability to form strong bonds. It is, sadly, also why many parrots are given up for adoption. Simply purchasing a parrot is no guarantee that he will love you!

Quaker parrots have been kept as pets since the Europeans colonized the Americas centuries ago. These small grey-and-green parrots are native to Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil and Argentina. Quakers are very social in nature. They live in large communal nests built of twigs and sticks. They are the only parrot species which builds nests; other psittacine species typically nest in hollow trees. Quaker parrots are able to endure cold winter temperatures, despite their native climate. This has enabled escaped pet Quakers to colonize in the United States, even as far north as Brooklyn, New York. An interesting website about the Brooklyn colonies can be found at: http://www.brooklynparrots.com/

Quakers are illegal to be kept as pets in many U.S. states because of their ability to adapt to a variety of conditions if they escape outside. Thriving feral Quaker colonies exist in many states, including Texas, Florida, and California. No data exists that proves that they have devastated crops or displaced native species, but the risk with any introduced animal or plant is always present. For a list of state regulations on ownership of Quakers, please see http://www.quakerville.com/qic/statelaw.asp

As for us, we hope to continue to enjoy our four-ounce green entertainment center for many years to come.

Submitted by Sue Owens, Volunteer, World Bird Sanctuary.

Sue has a long history of working with parrots and understands their behaviors and needs. We strongly advise all prospective parrot owners to do thorough research into captive parrot behaviors and needs. They are a lifelong commitment and a great deal of time and attention needs to be invested in building a positive relationship with your parrot . In the coming weeks we will be featuring articles on responsible parrot ownership which will guide you in deciding whether or not a parrot is the right pet for you, and how to go about evaluating what kind of parrot would be best for you and your household.