THE RUNAWAY

During my last visit to Gilroy Gardens, they had an exotic bird show going on.  One of the Cockatoo's has a tendancy to "run away" from home.  She doesn't go far, but the trainer and park employees have to rescue her, because she doesn't want to come down on her own.....  Actually I think she likes the attention.

"Hey, here I am up in this very big tree.   Maybe we should call the Fire department, I hear they get cats down from trees!   I don't think that would go over too well, maybe we should just forget that idea."

Here's Jennifer trying to coax me out of the tree.... forget it Jenn, it's not going to work!

Ha Ha this is pretty funny.... I'm loving all the attention!  See the big smile on my face?

"Here comes Matthew, he got the ladder out to try to get me down.  I think I'll just step further out on this branch.  TSK, TSK!  Look he's trying to coax me down with food too!"

"Oh no! I'm in trouble now.... my trainer is up here in the tree too, guess I'll let him get me.  It takes two baby......  HA HA I really got everyone involved in this.  There's a lady down there taking photos of all this!  I'M A STAR!!!!......"

"This is my trainer and I.  You can see the ladder in the background.... that was soooo exciting!  And boy did I have a view from up there in the tree, all I wanted to do was watch the bird show after my part of the show was over."

"After all that I get a reward!?"  Maybe I'll do it again tomorrow..... that was fun!  I feel so loved!" 

White cockatoos are extremely bright and inquisitive birds. They have the ability to use tools, such as using a branch to scratch their backs. Birds in captivity require nearly constant mental stimulation. They are constantly moving, climbing, and doing gymnastics. In captivity, birds with too little mental stimulation often become neurotic, plucking their feathers to the point of baldness.

Captive white cockatoos are known to be very affectionate with their human companions, acting much more like a dog than a bird in this respect.