Jan Robson has been a volunteer with Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Surrey, BC, since 2003. She has been director of volunteers and director of education, and now focuses on education and pet therapy. She is also the doting mom to seven rescued parrots: a mitred conure, four lovebirds and two budgies. To pay for her addiction to her feathered friends, she works as coordinator of the dementia helpline at the Alzheimer Society of B.C.

So Cee Lo Green has decided to replace Purrfect, his cat companion from the second season of The Voice, with Lady, a Moluccan Cockatoo. (Read the story on PeoplePets.com and TMZ) But the decision to have Lady perched on his shoulder as he judges has animal welfare and rescue organizations concerned. Why the fuss?

 

First of all, it is important, I think, to have a sense of what might be motivating Cee Lo to have various creatures cuddling with him as he sits in judgement. It seems to me there are a few possibilities:

1. He is a publicity and attention hound. A beautiful big bird sitting on your shoulder makes you stand out.
2. He just bought/adopted Lady and he wants to spend as much time with her as possible.
3. He realizes the situation with parrot rescues and wants to draw people’s attention to the issue.
4. He is doing what the producers want him to do.

My hope is that #3 is the correct answer. But I suspect that is not the case. I have watched the show, and there really is no room for any of the judges to use their time to educate and raise awareness about issues close to their heart. So assuming that this will not be an educational endeavor, what’s wrong with having Lady participate on the show? On the surface Lady’s inclusion seems innocuous. Purrfect didn’t rate a fuss, so why should Lady?

Lady’s presence could encourage people to get Cockatoos impulsively.
Cee Lo Green is a celebrity. We are a celebrity-obsessed culture. Lady is exquisite, and we have no idea if she has any special talents that will make her even more appealing, like talking. Seeing a bird like this may very well plant a seed in people’s minds. My fear is that many who would not otherwise have any special interest in parrots, and Cockatoos in particular, might decide they need a wonderful companion like Lady. They will check out their local pet store or breeder and bring home baby.Cockatoos are not good companions for the unprepared.

The problem is that Cockatoos, especially Moluccans, are one of the top species to require re-homing. This means the first home couldn’t cut it, and often the second home, and third home, and so on. And, with a lifespan of up to 70 years, this “and so on” can become extensive.

Moluccan Cockatoos can be sweet and cuddly, and bond closely to their person, but there is a dark side to this:

• Cockatoos are clingy. The cuddliness often turns into clinginess as the bird matures, and they become demanding, territorial, and high-maintenance. When they cannot be with their person 24/7 they may scream, self-mutilate, and become aggressive.
• Cockatoos are loud. The volume of the screaming is enough to curdle blood, and simply cannot be tolerated in many residential settings.
• Cockatoos self-mutilate. The self-mutilation can become so severe that the bird is virtually naked and requires collaring to avoid damage to the flesh. This is heart-breaking to deal with.
• Cockatoos are destructive. If the noise and the clinginess don’t cause the guardian to waiver in his resolve to care for the bird, sometimes the destruction of their homes does. They like to chew, and they must chew to maintain the health of their beaks. Without proper training and access to appropriate toys they will chew anything.
• Cockatoos are messy. Cockatoos produce copious amounts of powder down. Some people cannot tolerate the fine dusty particles that cover everything, since sinuses can be aggravated and many are very allergic. At the very least it is extremely challenging to keep the living space clean.
• Cockatoos are smart. This is not a pet that you can interact with for 30 minutes a day, then pop into a cage with little to keep him or her busy. Cockatoos take time, lots of it, and an endless supply of challenging toys.

Most people who adopt on a whim are not prepared for this.

If Lady happens to be a talker, it’s even more problematic. When I take my Mitred Conure out to educational sessions or pet therapy usually the first question people ask me is “Does she talk?” I tell them “Yes, absolutely. She speaks parrot, and I’m trying my best to learn.” Too often parrots are adopted because the idea of a talking pet is simply irresistible. If Lady talks, look out.

Buying a Cockatoo might support illegal importation
If all of this attention meant that parrot rescues would be inundated with people willing and able to provide long-term, loving, knowledgeable homes to the cockatoos in their care, fabulous! The more likely scenario, though, is that people will go to pet stores, or head to a breeder for a baby. And the cycle of buy, become exasperated, dump, will continue, as it has over and over again. Add to this the very real concern that you cannot be certain where pet store birds come from. They may have been bred locally, and the quality of breeders is extremely variable. They may also have been imported.

The Moluccan Cockatoo is listed as a vulnerable species, on Appendix I [the most endangered list] of The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, so the trade in wild-caught Moluccans is illegal. Sadly, this does not mean that it has ended, and the ways that smugglers get birds into the country are typically horrific.

Impulse-buying of Cockatoos will lead to more shelter-overpopulation
Rescues are typically responsible about educating prospective adopters about the challenges of the species they are interested in, so it is no surprise that finding suitable homes for the many, many Cockatoos that come into their programs is tough. And if Lady’s appearance on The Voice encourages even a few people to buy a bird, there is no doubt that this means more future shelter residents — NO doubt.

In The Parrot Who Owns Me, Joanna Burger wrote that “being owned by a parrot is not for the faint of heart.” Multiply this by ten when it comes to Moluccans. If those who purchase these birds aren’t prepared to maintain the relationship over the long haul, somebody will have to step in, and that somebody too often is a rescue organization that is staffed mostly or entirely by volunteers, in a space that is inadequate, and with more Cockatoos than can possibly be adopted out.

How you can help
But you, the reader, can help Cockatoos.

1. You might want to let The Voice know what you think. (You can contact the show here.) If they risk losing viewers they might reconsider.
2. Please help your local parrot sanctuary/rescue organization, as a donor or a volunteer.
3. Finally, never, ever adopt a bird or animal that you have not researched and that you are not prepared to truly make a member of your family. This means you must be in it for better or for worse. [If you're thinking of adopting, read 10 Questions to Ask Before You Adopt A Bird.]