The Parrots at Our Window

Every morning and every evening several parrots can be seen from our living room window. Most of the time they are perched on a tall bamboo stalk, usually in pairs. Sometimes there are as many as 3 couples at one time, enjoying the ride as the bamboo branches sway in the wind.

Parrots are monogamous and faithful to their partners. It’s as if they realize the great value their mate holds and don’t take them for granted. They watch out for each other and stick close together. We could learn a lot from them!

Our neighbors one floor down from us have a captive parrot that they let out of the cage (keeping the window closed). The wild parrots come to visit this parrot almost daily. They sit on the window seal and talk to him, chirping words of encouragement and comfort. “Don’t worry, someday we’ll get you out of here” I imagine them saying as they squawk back and forth. The captive parrot is always excited to see his friends and sits on the inner window seal to get as close as he can to them. When his friends eventually fly away, he sits there looking at them as they get farther and farther away. So sad!

Every morning and every evening, the parrots sit on a tree near the balcony of one of our neighbors, who feeds them regularly. He puts out seeds and fruit for them and then goes back inside the house. If the parrots arrive at mealtime and their treats haven’t been provided, they sit on the tree and squawk, reminding this kind man that it’s time for their dinner. Once he puts out their food, they take turns flying to the balcony, going in pairs, and then moving out of the way for another pair to eat. I have never seen them fighting over the food and they only seem to eat what they need, always leaving some for the others.

Parrots have learned to work in groups and cooperate in ways that will benefit the entire community. When they find a new source of food, they don’t hoard it, but they let the others know about it and share without selfishness. They also are known for helping to raise the community’s young, even though they are monogamous. They remind me of elephants in this respect, where several in the herd keep an eye on the young ones.

Parrots are great at problem solving and can undertake puzzles and other tasks that required great intelligence. Most people think of the way parrots learn to talk and repeat what they hear, and this of course does take intelligence, but they are also capable of complex problem solving and are resilient in the face of adversity and danger.

I have learned a lot from these beautiful friends who grace us with their presence every day and I know they will continue to teach us valuable lessons.