If only I could show you what I see and hear right now... It is a sunny, beautiful day and all the balcony doors are wide open. The heat enters the apartment as well as the sounds from our neighbour's balcony. Musical sounds, just to clarify it. So, that neighbour has a parrot that is always on the terrace, although once I saw it on the shoulder of the neighbour, on the street. The parrot and his owner probably like this climate as they moved here from The Netherlands to enjoy the sun and mild winters.
Sometimes we hear whistling of simple but also complicated tunes like the National Anthem of France, La Marseillaise. However, my husband and I have different theories about who is whistling actually. He says it's a neighbour and not the parrot. I claim it's the parrot, but I've never proven it.
Until now!
Ta-da!! That moment arrived. I can prove to him today that parrots can learn stuff, like acting, doing sports, matching shapes and colours, singing and playing a musical instrument. Oh yes, that is what I see in the photos that I bring now for this #Throwback-Thursday post. But let's start from the beginning.
My son was five years old. With our friends and their little daughter, we went to a zoo. I am not a huge fan of these parks, as these animals don't live in their natural habitat. Of course, the vets and those who are in charge of looking after the animals do great work. Our friend is also a marine biologist so he was taking care of marine animals in this same zoo before he moved to another city, to a bigger centre. He has a great passion for what he does and always talks about the animals with much respect and love. Each person who works there has much responsibility, in taking care of, feeding and also teaching some animals, like it happens with parrots.
There was a parrot show that we watched with our little ones. I repeat, my son was five years old so the performance was suitable for them. Two ladies hosted the show and guided the parrots, and probably they trained the parrots to do the whole performance.
The parrots here acted, according to the story. The evil lady came and one of the parrots "ate" the poisoned apple. Now we were worried, about what would happen, who would save the Blue-and-yellow macaw? Do you see him lying on his back?
The other lady talked to the audience holding another Ara in her hand. What will they do to save the poisoned friend? The children shouted the ideas: save him and call the doctor.
Great, here comes an ambulance car!! Quickly, quickly, come and save your parrot friend.
The show covered other different stories too. Also, the parrots played basketball and drove a scooter, they solved logical problems, as well as recognised shapes and colours.
But it was not all. Here comes the part that will help me convince my husband that parrots can sing and play musical instruments.
This red Ara was playing the piano.
He had a little white piano, suitable for him. I behaved well and I didn't go to the stage to play the piano with him, it was his show now. He even bowed at the end of his recital.
This happened a long time ago. I don't know whether this show still exists or not, and do these parrots still perform? Maybe I should ask my neighbour to teach his parrot to play the piano too, and not just to whistle the tune of La Marseillaise 😉
