Parrots of the Caribbean
Our vocal friends
Benjamin Boone
Parrots have always been known to be the most intelligent birds on earth and, like children, intone words to a human voice. In the past 200 years their appearance has evolved from flat colors to iridescent greens pinks and purples.
Unlike the contrived parrot in a cage, the Eclectus is found flying throughout the world in New Guinea and the Solomon islands and around South America. There are 353 species in the West Indies, like the Eclectus, gathering fruit with gentle curious claws that touch and grapple objects they encounter.
Parrots are very friendly but fearful and feel the emotions of their surroundings so much that their muscles sometimes contract and they actually play dead.
Despite the stress, parrots live long lives, as long as humans, spending their time with people or other birds, learning from the emotions around them, creating an empathetic voice.
Photo: Campeche, the mascot at Gallery Inn in Old San Juan.
virginvoices.com photo by D.B. Bostdof
Benjamin Boone writes about nature.
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