Parrots of the World

Birds have been trained and kept by man since the beginning of life, as we know it.   Ornamental birds, such as parrots, have always been the favourites as companions for man.   They probably became favourites due to their ornamental appeal and colourful appearance.   These colourful creatures were collected and kept in cages as far back as 4000BC.   It was originally a hobby for the extremely wealthy people, such as, kings and emperors and noblemen.  

Alexander the Great was one of the best-known collectors of these beautiful creatures.   He is known to have bought dozens of parrots just before his death and following his ventures into India where he made many conquests.

In Europe the collecting of exotic birds such as parrots was not seen until after the Church had lost a great deal of its power in the years of the Renaissance period 1300 to 1600 AD.

The exploration of the New World by people like Sir Christopher Columbus and others brought exotic parrots back to this country.   Sir Christopher Columbus returned from one of his voyages with a present for Queen Isabella, a pair of Cuban Amazon parrots.

As travel became more popular and available to the public at large so the collecting of exotic species of parrots grew with it.

Unfortunately, bird diseases spread following the development of Bird Shows, which were first held in England from the late 1800s.   Close contact of the birds helped to spread these diseases and this in turn created a greater interest in the welfare of birds, their health and nutrition.

The parrot has a particular appeal to the human due to its ability to fly, to mimic, talk, and in some cases, to perform simple tricks.   The life span of some of the species can be between 70 and 100 years.   So, if you are considering purchasing a parrot you should think about the responsibility such a lifespan creates.