Rescued Exotic Birds

click here for Flickr slideshow (5 photos)

Traci and I were at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm Saturday last weekend and again yesterday with my parents while they were in town (photos to come of course).  One of the tents at the Tulip festival caught my attention more than the rest.  It was of K.C.'s Exotic Bird Rescue Foundation, from Salem.  This was a couple who committed themselves to rescuing macaws.  Most people know of macaws as parrots.  There are many different varieties of these birds.  Each bird that was rescued and was on display here had a distinct personality and was very well behaved.  Of course, I couldn’t keep my camera down, and my 70-200mm lens was perfect for such a close encounter.

The scarlet macaw was a very social bird.  She insisted on always being out and on people’s arms.  If she was put in the back of the tent with the rest of the birds, she would squawk and complain.  Traci is pictured above holding this gorgeous bird, while trying to keep her distance.

A funny moment occurred when a loud motorcycle passed behind the tent.  The umbrella cockatoo’s (the white bird in the photos) feathers all stood out on end and it screeched horribly.  Apparently it really didn’t mind, but had spent a lot of time with another bird that was quite disturbed by loud motorcycles, and this cockatoo just learned that’s how a bird is supposed to react to a passing motorcycle.

The little yellow collared mini macaw only wanted love and affection from his owner and rescuer.  He snuggled up to his owner's chest while the owner stroked him with his thumbs.  This little macaw often had his eyes half closed and seemed to be enjoying it like we enjoy a back rub.