Great Billed parrots are one of the rarest of parrot genera. The scientific name is Tanygnathus. We were fortunate to acquire a pair in 2003 that originally were purchased from June Dinger of Florida. Our pair Waldo and June were quite young, but definitely bonded when they came to us. While we were preparing an aviary for them they lived with us in a spare room and are pictured here. Like most Great Bills they are rather stand-offish, a little like the male Eclectus. We have only had three chicks.

Eclectus is a genus of parrots which includes several subspecies, four of which are commonly bred. The unique characteristic of this group of parrots is their dimorphism or the distinct difference between the males and females. These are one of the most popular parrots. Both males and females are good talkers, rather quiet birds who do well in the homes of educated bird people.

To be able to share with other bird lovers the experience of raising these incredible creatures has been a long-term dream. So many of our familiar parrots are very close to extinction as habitats continue to decline and the planet becomes more toxic, physically and spiritually.

Unfortunately, Moluccan cockatoos rarely take care of their young in captivity. This necessitates the artificial incubation, hatching and rearing by humans. We were blessed when we purchased a proven pair of them in the early 1990’s. They were probably wild caught birds and it now sickens me to think of how they were probably captured. This was all before the Wild Bird Act of 1992 and before we, thankfully, stopped the importation of parrots to the United States.

It may seem ironic that the birds shown in this slide show are Moluccan Cockatoos, because this species is probably the one that is least adaptable to our modern homes and the one that most behaviorists agree should never have been taken from the wild. There is a movement to discourage breeders from raising the white cockatoos since so many of them end up in sanctuaries or second, third or more homes. I think the images speak for themselves, but, don’t go out and buy one. If you must, adopt or visit them at sanctuaries and zoos. Share our experience through this slide show.

The shots of the eggs were taken while they were being incubated in a Grumbach incubator. The first shows the fertile egg at about day 12 of development. At the center of the egg where the veins begin to branch you can actually visualize the baby heart. If we had taken movies, you could actually see the heart pulsating.

Ten week old Moluccan Cockatoo chicks in the nursery not sure about the red drones overhead.

Cockatoos Many Parrot experts will tell you that most species of Cockatoos should never have been brought from the wild and asked to share our homes. The numbers of cockatoos in sanctuaries and those waiting for adoptive homes confirms this belief. People are drawn to these beautiful white, fluffy, cuddly birds because of their loving, affectionate nature. Too often these birds become major behavior problems because of their neediness and demand for constant attention. Unwitting owners often reinforce these tendencies, dooming the bird to a multitude of problems.