Photo Contest Winners for the 2005 Parrots At Play Calendar

January

Bailey's Mug Shot

Bailey came to live with us three years ago this July. He is fun and outgoing and loves company, and they love him.  We are only the caretakers here, this is Bailey's house.  He has  never met a person that he doesn't like.  He will curl up in my hand and be so sweet and the next minute he is swinging on the kitchen curtains. I have never seen a bird be so still and in a second be so fast. I call him a Jack Russell in feathers!

February

This is Lupe, a Orange Faced Lovebird.  She was about 6 months at the time of this photo.  She loved to play in her orange box and ring her bell.  She could talk up a storm, everytime we clean the house, she would ask "What Doin'?"  Lupe lives in Canada.

March

TIKI is a beautiful 4 year old Ducorps Cockatoo. Easily referred to as either a "Velcro Kid" one moment, or "Juvenile Delinquent" the next! TIKI began talking at an early age, always having plenty to say~ TIKI's first vocal expression was on Thankgiving Day saying: "Come on, let's go...come on now, huh...Come on..." as TIKI walked towards our patio sliding doors wanting to come in & join our family as we were seated at the table beginning to enjoy our Turkey dinner. (speak of talking Turkey~ that was definitely talking Turkey huh?) Ever since, TIKI has managed to be verbally expressive always speaking in short sentences never just one word. This picture shows TIKI as proud as can be of having beautiful wings while saying "WOWIE...pretty birdie ..." complimented by a sexy whistle!  Although TIKI has awesome wings~ TIKI prefers walking & climbing!

April

Milo is a rose breasted cockatoo.  He came into my life in the most impromptu way. He was only 4 months old when I spotted him in a bird store and immediately fell in love with this pink ball of fluff! He did everything he could to get me to take him home, which worked like a charm because I did on that very same day. It will soon be two years since that memorable day and I have never regretted this impulse. Milo is loving, friendly, funny, smart, and full of energy; he makes me laugh every single day. He's full of spunk and loves to hop, do summersaults, and attack his image in the mirror. Milo will constantly ask “Whatcha doin?” to anyone who dares to leave the room without bringing him along. He is very sociable and loves to be around people and get all the attention. In a nutshell, Milo has the incredible ability to make every one like him, even people who don't have any affinity towards the avian species.

May

Dixie Belle is a lovebird.  Her exact age is unknown but seems to be about 3 years of age . Rings a bunch of bells I have hanging in her cage when she is ready to get out of her cage. She loves to play Hide and Seek and recently learned how to unlatch the lock on her cage and escape. She loves to get under my blouse and hide somewhere on my back so I can't see her or reach for her to place her back in her cage.

June

Name = Sunnae
Species = Sun Conure
Age = 3 years, 4 months

“Happy Father's Day Sunnae!”

Who is playful yet protective, snuggly yet suspicious? Sunnae!

A new dad of a now four month old Conure (Precious), Sunnae has been instrumental in his daughter's development.

He has taught her not only how to eat and drink from the cage dishes and “poop on the papers”, but also how to fly like an acrobat and hang upside down from their perches.

Yet if the neighborhood cat is in sight, or if a stranger should walk by, he has trained her that something is not quite right, and they simultaneously screech until the “danger” passes.

Sunnae has also showed his daughter that us humans are part of their flock. He is the first to snuggle up to us, blow kisses, and affectionately say “Good Night” at days end. And Precious now does the same!

This Father's Day will be even more special for Sunnae, as there is a nine day old (to date) hatchling just waiting for his guidance….

July

Artha, an African Grey hen, born December 2000. Artha was hand-reared and is full-winged. She is wearing a homemade harness while out in the garden eating fresh sunflower seeds. Her funniest saying is to transpose the question and answer, 'what's the meaning of life? I won't tell you.' into her version, 'What's the meaning of parrot? I won't tell you.' She will show you that she is really 'an eagle' by raising both wings high over her head and flapping them.  Artha lives in England.