Table of Contents
My Favourite Bird Essay – 1
Parrot is among the most fabulous bird on the plat. PSITTACINES is the scientific term for a parrot. Its vibrant color gives a feeling of joy and happiness. There are near to 339 species of parrot around the world. Different parrot species show different body color patters. Sun conure has a rainbow-colored body; scarlet macaw show red, yellow, and white color over their body.
Parrots are vivid and multicolored birds. They have an extreme and slightly colored bill, with a pair of strong legs and four toes two among which are in backward direct and two are in the forward direction. Different parrot species have different structures and different body shapes and sizes.
One of the biggest specie of parrot is found in the region of the South American continent known as hyacinth macaw. In contrast, the kakapo specie is primitive to the region of New Zealand, which is almost 3kg in weight. Papua New Guinea is the place to the smallest parrot on the planet pigmy parrot, which is nearly comparable to a human index finger.
Some of the most common parrot species found around the world are African grey’s, monk parakeets, conures, and budgerigars. These are some of the most common parrot species which are located around the world. A parrot on an average lives a bit longer than 60 years. Parrot has omnivorous eating habits; they can eat both vegetarian and nonvegetarian foods.
Buds, nuts, tiny insects, leaves, seeds, and flowers are among the everyday things consumed by the parrots as part of their diet. They are among the most intelligent bird species found in the world. They love to live in tropical and subtropical environmental regions. They are the only animal and bird species that can mimic a human voice. New Zealand is the place for a maximum number of parrot species in the world. Researches around the world have shown that some parrots live around 80 years.
Habitats of parrot
The tropical rainforest is the home to some of the species of parrots. They are moist and humid loving birds. The regions of the Amazon rain forest and New Zealand are home to many parrot species of the world. Some species of parrot are also known to exist in arid and semi-arid desert regions, which include Sahara desert, Gobi desert parts of Iran and Egypt, and some parts of the Thar biodiversity region of Rajasthan.
Most rare species of parrots are primitive to the Mexican region of South America. They choose small tree cavities to lay their eggs. Due to excessive hunting and poaching, their population is decreasing day by day. The smallest parrot species known as pigmy parrot is almost on the urge to an extent. Only 150 pigmy parrot is believed to be alive. Parrots are social animals like humans. They live in large groups known as flocks.
1000 parrots can exist in a single flock. Feathers on the infant parrots only appear after 3 weeks of their birth. As the parrots grow three months, they develop the feathers and capability to fly. They produce harmonious sounds to attract female counters. They always live with their families.
Parrots in ancient methodologies
For a long time, parrots are a source of attraction to mankind due to their vivid appearance and social nature. Evidence has been found in literature, ancient writing, and religious text about the relation between humans and parrots. As per the Hindu mythology, it is believed that the god of love and lust knew as ‘kamdev’ used to ride a parrot.
In Buddhism, parrots are believed to be an incarnation of a bird from heaven. In the Mayan civilization, people believed that the path from earth to heaven is directed by parrots. Many people worship parrot in the South American region. The parrots will continue to fascinate humanity to the end time because of their intelligence, beauty, and vivid colors.
The behavior of parrot
Parrots are believed to be kind, joyful, and happy birds. They are the only social animal aside from humans and dolphins. Parrots hanging upside down is a sign of happiness. Single parrots are belied to buzz and jump to give a sign of attraction. Shaking of the body is also a standard behavior that exists among parrots that is the sign of their fun mood. Tightening of their father is a sign of aggression, fanning, and ruffling of the neck is a common sign of aggression. Unhanding the feather is done to cool down the body. Stretching is done before flying.
Parrots turn their head while focusing on particular things or objects. They breathe heavily when they are anxious about something. Stretching of the neck is a sign of some danger. Plucking can be a sign of some skin problems. Preening is a sign of trust. When a parrot is hungry, it screams very loudly.
Relationship of parrots with human
Parrots can easily make friendship with humans because of their vividness and social behavior. Humans find them very entertaining. They can easily mimic human sounds. We keep us with them because of their jolly nature and vice mimic feature. They are believed to predict the future. Many people make it their income source as well. Some people make their mimicry a source of entertainment and use it to earn money. They are widely used around the world to do funny acts in the circus as a part of entertaining people. Because of their social behavior, they need attention and affection. They make a very lovable pet. They need love and patience to handle.
Need for their conservation-
Many poachers are illegally killing parrots for their beak and feathers. Many species are almost on the verge of getting extinct. It is our whole and sole duty to save these beautiful birds. Many NGO’s and organizations are working around the world to save these amazing birds. The importing of parrots had been made illegal in many countries. Strict laws are being passed for the protection of the parrots.
Conclusion
These fantastic birds play a very crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. Hence there is a high requirement for the protection of these birds. More and more awareness should be spread around the world for the protection of parrots.
My Favourite Bird Essay – 2
A Bird of Love & Beauty
Parrot is one of the most fascinating avian (bird) species found on earth. In scientific terms it is also called as PSITTACINES.
Almost all the subspecies of parrots are vividly multi-colored, making them very attractive to look at. Though Pesquet’s parrot (colored black and red only) and African grey parrot (grey with slightly red tail) being exceptions to this vividness.
