Meet Max, a parrot with a very good daddy

[kenny]

Dan has given his adopted Cockatoo a wonderful life.
His Youtube channel, Mr. Max T.V., has tons of amusing videos.
Some have millions of views.
Watch a couple if interested.
I'm hooked, and just watched 2 hours of them.

I admire how Dan is with Max.
He is tuned in and right at the bird's level.
Max and Dan 'converse'.
Max responds by mumbling gibberish, but I get the sense that Max feels he really is conversing.
The pattern and cadence of his voice copies human speech, not to mention all of Max's mannerisms.

Max isn't a pet; he's a companion.
The depth of the relationship is obvious.

The bird's lucky to have Dan, though of course it might be argued that all pet birds would be happier if wild.

Here is the second Q&A video he made answering a few of the thousands of questions he's gotten.

 

[missy]

Yes! Thanks for sharing Kenny. Our animals are our family. Perhaps the greatest love of all because they love us no matter what as we love them. Unconditional love. Real or imagined? Doesn't matter. Still a strong bond.

 

[lyra]

Amazing videos! I subscribed to the channel. Max's dad is an awesome person. Such dedication. Max is so lucky. I do agree that breeding birds like these should be restricted. I had no idea they live 80+ years. That is more than a lifetime commitment. They require as much care as a 3 year old child, but for 80 years! Wow. I love watching birds.

 

[december-fire]

Kenny,

Thank goodness Dan came into Max's life! I watched the first video you shared, and only a few minutes of the second with Q&As (darn To-Do List!). I was so upset to hear that Dan's friend had hit Max's cage to get Max to be quiet! I think the friend would be wise to consider whether his personality is really suited to having a pet of any kind (or a child).

Thanks for letting us know about Max and Dan. Its great to hear about responsible, caring pet owners.

I know you're not looking for praise, but I'm so thankful you share your experiences and expertise regarding larger birds. They're special creatures with unique requirements and commitments; most pets don't have the life expectancy of these guys. No one should purchase a pet, especially a large bird, without researching the animal's needs and doing some serious thinking about whether they are willing and able to make the commitment required to provide the animal with a healthy, happy, stable environment.

Ironically, I don't have time to watch more Max videos because I have to set-up another bird feeder pole and new bird feeder in my backyard. But I swear this is the last bird feeder pole and the last bird feeder I'm getting! I mean it. I've said it before, but this time its really the last pole and feeder.

 

[kenny]

Thanks all.
I wish we could post videos.
You gotta see my Bibi snuggle in bed when we wake up. (No, he doesn't sleep there)
It's so surprising how affectionately cuddles against my cheek and nose.
Then he'll run under the covers and make little chortling sounds.
Under the covers he'll roll onto his back and wait for me to tickle his tummy.
I'm not making this up.

December-fire, you write, "They're special creatures with unique requirements and commitments."
So true, and so heartbreaking how many birds suffer at the hands of their ignorant humans.
You don't have to beat the cage with a bat to abuse a bird; All you gotta do is meet ONLY its physical needs.
I'm reminded of those baby-care factories in communist countries.
They'd cram 50 to 100 newborns into one room and only fed and change diapers.
No other care.
They all grew up to be as though they were brain damaged.
Humans (and parrots) need love, interaction, & stimulation, etc., not just food.

There's something else that I'll try to articulate.
There's another level of experience that I'm afraid even good care-givers rarely reach.
Few people have the many hours a day to interact with their parrots.
Dan hasn't taken a vacation for 8 years.
He even comes home for lunch so Max is never locked up more than 4 hours.
(Even better would be a home full of people like Dan (all retired or rich) so the parrot is never alone and locked up.)

That's when the parrot's personality and a deep relationship can blossom.
Dan has reached it with Max.
I have some of that with Bibi, though I know I could do better.
That's why I'm addicted to Dan's channel; I learn lots from watching those two interact.

Yes, I realize this borders on becoming like "That crazy cat-lady down the street".

 

[lyra]

My daughter has a work related acquaintance who has owned and loved the same parrot for 56 years and counting! The woman is now 70. Her son will take over for her if need be, because you never now, it's possible for the parrot to outlive her. I think Dan is pretty amazing in his willingness to care so completely for his companion. Not enough people go into bird ownership with the attitude of learning and accepting such great responsibility. Birds are amazing. I wish I could have one.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Very cool vid Kenny- I share your admiration on how the guy takes care of his cockatoo.
I've befriended a lot of birds over the years as a custodian first, then as a partner in life ( per owner).
Cockatoos are remarkably intelligent. Arguably among the most intelligent and affectionate of the psittacine family.
It's a sad truth that only a small percentage of owners will ever be able to properly spend time with their birds- leading to a lot of dissatisfied birds. The smarter the bird, the worse the effects in some ways.
But in another way, they are .....easy. Like, if you know how to approach them and you're not afraid, many cockatoos will be instantly intimate.

