World Parrot Day, May 31

Written By: Aimee Turcotte
Parrots are majestic birds with colors that charm the eye of the beholder. At the zoo, we are very fortunate to have two parrots, Zari and Newton.
 
Zari, our African Grey Parrot, is a 14-year-old female who has been a resident at the zoo for about 10 years. She could live for 50 to 70 years. When she wants to, she can vocalize and mimic sounds. For instance, at the end of the day, when Education Animal Care staff are closing the door to the room where her habitat is, she often mimics the sound of the door closing. Additionally, she is an avid fan of rock and roll, bopping her head and vocalizing while listening to music. Zari has been found to not be affected by visual enrichment (television, etc.). 

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African Grey Parrots could be found in the lowland dense forests of central and West Africa and the oceanic island of Príncipe. They live in oil palms, making their nests in tree holes. Even though these birds live in large groups, they are monogamous, only having one mate. In their habitats, they could find various foods, such as insects, fruits, nuts, leafy matter, flowers, and bark. Unfortunately, African Grey Parrots are an endangered species, facing threats like habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade.
 
Newton, our 27-year-old Blue and Gold Macaw, has been a resident at the zoo for 22 years. One of her favorite forms of enrichment is watching cartoons like Bluey or Phineas and Ferb on an iPad. Newton is called a Blue and Gold Macaw because her feathers are typically blue on one side and gold on the other. She weighs approximately 2 pounds and has a wingspan of 3 to 4 feet. Newton could live 35 years in the wild, but now, in human care, she could live 112 years.
 
Blue and Gold Macaws have been found in the northern part of South America, on the savanna and in the rainforests. They eat berries, nuts, leaves, and seeds. In the wild, Blue and Gold Macaws would have one mate for life. These birds are a species of least concern, but face threats like climate change.
 
Zari and Newton are animal ambassadors of the zoo. Animal ambassadors join Zoo Educators on fun programs such as Wild Adventure Shows, Wild Assemblies, birthday parties, and ZooMobiles.
 
Thank you for reading this blog, and have a wonderful World Parrot Day!