First impression

[Taprock]

I'm still new to birds as our 2 year mark is coming up. I'm also in an area where we have few parrots so I've learned most of what I know from all of you and our AV. Since I have met so few bird parronts in person I have trouble with first impressions. Can you give me your take on a situation.

Holiday weekend and we went out for ice cream. It's a large crowded outdoor area with band playing. We arrived during sets and I hear a bird and start looking around. My son and I walk over to a group surrounding two individuals with a large white and a green parrot. One individual, with cigarette in hand asks a passerby if they want to hold him. Second individual has handed off a bird to a lady in the crowd. It sits on the lady's shoulder and kisses her on the mouth. The crowd thins and my son is asked if he wants to hold it. When he declined they go on to the next person. No information presented or bird introduction. There was a handwritten sign "accepting donations". They were there about 4 hours according to family watching bands.

Impressions?

 

[Scott]

Interesting, perhaps the two are panhandlers with a creative twist of using a parrot as attraction?

Does anyone know these people or their situation? I hope the bird is not exposed to second hand smoke!

 

[clark_conure]

Either they have a very trained bird or they have a very trained bird and are grifters...either way the situation has passed and I wouldn't worry about it.maybe they use the bird to encourage dates, maybe money.

Thinking about it, it could be a publicity stunt, a well trained bird circulating the crowd. A well trained bird giving kissy is as good as at least a b list actress giving kissy. Whatever the motive at least the bird is well taken care of it seems.

 

[Katu]

Sounds like panhandlers to me. They will bring an animal with them for sympathy and extra $$$. Who knows what kind of life those birds have when they're home.