Parrots are cute. They’re smart. They’re pretty. And the list of their attributes continues. Pet shops place them strategically in their stores so the sweet birds will pull at your heartstrings.

”Awwwww … look at how he ruffles his feathers and says hello. I want one. How much?”

Before you listen to the salesperson’s spiel, watch the short video below (5:10) about Foster Parents—The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary and:

• Hear the real noise that parrots make.
• Find out why so many end up being taken in by rescue associations.
• Discover why they sometimes become hostile to all humans in the household except one.
• See why a cage is not a stimulating environment.

A Few Facts

Many parrots die of heart attacks because they don’t get enough exercise. In the wild, they fly perhaps twenty miles per day. That level of exercise will never be available in a captive environment, caged or not.

Parrots may prefer to eat on the ground rather than from a feeding bowl. If hand-raised, they might not get along well with other birds. They all have varying needs and personalities. Your neighbor’s scarlet macaw might love head scratches, but that doesn’t mean the one you bring into your home will.

Some parrots may live for 100 years. What happens to them when you die? You need to make provisions for them in your will.

Consider carefully. What can you give the bird? What the bird can do for you is irrelevant and selfish. If you have done your research and are convinced you can be a good caregiver:

Adopt, don’t buy.