While many of my friends growing up had dogs, cats and hamsters as pets, I was the odd one with parrots (yes, multiple). My parents have had our African grey, Sluggo and green-winged macaw, Poppi, longer than my brother and I which equates to 25 plus years. I got my cockatiel, Piña, when I was 12. Sluggo, Poppi and Piña are the birds we've had the longest, and they're as much a part of the family as my brother and I. We've had other birds over the years as well, including four yellow-headed amazons, Yo-yo, Chola, Tina and Spanky (don't ask me where those names came from... I'm only responsible for naming Piña [Spanish for pineapple], which I thought was appropriate since she truly does resemble a pineapple with the hint of yellow in her feathers and funny-looking crest that stands upright on top of her head).
Growing up with parrots is entertaining to say the least. It's incredible how smart they are. The bird-brain stereotype does not apply for these intelligent creatures. They are able to pick up and replicate noises, words and songs that they've only heard once. I remember Yo-yo's rendition of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco..." He would sing his little heart out, full vibrato and all. Some days I would come home from school and he would repeat parts of the weather report he had heard on the radio earlier that day. Sluggo's go-to phrase is, "Goodbye, I love you!" in response to seeing you wave your hand, something my dad taught him through repetition. When Poppi squawks, it can be loud and almost deafening at times. Sluggo responds with a disdainful, "shut up!" He also picked up noises like the beeping sound a truck makes when it's backing up, water dripping from the sink's faucet and my family cheering and clapping at a great play we've just seen in a game on TV. One of Sluggo's most endearing acts, however, is when the telephone rings, he repeats the sound of the ringtone and calls out, "Telephone for Charlene!" Sluggo picked up the habit from listening to my dad, whose office was at one time located next to where the birds lived. He was able to observe and soon imitate the way my Dad announced when someone was the on the phone for my mom.
Parrots are some of the most playful animals! They bop their heads up and down when they're happy or want a treat (they love an occasional peanut or corn chip). They waddle around on the floor with their tail feathers swaying side-to-side, helping them to balance as they walk around, exploring the house. I swear they think they are dogs and at times, human beings. One of Sluggo and Poppi's favorite games is play-fighting with anyone who will engage with them, beginning by attacking your shoe, headfirst, then attempting to hold your foot down with their own scaly feet while continuing to peck. My little cockatiel, Piña, is much more mellow than the boys. She loves simply sitting in front of the bathroom mirror looking at herself, sometimes tapping the glass with her beak to check whether her reflection is real or not (at least that's what it looks like she's doing)!
Something you might not know about hand-raised parrots is that many of them love being petted and cuddled, like a cat or a dog. It's easy for us as human beings to relate to the way they show their emotions. They are animals that enjoy attention and if they aren't receiving enough, they let you know with their loud squawks or whistles. In contrast, if they have been feeling neglected for too long, they won't accept your attempts to interact with them. In that case, they act like a teenager who is angry with his or her parents and show their disappointment by ignoring you. A parrot's lifespan is closer to a human's than most animals we have as pets. Take the macaw, for example, who can live for over 75 years, but whose typical lifespan is around 40 or 50 years. So, just like my parents and brother have been there to witness the different stages of my life, so have Sluggo, Poppi and Piña.
It can be a lot of work to take care of these beautiful, smart and playful animals, making sure they are in an environment that's healthy for them and that they are receiving enough attention, but it's totally worth it for the constant entertainment and the loyal companionship that you receive from them.