A strong curved beak mostly red in color, strikingly colorful feathers, strong legs having four toes, two pointing forward and the other two to the backward with an erect posture are some of the characteristic features of parrots. Though, they vary in sizes, in terms of length, throughout their bird order.
Species: Largest & Smallest
Hyacinth Macaw, found in the continent of South America, is the world’s largest parrot of about 100 centimeter length, while Kakapo of the New Zealand (an endangered species) being the heaviest one, weighing up to 3 kgs. Pigmy parrot, found in Papua New Guinea is smallest of all the parrot species, similar to the size of an adult human finger.
There are more than 300 species of parrots found worldwide, most famous of them being macaws, parakeets, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, kakapos, African Grey parrot etc.
Parrots are among the most intelligent of all the bird species, mainly because of their fascinating ability to mimic the sounds they hear, to near perfection.
Besides, they have a long life spanning more than 60 years on an average.
WHAT DO THEY EAT— they feed mostly on tiny insects, fruits, seeds and nuts etc. Their curved and strong beak helps those holding round & hard slippery nuts and seeds, which they love to eat most.
Their habitats: Locations worldwide
Although, parrots are found all over the world, maximum of their population is found in the tropical regions, that too in the rainforests of southern hemisphere mostly.
Because of warm and humid climate, wide variety of parrot species is found across the Indian subcontinent also.
They usually live in dense forests in warm climatic areas but, can also make semi-arid regions as their habitat. Even some species of them like, keas, thick-billed and maroon-fronted parrots lives in snowy alpine forests. They generally live in the hollows of trees, but can also make mound or other such spaces as their home.
Family life
Parrots also, like humans, are very social being and love to live in large groups called flocks, which may consists up to 1,000 birds at a time. This provides them with security against predatory birds besides giving them an environment of harmony with their fellow beings to live in.
Parrots also lay eggs, like most other bird species. Their young ones, when they hatch, have only a thin layer of down feathers on their back. Their pin feathers (underdeveloped adult feathers) start to appear only after they grow three weeks old. The mother stays with the offspring to look after them, while father goes out to fetch them food. Within a month or two, these young ones grow up to fly off on their own.
Parrots can simply be called as loyal towards their partners like swan, as they are monogamous. They woo their mates usually with attractive feather & tail displays and musical sounds.
Parrots in ancient mythology
The beauty, intelligence and highly socializing nature of this wonderful creature have captivated human imaginations since a long ago, across the cultures.
There are many myths, legends, literary writings, and artistic works and so on, associated with parrots.
Like, in the South American and Mayan civilizations parrots and macaws used to be considered as a spiritual connection between the mortal & immortal world, besides symbolizing their feathers for the rainbow. ‘Kyash Kachina’ used to be worshipped as a parrot god in Native American cultures.
In Indian mythology also, parrots have been a recurring theme often associated with ‘Kamdev’, the god of love, who is often depicted as riding a parrot. Many goddesses worshipped in southern India are also depicted as holding a parrot in their hand or simply accompanying them.
There is a very famous legend, ‘Yoruba legend’, associated with the African Grey parrot; besides, parrot has also been part of various Buddhist and English folklores.
In relation with human beings: Present context
Since parrots are very fabulous to look at and, at the same time are intelligent also in the sense that they can copycat the sounds/voices of the humans and other animals to the edge of perfection, they naturally attracts humans towards them.
By virtue of their socializing behavior they easily mingle and make friends with us. Because of their vivid color scheme and mimicking capability we tend to keep them with us for a long and therefore, cage them. Besides, they are very smart pets, and often help their owner in earning money, by way of assisting them to do some prediction, or some kind of mimicry activities.
Parrots are also widely employed in circuses to entertain the people by undertaking various types of funny and daring acts.
But, since they are high- maintenance pets, in return they also require enough attention, affection, cuddling, exercise and patience, (as they are known to be very uttering with the sounds of screams, screeches etc. when they are very happy/bored) from their owner.
Need for their conservation
Almost one-fourth of the world’s parrots are on the verge of extinction.
Population of this wonderful species is fast declining, owing to deforestation causing loss to their natural habitat. Besides, parrots have few natural predators in the wild like, monkeys, snakes and some other large predatory birds, but they tend to feed on the eggs of the bird, rather than the bird itself, causing end to the whole new generation of the bird.
Moreover, since they are among most popular bird species, they fall prey to the widespread illegal trapping & trade in exotic pet species.
Consequently, governments and various organizations at both national & international level have started taking steps in this direction. For example, importing wild parrots into U.S. and Europe made illegal in 1992; similarly,
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES),1975 which is an international agreement among the national governments seeks to ban illegal trade in endangered wildlife species ( of both, flora & fauna) to ensure their survival.
Bird life International, an international NGO with great repute, is also striving to conserve this very beautiful creature with their various protection and conservation programs, running worldwide.
Conclusion
Every creature on earth has evolved and exists for a purpose, which it has to serve in maintaining ecological balance. We humans are also a part of this, and needs to live in harmony with every other creature, especially those who are small and vulnerable, parrots being one of them. It’s our responsibility to help them flourish and survive, whether in wild or in captivity.
Caging and captivating this free-flying bird must be discouraged, but even if it’s so, one should take good care of them. With the help of awareness and innovative ways like, ecotourism based on bird-watching, informational speeches about them can help them save and increase their remaining species’ population
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