Name:
Magic.Species:
Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus.)Sex:
Male.Age:
12 Weeks.Favorite Foods:
Magic is still being fed handfeeding formula, but is also beginning to nibble on softened pellets!Favorite Toys:
There's not much that Magic really plays with right now, as he is only a baby! His mom, Wilma, says that she catches him watching things that go on all of the time. "Certain colors really seem to catch his eye" she says. "I'll bet that when he gets a little bigger, I'm really going to have my hands full because he's so curious!"Favorite Perches:
Right now, Magic's favorite place to be is in Wilma's hands. "He loves to cuddle" says Wilma "after he gets done eating I could just hold him for hours and he wouldn't mind a bit."Dislikes:
Magic hasn't yet shown any real dislikes, except for when Wilma is running late for one of his feedings! "He makes the most awful noise" she says. "He cries like he never gets fed -- but he eats like a horse!"Special Talents:
At Magic's young age, he is already trying to talk. "He is slowly beginning to squeak out the word 'hello'" says Wilma "But I'm probably the only one who can understand it." Magic will likely be a great talker one of these days, like many African Greys.Life with Magic:
Life with a baby bird can be hectic -- but Magic makes sure that his mom sticks to her schedule. "We have a whole daily routine with feedings and time for bonding and socialization" Wilma says. "If I deviate from our schedule by even a few minutes, Magic lets me know quick!"Wilma and Magic have been together since the day he hatched. She is a long time bird breeder and enthusiast, and chose Magic from the last batch of babies that her breeding pair raised this year. "He's my little baby" she says with affection. "When I took a good long look at the babies from this clutch, he just popped out with me, like magic. That's how he got his name!"
Wilma plans to teach Magic many tricks and phrases as he grows. "I want him to be like the trained birds that you see on Animal Planet." she says. "Because if there was ever an intelligent and capable bird, it's Magic."
Congratulations, Magic, on being the first Bird of the Week for August 2008!
Do you think that your bird should be the next "Bird of the Week"? If so, email me at birds.guide@about.com with photos and information about your pet. Make sure that all images are clear and bright, in .jpg format, and at least 200px.