 

[december-fire]

Yes, I realize this borders on becoming like "That crazy cat-lady down the street".

Oh, I wouldn't say that, Kenny!

 

[tyty333]

What a cute bird...he does seem to be talking back! I need a bird companion...instead of talking to myself I can
talk to the bird.

 

[lyra]

Well, I've gone down the rabbit-hole and have watched hours of bird videos on Youtube now! I found this one channel entertaining. Marlene McCohen. The entire family interacts with 5 or 6 species of parrots. Her videos are quite informative. She also has an instagram for fans called EngagedNotCaged, as that is the philosophy she promotes. I've learned so much. I still can't have a bird though. But I'm researching.

 

[arkieb1]

I'm glad Dan became Mr Max's human carer. I think the issue is so many people buy pretty parrots and have no real clue how to look after them or how much care they require and for how long. They aren't disposable pets. It was sad that Dan's friend kicked or hit the cage to make the bird be quiet.

Cockatoos can make one hell of a racket shrieking and yelling. And I mean of epic proportions they are beyond loud...... My grandfather adopted/bought or was given a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo when the bird was we think between 5 and 12 from a guy that no longer wanted him. My grandfather was Scottish so he called him "wee Donald" in a thick Scottish accent.

Donald loved my grandfather and hated/wanted to attack pretty well everyone else. Donald had an amazing vocabulary too. When my grandfather was put into a nursing home due to dementia the only person apart from my grandfather who could handle Donald was my aunt who was my grandfather's favourite of his 5 children.

She built a huge house length purpose built avery she could go and sit in and talk and play with Donald, he has lots of toys and she currently still has him we think Donald is around 65+ years of age now, maybe more and my grandfather has been dead for a number of years. It is possible Donald could be passed down to one of her children or grandchildren. Sulphur Crested Cockatoos can live to be over 100 so Donald may well outlive several of his owners, he has outlived the first guy and my grandfather.

I've large seen flocks of various different types of cockatoos flying free we have two different varieties local to where I live and honestly I think this type of bird should never be caged or made into domestic pets unless they have been rescued from somewhere.

 

[december-fire]

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos can live to be over 100 so Donald may well outlive several of his owners, he has outlived the first guy and my grandfather.

I've large seen flocks of various different types of cockatoos flying free we have two different varieties local to where I live and honestly I think this type of bird should never be caged or made into domestic pets unless they have been rescued from somewhere.

I know large birds can live a long time; Amazons can live to be 50-80 years old.
But, my goodness, over 100 years!

There aren't many people like Kenny or Dan who are able, willing and want to make the long-term commitment to provide everything that these wonderful creatures require for a full, happy and healthy life. For a bird that will likely outlive one or more owners, what are the chances it will get wonderful owners each time.

Of course, even an animal with a short lifespan deserves great care!

 

[arkieb1]

There are a lot of amazing stories I could tell about Donald the cockatoo. He actually escaped from my grandfather the first time for 2 weeks, then he went missing for 4 weeks then various other times for a few months and I think the longest he disappeared was for nearly 2 years and no that isn't a misprint. I think that my grandfather had such a good relationship with the bird he actually got to the point he was kissing and hugging him goodbye and letting him go sow his wild oats so to speak, because where he lived in rural Australia there are large numbers of wild cockatoos of the same variety and we like to think Donald flew free with hundreds of cockatoos mated and enjoyed himself when he was a younger bird. He always returned to my grandfather and eventually lost the urge to want to escape or fly off anywhere. Knowing that he had time to be free made my grandfather and I think Donald really happy, which is another reason I think large birds that live that many years should not be caged up.

Smaller parrots that are domesticated should not be let go free because other larger birds and animals can hunt and kill them but cockatoos are smart and large enough if they are intelligent like Donald was and is to fend for themselves. In the beginning he got out by accident in the end I think the pair had a mutual agreement.

 

[lyra]

I'm loving the stories of Wee Donald! How amazing that he kept returning. I think that was the best time of his life ever.