Meet Charlie

We have recently started training one of the World Bird Sanctuary’s newest residents and education birds at the World Bird Sanctuary Nature Center.   Charlie the Harris’ Hawk is only 5 months old, and he is one of the first Harris’ Hawks to be hatched at the World Bird Sanctuary in a decade. 

I am super excited about working with Charlie because 1) he is so young and curious, and 2) he is the first bird I have really gotten to train as a Naturalist.  When we received Charlie at the Nature Center, his name was added to the board.  Under his name it said “Trainer: CS, Secondary Trainers: DG, KM.”  Wait a minute, KM are my initials!  I get to train my first bird!  Charlie and I are both fairly new so we are going to learn together.

This photo is a bit of an optical illusion—do you see a raptor or an odd duck-like looking creature?  It’s just Charlie with his head turned a bit upside down.  If you don't see the raptor, try tilting your head to the side.(photo: Kelsey McCord)

  

Training has so far involved eating food out of the glove, walking around, and crate training.  Eating food out of a glove may sound easy, but when you are as curious as Charlie it can be difficult at times.  There is so much to see and hear that food just isn’t always top priority.  Charlie is always turning his head left, right, up, down, and even upside down to see what is going on around him.  Be it people talking, other birds, insects, or leaves, Charlie has to check it out.

We are also walking Charlie around on the glove so that he is comfortable around people.  He has even appeared in a few special WBS programs; Amazing Animal Encounters and Birds in Concert.  In the Amazing Animal Encounters we explain to the audience that they are helping us train Charlie simply by not running up to him, which a bird could interpret as a threat.  By walking Charlie around groups of people he is learning that he is safe and can trust his trainers and the circumstances.  He has done awesome so far and seems very comfortable around people.  He has even roused (fluffed out his feathers), which is a sign of comfort, at the Amazing Animal Encounters.

When Charlie gets his adult plumage he will look more like this photo of Sheldon, an adult Harris’ Hawk.  (photo: Kelsey McCord)

We are really working hard on crate training with Charlie right now.  We place a piece of meat on the lip of the crate, followed by a small trail of meat leading to a small pile of meat inside the crate.  Charlie steps onto the lip of the crate, eats his snack, then either travels another step in for more meat or turns around ready to get back on that glove.  We then start over: bring some more meat toward the front and put him back in front of the crate.  The more we do this, the more comfortable Charlie will be with his crate.  The further in he goes the better, but going in and out of the crate several times is good, too.  My favorite session was when he went all the way to the back of the crate for me.  He immediately came back to the entrance, but it was a huge step in the right direction.

Once he gets comfortable with being in the back half of the crate we will work on closing the crate door, for just a second or two at first, but then a little bit longer each time.  Charlie will need to be comfortable being in a crate so that he can travel and participate in programs.

Charlie still has a lot of training ahead of him, but he is making great progress and seems to be having fun along the way.

Submitted by Kelsey McCord, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Charlie

It is with a sad heart that we must tell you that Charlie, our sweet little Thick-billed Parrot, passed away on March 10. The reason Charlie died is unknown, but our vets are working hard to figure it out.

Charlie was rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from a facility where he and three other Thick-Billed Parrots were being held in captivity by individuals dealing in the illegal importation and sale of exotic animals.  They were given for safekeeping to the KAYTEE Products, Inc. company of Chilton, WI, a leading manufacturer of wild and pet bird foods who were deeply involved in bird preservation and habitat conservation.

In October of 1997 Kaytee decided that The World Bird Sanctuary with their free flying flock of Thick-billed Parrots, and our emphasis on education, would be a better venue for these four representatives of this severely endangered species.  So, Charlie and his three friends, Sierra, Sonnora and Guapo were transferred into our care.

