Parrots at Play Calendar needs your input

[Spinnergirl]

Hey Graehstone............I loved the poem.

Thanks for "whipping" it up :)

How about this question:
"What does a bird have to possess to be considered a parrot"

Answer: Is this correct?? A short hooked bill, these birds come from semitropical as well as tropical regions.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by Graehstone

Ok here's my Poem. It's not the greatest I've ever written, but it's what poped into my head. I'll see if I can come up with another one maybe, maybe a little shorter, although "short" is real hard for me to deal with, lol, I'll see what else pops into my head.
So without further ado, here 'tis.

A Good Life

I know what your Grandpa did
And your papa too
When I was hatched from my egg
Back in forty two

I saw him kiss your mom
Way before they wed
The big day of the Prom
And all the things they said

The day that you were born
I was there to see you cry
Then I, in my loyalties, was torn
When you looked me in the eye

I’ll live to see you marry
And have a kid or three
But before I grow too weary
And life will set me free

There’s something I must say to you
Before I spread my wings and fly
There’s nothing I would change or do
A life of love and peace had I

I loved your Grandpa and your Dad
And of course I loved you too
And all the good times that I’ve had
Starting that day in ‘forty two � � � � � � � � �
� �

Mike I LOVE that poem! I only wish all of the longer-lived parrots could spend their lives as cherished family members like that!

[MaryG1959]

How about the term "bird brain" being a compliment rather than an insult. There was information (I believe in bird talk mag) about birds and how smart they are.

[BirdzRmylife]

Originally Posted by Monica

In the wild, is there such a thing as a black parrot?
Most people think of parrots as a rainbow full of colors, or even as white birds. In the wild, and in captivity, there are vasa parrots, and black cockatoos. They are hardly known in captivity, and hardly known to the rest of the world since they are so rare to actually see one.

...Just adding in another species of "black parrot"... The Black Lory, or is is lorikeet,....bah...I forget!

[BirdzRmylife]

Lisa just some tidbits of info;
There are 332 species of discovered parrots to this day.
184 of these birds are Old World parrots, and the other 148 are New World Parrots.

ALSO,...I think it would be neat to mention the Kea. A parrot who lives in the snow covered mountains of New Zealand. The species is recognized as being one of the most intelligent birds in the world, and extremely mischievious. The species is sometimes recognized as a vandal, because of its nature to tear apart cars(peel off windshield wiped, break window seals, etc), campsites, etc. Another UNIQUE attribute of this species is;when food supplies are scarce, the Kea will often attack ill, or weak sheep. The bird uses its sharp beak and claws, to tear into the backs of the sheep so that they can eat the fat around the kidneys. There have even been reports of flocks of kea parrots attacking healthy sheep.

Talking about Attack of the Birds LOLOLOLOL!

[Monica]

Steven, a day after I posted that, I realized that there are black lories, too! Silly me... I've actually handled a black lory before that was in a petstore! However, I think this was actually a mutation and not a real black lory... hard to say, can't exactly remember... Of course then again there are not very many mutations in lories (though plenty of hybrids now.... ugh)

As far as to how many species there are, one site said 360, another said something like 319... So the question is, how old is that data???

So really, it would be better to state that there are over 300 different species of parrots with a few species that have been discovered, or rediscovered within the past 5 years!

[The Outlaw]

Here's one, Lisa:

The female Eclectus parrot will often send lovely flowery scents from her nares if she likes you. Also, Eclectus parrots will often co-parent with humans, sharing the feeding responsibilities of their babies. Since the male and females look so completely different due to their coloring, it was once thought that they were entirely different species.

THE OUTLAW

[BirdzRmylife]

Originally Posted by Monica

Steven, a day after I posted that, I realized that there are black lories, too! Silly me... I've actually handled a black lory before that was in a petstore! However, I think this was actually a mutation and not a real black lory... hard to say, can't exactly remember... Of course then again there are not very many mutations in lories (though plenty of hybrids now.... ugh)

As far as to how many species there are, one site said 360, another said something like 319... So the question is, how old is that data???

So really, it would be better to state that there are over 300 different species of parrots with a few species that have been discovered, or rediscovered within the past 5 years!

Monica, I too have seen and interacted with a black lory. They're very cute.

Also, I noticed the variation in parrot species, AFTER I posted... lol.... I think it would be a safe bet as you said to say; "there are over 300 different species of parrots with a few species that have been discovered, or rediscovered within the past 5 years."

Thanks, for the recap!

[Lisa B]

Thank you everyone. All your posts have been submitted to the calendar!!! I have included your names with the posts.
As soon as I find out which ones will be used I will let you know.

[Lisa B]

whooohoooooo....
Guys....good news..here is the letter I got back from the Parrots At Play!!!!
Mike, please contact me privately with your info, and Ellie, Let me know about Coco's picture......(this is assuming coco is not featured as a month in the calendar, we dont know that yet)


We are looking for older bird pics.... SO.............

Melissa, I need a good picture of Ramone, and some info....and
Scott, I believe your macaw is 27? IF at all possible...I need pictures, and some info...
Please send them privately..I belive you both have my email....
Lisa.

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the info. Since we are striving this year to get the message out about the potential life span of parrots, I’ve decided to put Mike’s poem on the first page underneath Cookie’s message. I will add a picture of a macaw, an amazon, and an African grey. Maybe I could use some of the pictures that do not make it as winners! Perhaps, for the grey, I could use CoCo’s picture? I think her humans would like that. Please let Mike know we are using the poem and ask him how would he like to have his name written. I’ll need to know soon.



Thanks,



Donna