Parrot Care Questions?

Dear Gabby

Do you have a parrot related question for Gabby? Just e-mail us and we'll answer it.

Dear Gabby

Dear Gabby,

I’m getting ready to ship my parrot to Fairbanks Alaska from Los Angeles and need information on where to buy a FAA bird carrier and any advice on how to make Betito’s trip a less stressful.

Thanks, Maria

Maria,

There are two excellent IATA approved carriers that I’d recommend. It depends on whether the bird will travel in the aircraft cabin or in the cargo section of the plane.

For in cabin, my favorite bird carrier is the Cabin Kennel. This bird carrier fits under the seat of the plane. I recommend the Sky Kennel, 100 for cargo travel. This is a heavy duty bird carrier that meets all of IATA requirements. You can find both of these bird carriers at Chirp n Squawk Bird Supplies.As a matter of fact, this wonderful company offers special parrot airline kit and will even insert the perch for you.

Thanks, GabbyBird

Dear Gabby,
I’d like to hear what you know about the Kakapo Parrot.

Dave from NZ

Dave, The Kakapo Parrot – or Owl Parrot, is the heaviest parrot in the world. It is also the only flightless parrot. And, the Kakapo Parrot is Noctornal, awake at night. Unfortunately, Kakapo Parrots, native to New Zealand, are critcally endangered. As of November 16, 2009, there are 124 Kakapo Parrots in the wild. That’s a seriously low gene pool. How did this unique parrot become so endangered? Prior to settlement, Native New Zealand only had two mammals, two species of bats. Then came the Polynesians and Europeans who brought predatory mammals with them. Rats, ferrets, cats, dogs and more. Having no fear of mammals coupled with being flightless created a situation in which the Kakapo parrots were incapable of self defense or even retreat when confronted with an enemy.

On top of this, the Polynesians and Europeans prized the Kakapo Parrot for it’s feathers, skin and even as a diet, further depleting the population. European settlers sent the skin of the first found Kakap0 to England for study. The 1889 study found the Kakapo to be the oldest, least developed parrot known to man, which only made taxidermy of this precious parrot more popular.

Around 1952, New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs took note of the Kakapo Parrot and began conservation efforts. PLEASE visit the KAKAPO RECOVERY PROGRAMME and help my beautiful, critically endangered cousins survive

Respectfully yours, Gabby Bird

Dear Gabby,
Since we just celebrated Veteran’s Day, I was curious if any U.S presidents have ever had pet parrots.

RubySRuby, Thanks for asking. There were actually six U.S. Presidents who have had parrots as pets. Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Calvin Coolidge, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and William McKinley. Martha Washington had a parrot named, you guessed it, “Polly.” Evidently, Polly was a little jealous of “the Prez” and would guard Martha when President Washington entered the room. George also cared for 36 dogs and 14 horses. I don’t think that he was a member of ASPCA.

Gabaroo (Sorry, feeling a little feisty)

Dear Gabby,
If I’m a parrot that sports a Harley Hat, does that make me a BIKER CHICK?

Diane B

Oh Yeah! Absolutely! The best kind of Biker Chick. With all due respect for HOGS.

Sincerely,

Gabby

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