Since then Charlie has spent his days visiting schools and other large groups, and spreading the word about his species and the dangers they face from habitat destruction and poaching.  Charlie was a wonderful ambassador for his species.  After all, who could ignore this cute little fellow when he would wave at them and give one of his endearing little head bobs?  He seemed to be certain that if he was cute enough he would earn a peanut--one of his favorite treats.

Charlie will be sorely missed by staff and volunteers alike, as well as the many guests who made it a special point to visit him just to see if they could get him to wave.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer 

Meet Charlie, Our Thick-billed Parrot

Charlie, our Thick-billed Parrot, spends part of her time in our Nature Center greeting guests when they enter. 

Charlie came to World Bird Sanctuary in 2007 from Kaytee Products, Inc. in Chilton, WI.  She was originally rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from a facility where she and three other Thick-billed Parrots were being held illegally.  They were given to Kaytee for safekeeping. 

Charlie and her friends were transferred to World Bird Sanctuary to join the free flying flock of Thick-billed Parrots housed in the large enclosure on our display line.  We chose to keep Charlie for education since she was already trained to step to trainers and mimicked a few words.

Charlie greets the staff at the Nature Center with quite an adorable foot wave, and uses the wave “shamelessly” to get treats.  Thick-billed Parrots are not known as being great mimickers, but Charlie says “Hi” very clearly.  She also makes a kissing sound.

It's hard to resist Charlie's "wave" 

Charlie seems to enjoy hanging by her beak on the sides of the cage until she gets attention; which generally comes from the members of the public that come up to the staff to tell us we have a bird that is stuck.  She is not stuck--just trying to get more attention.  All of our Thick-billed Parrots do this behavior, even the breeding flock.  We do not know how or why this behavior originated, but it certainly works to Charlie’s advantage, since it gets her the attention she likes.  This is an excellent example of how an intelligent animal like a parrot can train its human caregivers.

The Thick-billed Parrot is the only remaining parrot native to the United States.  They weigh in at 11-13 ounces, are 15-17 inches long and can live 35-40 years.  They were once found in Arizona and New Mexico, but are now only found in a small part of Mexico.  The Thick-billed Parrot lives at high elevations in the pine forests year round.  They have been given the nickname of Snow Parrot because they tolerate cold temperatures and snow.  In the wild Thick-billed Parrots eat primarily pine seeds, acorns, juniper berries, conifer buds, agave nectar and insect larvae. 

The Thick-billed Parrot is an Endangered Species with only 500-2,000 individuals left in the wild.  The main threat to the Thick-billed Parrot is habitat loss.  With forests being destroyed Thick-bills have fewer nesting sites.  Biologists are trying to work with local landowners to protect these forests.  They are also trying to use nest boxes to provide nesting sites for these birds.  Currently these efforts are helping to keep the population stable but not increasing.  The second threat to the Thick-bill is just humans.  Thick-bills are very flock oriented and when one bird goes to the ground and gets  caught in a trap, they all go to the ground, putting the entire flock in danger.

Like most of the world’s parrots, the Thick-billed Parrot is a very social parrot living in flocks all the time.  Their call can be heard up to 2 miles away.  They also have a call that can sound like children laughing.  To read more about this rare species and the part it plays at the World Bird Sanctuary Click Here.

Charlie,,as well as all of our other birds, is available for adoption.  To adopt Charlie click here to go to the Parrots Adopt A Bird page on our website, click on Charlie’s photo, then click Add to Cart and follow the directions for payment.  Adoption donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Your adoption donation will help to feed, house and keep this adorable little character waving for her treats.

Adopt-a-Bird Parents receive:

·      A personal visit with the animal you adopt!!!! Call ahead to schedule a time for your personal visit.

·      Certificate of Adoption.

·      Color photo of the animals you’ve adopted.

·      Sponsorship card.

·      One year’s subscription to Mews News, WBS’s quarterly newsletter.

·      Life history and natural history of the animal.

·      10% discount off WBS merchandise.

Adoption Donation for Charlie - $100.00

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Field Studies Coordinator