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This
droll, comical little bird is often overlooked because it doesn’t fit the
image that most people have when they think about cockatoos. To those of us who
know them up close and personal, however, a properly
raised Bare Eyed is the ultimate companion bird.
Known for their intelligence and talking ability these outgoing little
clowns are usually willing to show off for anyone, anywhere, anytime.
When you think of all of the gorgeous cockatoos available to Australians
who choose to keep a native species as a pet, it is not surprising to me that
the Bare Eyed cockatoo is number one.
Known
as Little Corellas in their homeland of Australia and New Guinea, they, along
with the Greater Sulfur Crested cockatoo and the Rose Breasted Cockatoo (or
Galah) are found in large flocks and are considered serious pests by farmers. In
Europe they have long been appreciated for their pet potential, but only
recently have Americans begun to realize what they have been missing. If there
is a downside to the Bare Eyed personality, perhaps it is that these happy
little extroverts are just too smart. There is certainly never a dull
moment when you share your life with one, and their naughty, mischievous nature
can make them difficult when there is a battle of wills.
Like all high-energy parrots, when their excitement level escalates they
can become unintentionally nippy.
Bare
Eyeds have amazing flying abilities and our pet, Nick, has been free-flighted
outdoors at Hornbeam Aviary for
 a
couple of years now. He has a large cage in the kitchen where he oversees and
comments on goings on, and he spends several hours each day flying around the
property, visiting (and often pestering) the breeding ‘toos in the outdoor
flights. Although I sometimes worry about hawks, Nick seems very much aware of what is going on around him, and I often see him
carefully scanning the sky and surrounding trees. When he is ready to come back
inside, he flies to the front porch and announces his arrival with
a cheerful “Hi there!” He has never disappeared from sight and usually comes
when called.
The
other day Jim was up on our roof
cleaning the chimney. Nick spotted him from the aviary, flew to the chimney and
they finished the job together. We joked later that, had he fallen down the chimney, I
would finally have the black cockatoo I’ve always wanted!
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