We've Always Wanted To Use Kyrgyz and Parrot In The Same Sentence

This story, published in its entirety, appeared on the AKIpress news website, December 19, 2015:

Kyrgyz national attempts to smuggle 140 parrots from Ukraine to Russia

Bishkek (AKIpress) A Kyrgyzstani citizen was detained on Russian border while trying to smuggle 140 parrots from Ukraine to Russia on his car's trunk, Rosselkhoznadzor said. Import of live birds to Russia is impossible without the official permission of Rosselkhoznadzor, which issues documents confirming compliance with veterinary and sanitary requirements. The man was detained at the Nehoteevka international checkpoint. Rosselkhoznadzor inspector decided to return the birds to the neighboring territory.

That's it! 140 parrots on the car's trunk. We're guessing they weren't Blue and Gold macaw parrots like the accompanying photo suggests, or the crate would be about a half mile tall.

And why were the parrots on the trunk? And not, say, in the car? It is winter over there, so how were the parrots even alive? And can we call the guy a smuggler while driving a car with 140 parrots sitting on the friggin' trunk? Presumably in a box or crate? Presumably very noisy?

So the parrots were returned to the neighboring territory. Were they just released and shooed off? What happened to the parrots? What happened to the smuggler? How did this writer ever get a job writing news stories?

Two Peas In A Pod. Our Congo and Timneh African Grey Parrots

Two Peas In A Pod! Our Congo African Grey Parrot Arua (left) and Timneh African Grey Parrot Tillie (right). Notice how much darker Tillie's body feathers are, whereas Arua has the notable red tail. Arua is significantly larger as well, although the size difference doesn't really come through in this video clip.

¿Estás Listo Para Un Cierto Fútbol? Oaxaca Parrots

¿Estás listo para un cierto fútbol? Some people have fantasy football teams. We have an entire fantasy football league! Liga de Fútbol de México.

Coffee Parrot Coffee Oaxaca Parrots Sweatshirt by TheParrotCafe

Northwest Parrots Pinup Parrots Calendar for 2016

The mission of Northwest Parrots Fund is simple. Saving Parrots One Parrot At a Time! Introducing the Northwest Parrots Fund Pinup Parrots Calendar for 2016:

Northwest Parrots 2016 Calendar by TheParrotCafe

The Northwest Parrots 2016 Calendar features some real beauties:

Hyacinth Macaw Princess Tara

Timneh African Grey Tillie

Ruby Macaw Mr. Cracker

Congo African Grey Arua

Greenwing Macaw Roxanne

You'll need to purchase the calendar the see the rest of the Northwest Parrots Fund Pinup Parrots. As Good As Advertised! You will not be disappointed. Plus, your purchase supports a worthy cause. Northwest Parrots Fund is a nonprofit charity registered in the State of Washington and recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Those of us who have experienced Goffin's Cockatoo parrots in our lives appreciate the irony of this photo, showing Dino, the Houdini of Brookline, Robert F. Kennedy's childhood home, surrounded by two of Boston's Finest.

Dino became an Internet sensation after he took flight this summer from his Brookline apartment and taunted his would-be rescuers by refusing to be rescued. One of the best things his people said of the escape artist was; “He’s a troubled bird.” No surprise to us Goffin's people. “This bird has an extraordinarily annoying screech,” said Nancy Gertner, a retired federal judge and a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School. Yep.

Instead of letting himself be rescued he relocated to one of Brookline's toniest streets, where he got to work terrorizing the residents. Without local historic preservation commission approval, Dino started remodeling the historic structures. The embattled Bostonians fought back as best they could. One tried turning on the house alarm, letting it blare. Dino didn’t mind, and recently greeted a Gertner houseguest by shrieking outside the bedroom window at dawn. Classic Dino. Some neighbors, the retired federal judge said, are worried that Dino, a Goffin’s cockatoo native to Indonesia, wouldn't survive the winter outside. “Candidly, we are no longer concerned about that,” Gertner said.

The battle lines were drawn. On one side the Catch Dino crowd led by the retired federal judge and the parrot's owner, Shawna Payne. On the other side, the Free Dino camp led by Tai Ta who has taken it upon himself to feed the parrot three squares a day. “This guy parrot has declared his independence,” Ta said, “with his own life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Attempts to capture Dino were complicated by the competing motives of various would-be rescuers.“They all want the glory,” said a woman named Jude, a self-described “bird person” who devoted the better part of the last week to trying to trap Dino. What with plots, cross plots and mis-plots, as well as Boston Animal Rescue League and police interventions, Dino's crime spree eventually ended.

This story should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone wanting to own a Goffin's cockatoo. Dino is back home with his flock of six other parrots and probably sharing some great bedtime stories of his life on the lam with his mates. And we are reminded how Goffin's cockatoos were once best described as juvenile delinquents that should come with warning labels.

Parrot 101: How Parrots Do What They Do

Parrot 101: How Parrots Do What They Do

Featuring Our Ruby Macaw Parrot Mr. Cracker

Featuring Our Hyacinth Macaw Parrot Princess Tara

Why We Can Never Get Anything Done On The Puter

Our velcro parrot, our female Timneh African Grey parrot Tillie.