Hello, everyone!

[igloo9201]

Hello.

I have always really loved birds, and I will always hold a deep, deep desire to own a parrot. I have been going to camp at my local zoo for six years, and I am now part of a volunteer program at that same zoo. My zoo is probably where my bird obsession began; it has an impressive collection of education birds. An African Grey, an umbrella cockatoo, a Molluccan Cockatoo, two Blue and Gold macaws, and a Calico Macaw. There are also several non-parrot birds there that I love nearly as much.

Now that I've been volunteering there all summer, I have also noticed the birds in the aviary by the wallaby exhibit. Two laughing kookaburras, two Major Mitchell's, and three Galahs. One of the galahs has bonded with me over the summer (even doing courtship displays sometimes), and I want a parrot like never before.

However, I am hoping for a very time-consuming career of working with animals. It's certainly an eight-hour-per-day kind of job, and I have come to this forum to gather as much information as I can get. If I can keep a parrot enriched for that long, I would really, really like to have one. I would want either a Galah or African Grey, and I am currently leaning towards a galah. I'm already getting a taste of what living with a galah would be like (as soon as I walk away from the aviary, my galah starts chirping rather loudly in protest), and I just hope that I may be able to have one of these birds someday.

And besides getting information on birds, it'll be fun to meet some fellow bird nerds. :3

Thanks!

~Igloo :64:

 

[Allee]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have an exciting career plan. How nice to get to spend your days with all those wonderful birds.

 

[Mekaisto]

As a zookeeper I can tell you now - you will not have time for an African grey.

A galah sounds like a great choice, but think carefully. You'll be working a lot, and maybe even travelling. I've been travelling constantly as part of my job, and as part of the experience I needed to get my job. Is there someone who can care for your parrot in the meantime? Do you know what the next five years have in store for you?
It might sound hard, but as someone who loves animals I'm sure you understand the amount of consideration needed. I love parrots deeply, but I have never had one that was 'mine' - my life is still too hectic and unpredictable for a bird which thrives on predictability.

I suggest waiting until you have a full time job and know what kind of workload and future you'll have before considering a parrot.

Just my opinion, naturally.

As far as galahs go - and I'm sure you know already from the ones at your zoo - they're fantastic birds and make fantastic pets.

 

[TessieB]

Hi there bird nerd!

 

[igloo9201]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

@Mekaisto:

Thank you so much for your advice. The good news is, I'm hoping to work mainly with cetaceans (not that I can be sure that's going to happen), and with that job, you don't move really at all. Its so competetive, and there are rarely any openings. But, like I said, who can know exactly what will happen?

And don't worry, I'm far from an impulsive parrot-buyer. As much as a would love to have one, I would never put my selfish wants before the welfare of an animal, especially a highly intelligent, social, needy animal like a parrot. I won't be getting a parrot anytime soon, because like you said, I would really want to know exactly where I am, what I'm going to do, and I would want to get to as permanent a home as possible before buying one (if I ever do).

I will definitely consider, consider, and eventually make the decision to or to not buy a bird, with only that bird's best interest at heart. I would probably get a galah, especially since African Greys need more attention than I can give. So, for now, I'll just be doing research and learning as much as I can.

@TessieB:

Why hello!