About Rock
ABOUT ROCK
I am a Deroptyus accipitrinus, a Hawk-headed parrot from the Amazon Basin in South
America.
People are curious about my age. I am approximately fourteen years old. I am the most
flirtatious bird here. I love visitors. I desire conversation and attention.
I am a very unique parrot. My species is excitable, territorial and very (I emphasize very)
protective of interior cage space. My cage is "my home", "my nest", and I guard it
carefully. So stay out! It is OK for you to be close to me on the other side of the wire, but
do not touch me or my wire cage. No matter how coy or beguiling I appear, do not put
your fingers in my space. I will defend it and attempt to bite you. Please, have respect!
Do not test or tease me.
When I was a bappy (that is what baby birds are called), I was a gift to a little boy who,
sadly for me, grew up and went away to college. That is when his family (all boys) gave
me up. It was terrible to lose my beloved owner, my best friend, my playmates and the
home I was used to for eight years, consequently I have not been able to regain my trust
of humans. Before coming here, I was very tame and sat happily on everyone's hand.
Today I do not allow anyone to pick me up.
Transferring homes is frightening to parrots. Do you know parrots live a long time and
the average bird receives fourteen homes in his or her lifetime? In my former home I
learned to talk and sound like the games boys play (Nintendo and Star Wars!). They
believed me to be a girl. Had I been a boy, I would have gone into a Florida breeding
program where males are needed. Nancy recently had me DNA sexed and guess what! I
am a boy. After years of being called girl, it is quite an adjustment to be called boy, he,
and him. Consequently I say, "hi girl", "hi", "hello", "whatcha doing?", "hi baby!", "pretty
bird" and "Hi Bud" . Buddy is my yellow naped amazon friend. His outdoor cage hangs
from the gumbo limbo tree next to mine.
I laugh like a cackling wicked witch. I cry like a newborn baby. I do various calls and
make unique hard to describe hawk-head parrot sounds. My favorite thing to do is have
a whistling duet with you. I am a pro at soft, sweet, melodic whistling. I will imitate your
whistling sounds if you lead or you may imitate me. I adore eating the colorful and
fragrant fruit blend Zupreem Biscuits that I am fed. It is a scientifically formulated dry
parrot biscuit and it is much healthier for me than an all seed diet. I am particularly fond
of oranges, grapes, apple and corn. Occasionally I eat the inside of half an organic
tomatoe. I relish an almond in the shell, first thing every morning. Almonds are good for
me because they offer more calcium than other nuts.
I had a mild case of zinc poisoning when I arrived. Some metals used in commercial
parrot cages and toys are toxic to birds. I need a steady supply of safe new non-toxic
toys. I like to swing on chains and to chew on colorful wooden blocks and plastic toys. All
my toys need to be restrung on stainless steel chains instead of the chrome plated
chains that are routinely used in the trade and appear for sale in every pet store. Each
time my tongue touches a chrome chain on a parrot toy I am exposed to metal toxins.
The good news is, eventually the zinc will dissipate from my body.
I have been here for six years. I have fans who come back to see me every year. I like
the garden and I enjoy spending time with the visiters. A lot of people think birds are
dumb. I am very intelligent and