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Keeper's Tale
A collected from the animal keepers at Hollywild Animal Park. The keepers interact with the animals daily and offer insight into the behind-the-scenes and personal nature of the animals at the park
Birds Bond and Have Character
They talk, they eat, they sleep, they play, they sing, they love and even snuggle, but they’re not toddlers - they’re birds. Several exotic bird species live at Hollywild, and each has its own personality.
• Ed, is a talker. And he loves Trish.
• Karma is shy, but he’s starting to talk to Ed. It helps.
• Beanie likes to dance and play peek-a-boo.
• Scooter is a clown.
• Rainbow is such a great talker she’s been caught impersonating… a person!
Ed, a Yellow Nape Amazon Parrot had formed a special bond with his keeper, Trish. When she left the park for another job, Ed adjusted, but never forgot her. When Trish came back to volunteer and work with him during Photography Day, Ed not only recognized her, he showed obvious joy when he saw her again.
“He started singing “La la la…la… la la la” in vocal scale style, and was loving on her all day, rubbing his head against her and refusing to leave her shoulder. It was amazing to watch,” said staff member Linda M. Poole.
Ed also talks and asks if you want a “little treatie treat treat?” And a few animal staff members have even heard him speak in what sounds like Spanish.
Ed also seems to have counseling tendencies.
Karma came to the park in 2007 after being hatched and hand raised by a woman who, for health reasons, could no longer keep him. Karma went through a period of grief, a common behavior in such circumstances, explained Jeanne Peters, head of animal staff. But when Karma was placed in the same habitat with Ed, they started talking to each other and now, Karma is much happier and content. He’s reported to cluck like a chicken, laugh, sing songs like the Scooby Doo theme, Groovy Kind of Love and others.
Charlie, a Scarlet McCaw and Scooter, an Umbrella Cockatoo arrived at Hollywild at the same time. They both missed their previous owners and the keepers had trouble coaxing them to eat. But after they were placed together, they slowly started to interact and eventually eat. Now they are great friends and doing very well.
“It was like they convinced each other it would be okay,” said office manager Laura Brackett.
And now, Charlie is reaching out to Lola, a fairly new arrival to the park and another Scarlet McCaw.
“The sad thing is that folks raise them from hatchlings or eggs, know them their whole lives but then for whatever reason have to give them up – these birds are so intelligent that they go through a grieving process. It is sad for the birds and for their families, too, as was the case with our African Grey, Maggie. She lived with her humans until a family health crisis forced them to make the difficult decision to find her a new home. Maggie has adjusted to her new life and is doing very well now. With the Hollywild staff’s TLC they always bounce back.” said Peters.
But aside from adjusting to their new lives at the park, the birds at Hollywild have had some fun too. Once the birds have adjusted to life in the park, they become part of the outreach programs used to teach others about their amazing qualities.
Beanie, a Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, has enjoyed showing off and getting special attention during Photography Day. He was originally named Greenie Beanie for his love of green beans. Outside of the spotlight, he shares his lively personality with keeper Danielle Hoffman, who says that Beanie likes upbeat music and will dance to the rhythm, bobbing his head and lifting his feet, like he’s really “getting down.”
Rainbow, a Scarlet McCaw, once caused an uncomfortable, yet humorous, incident with an animal inspector. Staying in a special animal travel trailer during filming outside Hollywild, an animal inspector had come to make sure all was in order to keep the animals safe during their stay. He stepped up to the trailer and heard Rainbow say ‘hello.’ Not able to see Rainbow, he asked, “Where are you,” thinking he was talking to a person. “In here,” Rainbow answered. Sounding so human in her speech quality, the inspector began to think that a person was trapped inside the locked animal trailer. The inspector’s concern was relieved when David Meeks, Hollywild’s executive director appeared and started chuckling when the unnerved inspector shared his fears. The inspector met Rainbow. Mystery solved.
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Photos courtesy: Courtland White
| Jeanne’s Pick: They’re all great and each one is unique, but I really enjoy listening to the African Greys. The African Grey Congo, a sub-species, is the most verbally adept and can mimic human voices and nearly any kind of sound. They also speak in context of the situation, like answering a phone call or scolding a barking dog. They’re extraordinary! |
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