Pretty Birds

Last time, we dropped by New Zealand to see the kea parrot. Staying in the Southern Hemisphere, let's hit Australia.

Bein' an island continent, Australia has some very singular birds. The cockatoo and even the little cockatiel are native there, and nowhere else. There's several others. Can't run 'em all down here, but I can show you a few.

We'll start with one of the more unusual cockatoos. One you don't see around a lot.

The unmistakably grand...Palm Cockatoo.

They also go by "Cape York Cockatoo" and of course, "Black Cockatoo." They're pretty good size, up to 25 inches long. That's an immensely powerful beak, there, by the way.

You'll notice they have that great "crest" of feathers. They share that with the very popular companion bird, the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. You don't see many Palm 'too's as companions, though. Takes a very strong personality to handle a Palm. And, like all big birds, they can HURT you if you get careless, or if they KNOW you're not confident. Believe me, they can tell.

Another Australian beauty is the adorable rainbow lorikeet, or just the "lori." Amazingly colorful, their feathers look like they've been waxed! Sweet little things. The San Antonio Zoo has an aviary you can walk through with lori's. I have LOTS of pictures.

Quite a few lori lovers out there. Quiet bird, not very demanding. They are nectar eaters, so they can be messy and will need to be cleaned up after, shall we say, "frequently."

Sticking to stunning, this is the crimson rosella. They actually come in other colors, too, yellow and orange, but the crimson is the most striking and best known.

It's easy to see why the crimson rosella is popular.

The juveniles are not so brilliant. It takes almost a year and a half for their full color to emerge. With all that red, those bright blue cheeks and wings, you can see a flock of "rosies" comin' a long ways away.

Another one that's easy to identify as soon as you see it is the Major Mitchell's cockatoo. A VERY striking bird, indeed!

How can you miss that crest? They're also called "pink cockatoos." However, you don't see many as companions. For pretty good reasons.

They're not what you'd call an "easy keeper." They can be loud, demanding and they require a LOT of attention, skillful handling and they can be very willful. If you're up to it, they're great. If not...you'll both be miserable.

I have NO idea where this "birds of the world" thing is gonna take me. I have a real fondness for raptors, so maybe next time I'll show y'all some of the biggest, baddest, birds of prey.

Once writ, hit send.....Web Rydr

The Requisite Disclaimer:

Please understand, these words and images about birds are intended to entertain, perhaps entice.
Before bringing ANY bird, regardless of size, into your home and life...
CONSIDER CAREFULLY
They are not domesticated. Inside every bird is a wild ancestor, perhaps only one or two generations back.
They require attention and care. Fresh water, proper food. Exercise. Play time. Time with YOU!
They can be loud. And ornery. And stubborn. And very willful. And, they can hurt you.
They can be affectionate. And sweet. And gentle. And very, very lovable. And you can more easily hurt them.
If you choose, choose wisely. Then, choose an Avian Veterinarian. Emphasis on AVIAN. A specialist. Board Certified...that's important. Visit regularly, at least a couple times a year.
Spoil your bird. It's worth it.
Learn about your bird. The internet is a wonderful place. Local clubs, FB groups, online resources galore!
Get the biggest cage you can afford. A bird must have room to stretch its wings fully inside the cage.
Birds, especially the big ones and the REALLY smart ones, CHOOSE to whom they'll bond. You may not be the one. Think about that.
Finally, bear in mind that birds are NOT dumb! They're much smarter than you think. Much smarter! No, really...MUCH smarter!

Be talkin' to you.....David (Web Rydr)