As you may know cockatoos are highly intelligent parrots that live as long as humans. They also have a tendency to mimic and even learn human behaviour.



Cheeky bugger!

They are such awesome pets - as long as you don't have close neighbours.

Ours called the dog, 'Rex', who was a big Irish Setter and the dog used to actually go over to the bird which was pretty funny.

Also yelled "Mum!" a lot, but was so convincing that sometimes mum used to actually come and say, "WHAT!?" to us sitting on the couch.

It was excellent at imitating car sounds as well.

> John received a parrot as an early Christmas gift.
> The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.
> Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with
> profanity.
>
> John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently
> saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he
> could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.
> Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.
> The parrot yelled back.
>
> John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John,
> in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and shoved him in
> the freezer.
>
> For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.
> Then suddenly there was total quiet.
> Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
>
> Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot,
> John quickly opened the door to the freezer.
>
> The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said
> 'I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.
> I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I
> fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and
> unforgivable behavior.'
>
> John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.
> As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change
> in his behavior, the bird continued... .
>
>
> ........."May I inquire as to what the turkey did?'

I had a Sulfur crested Cocky named Charlie, man he was a funny bastard. He had a hell of a vocabulary and seemed pretty good at knowing when to use certain lines. He used to call my cats for dinner at around the same time every night and they'd come running. He copied the people next door reverse alarm on their 4wd and the guys cough he had the sound of a ringing phone down well enough they he'd often suck someone in. He also used to call my sister by name and my mum aswell.

One of his things was he used to like swiping my dads tools while he was working in the back yard. We used to let him wander around doing his own thing outside and he only ever flew off twice and both times into a nearby gum tree and he'd just sit there and scream blue murder until someone came to get him. He also become something of an expert at breaking out of his cage so we ended up pad locking it. He eventually learned how to use the key so if you gave it to him he could put it in the lock and open it up.

They are great companions but you absolutely have to dedicate your time to spending time with them. They are incredibly sociable and probably need more company than any other pet I can think of.

The Monty Python parrot sketch is an all time classic.

We are, were, baby sitting a friends bird, a parakeet I think, and it had this tumour over its eye. Anyway we found it dead yesterday morning. Bottom of the cage stiff as a board.

Missus and I both broke out into that sketch, couldn't help it. :-)

What does it keep saying?