The Parrot and The Dress

Well, we tried to avoid it. We really did. The controversy over ‪#‎TheDress‬ that is. But the power of social media pulled us in. So we're joining the controversy. Here it is: Is our Congo African Grey parrot Arua Red and Grey? Or is she Grey and Red? ‪#‎TheParrot‬

We're joining the controversy over #TheDress so here goes: Is our Congo African Grey #parrot Arua Red and Grey? Or is she Grey and Red? #TheParrot

A photo posted by The Zen Parrot (@the_zen_parrot) on Feb 28, 2015 at 1:07pm PST

This Some Serious Gourmet Shit

The Gourmet Coffee scene from one of our favorite movies of all time, Pulp Fiction, the movie that proved John Travolta can really act, costaring the inimitable Samuel L. Jackson as one of the most erudite coffee loving killers in movie history:

Now For Something A Little Bit Different

This post, in its entirety, appeared on Seattle Craigslist Pets Community, February 19, 2015:

Toby is 5 years old please call if u see him and pick up with towel he bites everyone but my husband he got spooked and flew off by golf course he was hiding in my husbands hoodie not knowing he was there my husband went outside and is heart broken we all miss toby if u see him please call any time night or day thank u oh we r by broadway and 5 th street

he was hiding in my husbands hoodie not knowing he was there my husband went outside and is heart broken

Okay. That's a different excuse for a lost parrot. But peoples! Senegal parrots are not teeny parrots. How do you not notice a Senegal parrot in your hoodie? Fer chrissakes. If you're a parrot person, check out your hoodie before you go outside. Keep you parrot safe, okay?

Organized Gangs of Kea Parrots Ravage Middle Earth

When good parrots go bad. Thanks to Kea Conservation Trust for showing us the pitfalls of good parrots turning to a life of delinquency. Would you like someone to contact you about ways to deal with kea/human conflicts?
How many man and parrot hours were required to develop a protocol to resolve parrot – human conflicts? Thank God the Kiwis are working to resolve Kea - Human conflict with this handy Kea Conflict Report. But you have to know that the situation is dire when parrot – human conflicts result in a police report!

Kea Conflict Report

Understanding and resolving kea – human conflict incidents is important to us. If you have kea that are damaging your property or causing you issues, please complete the form below so we can help you.

If you need any help filling out this form, please contact us via the contacts page.

• Date of conflict*
  

• Where did you come into conflict with the kea(s)?

• Region*
  Nelson/Tasman AreaWest CoastMarlboroughCanterburyOtagoSouthlandNorth Island
• Where did you come into conflict with kea?*
  Describe exactly where e.g. Bushline Hut, Robert Ridge, St Arnaud.
  Please insert GPS coordinates if you have these.
• Location description*
  (eg private property, ski field, forestry area, address if possible etc)
• Please tell us what happened*
  Type of Conflict (e.g sheep attack, damage to ski field equipment or vehicle, interference with traps etc)
• What was done to try and resolve issue?*
  e.g. covers put on gear, netting put over gardens, kea were removed, etc
• Was conflict resolved on this occasion?*
  (Y/N/explain)
• Is there any other information you would like to add?
  eg. Leg band details or any other comments
• How many kea were involved?*
• Is there any other information you would like to add?
  eg. Leg band details or any other comments
• Age(s) of kea*
  • Juvenile
  • Young Adults
  • Adults
  • Don't know
• Were the Kea male or female?*
  • Male
  • Female
  • Both male & female
  • Don't know
• Please enter your name and a contact phone or email in case we have any questions – Thank you!
• Your Name*
• Contact phone
• Email*
• Would you like someone to contact you about ways to deal with kea/human conflicts?
  • Yes
  • No

Organized Gangs of Regent Parrots Ravage Colignan

If your parrots like almonds, you better stock up while you still can. This story, in its entirety, written by Graeme O’Neill, was published in the Sunraysia Daily, January 23, 2015:

NUT NIBBLERS: Regent parrots and colleagues are dining on the region’s almonds ahead of this year’s harvest. The crop is selling at almost double prices from last year because of global shortages. The almond harvest is at least two weeks off, but some colourful nutters are already in Ian Keens’ biodynamic orchard in Colignan, partaking of an entree before the big feast. Small flocks of yellow Regent parrots, an endangered species, have moved in to chow down on some of the world’s most expensive almonds.

Almond prices have soared to record levels in the past twelve months because of a global shortage. Most of California, the heart of world production, remains in what the American Geophysical Union describes as worst drought in 1200 years, and output is well down. The rainbow alliance of parrot species that haunt Ian Keens’ orchard, regents, galahs, corellas, sulphur-crested cockatoos, Mallee ringnecks, yellow rosellas, are oblivious to the price hike.

And it's bad news for those California almond groves.