Every couple of years I visit Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Southern California and play with the birds. Meet the Superb Parrot native to Australia. This is the only bird featured in this post that is not designated endangered or vulnerable in the wild.
Every time I visit, I leave wanting to adopt one of their birds, like this Eclectus Parrot, native to the Solomon Islands.
Free Flight was established by an avian veterinarian to rescue and rehabilitate pet parrots. They have several highly endangered Hyacinth Macaws which are the largest of the Macaw species.
Friendly and outgoing Yellow Naped Amazons live in Mexico and Central America.
Pretty in Pink Moluccan Cockatoos are native to Indonesia.
Free Flight birds live in an open aviary and interact readily with the people who come to visit them.
African Grey Parrots from the Congo are famous talkers. Despite myths to the contrary, bird brains are intelligent brains. Parrot brains in particular are similar in several important ways to primate brains.
Blue and gold macaw are native to South America.
Cheers to you from the beautiful, happy and healthy parrots, at Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary~
For More on the non-profit sanctuary check out : https://www.freeflightbirds.org/about-free-flight
Their all nice, but I like the Superb Parrot!
He’s gorgeous isn’t he. We are heading back to Australia soon and I hope to see lots of birds like him.
Amazing shots! And how did you get those cranky birds to pose for you?
Thanks Mike, they are naturals!!!
What a great place and I love the bird shots!
Muchas gracias! It is a wonderful organization and a group of dedicated volunteers work here. So much fun to visit!
Reblogging this to my readers at sister site Timeless Wisdoms
You are most appreciated. Thank you & Happy Weekend <3
Same — and, same! 😚
<3 <3
I envy you so much Cindy, I adore birds and these are such colourful characters. Thank you for helping look after them.
Massive Hugs
I <3 people who <3 parrots! Thank you & cheers to you David.
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Thank you for supporting the parrots & cheers to you <3
Beautiful photos. I used to look after an African Grey for a friend. He was such a clever bird and had a huge repertoire, including a few choice swear words which he seemed to understand when to use. After he stayed with me for a few days his accent became distinctly Scottish.
Oh that is hilarious! I want to hear him speak with a Scottish accent.
Lovely birds. Lovely photos. So sad that eventually, the only way we’re going to experience these animals will be in sanctuaries or documentary films.
It is horrifying. Seeing them in the wild is an incredible experience.
Very impressive portraits! One wonders what they have seen. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks much. Lots of these birds were traumatized in some way, but they are all happy and healthy now, and interact readily with visitors.
Doesn’t nature provide such an abundance of beauty?
Yes indeed! Mother Nature rocks her artistry with the birdies.
What a treat to spend time with these wonderful birds Cindy, they look like such characters and excellent company! 😃💖 xxx
It is so fun to visit here. One parrot dances to music on your cell phone!
They’re so adorable, that image will stay with me for some time Cindy! 😃🎶 xxx
That makes me very happy. Thank you for telling me <3
They are so beautiful! And I am so happy that they have been rescued and are in an open aviary. Thanks for sharing your visit. 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating and caring about the birdies!
Gorgeous, and those eyes…all of them. They speak volumes.
Glad you see this. Bird eyes are sentient eyes <3
They are lively and gorgeous birds. I once knew a parrot named Pedro, who would chuckle when he heard laughter, which made us laugh even harder. He was such a character!
Lots of parrots imitate laughter. It is a total crack up. You laugh and they laugh, ever escalating <3
Exactly! So healthy. 🙂
Wonderful!
So beautiful…and colourful! Lovely 💚
Aren’t they gorgeous creatures <3
They really are!
<3 <3
Parrots, without doubt, are beautiful birds!
Mother Nature rocks her palette with the parrots!
The little fella from the Solomon’s looks like a cuddly stuffed toy!
Isn’t she adorable. I would love to adopt an eclectus. The males are bold solid red. And the do look like they are covered in downy fur.
They are all so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your wonderful visit! 💕
Awww, thank you so much for appreciating the parrots Bernice & cheers to you!
💕💕💕
Such stunning plumage. Wow. Thank you for spending time with those beautiful birds and sharing your experience with us, Cindy. I’m smiling big right now.
Your smile makes me happy I posted <3
What magnificent colours Cindy. I didn’t know there were so many different ones.
Leslie xoxo
And there are so many more than just this tiny sample. They mix up all the colors of the rainbow <3
🙂 <3
Parrots are such beautiful and intelligent creatures. We had an African grey parrot when I was a kid. He could perfectly imitate my mother’s voice and would often call for one of my brothers to come inside. Your photographs are fantastic as always, Cindy!
Oh I love that!! Calling them in just for fun. I bet he reprimanded them too! Hilarious….
Such beautiful colours on those birds, and I know that they’re real characters. I feel so bad that so many of them are endangered.
Seeing them in the wild creates such joy and it is where they need to be. Losing this is just incalculably sad.
I’ve seen Mexicans swinging cages with wild birds in them, hoping to sell them to tourists at border crossings. God only knows how long it was since the birds had a drink of water. It made me sad and angry at the same time.
I know it is heartbreaking on all levels, desperate people, and desperate animals. NOT OKAY.
Right.
<3 🦜
They are so beautiful! The colours are so vibrant!
Aren’t they incredible. Their colors can’t really be explained just for camouflage. It is like the most incredible artist of all time was being very creative!
Beautiful, beautiful birds!
I <3 people who <3 birds!
Loved the parrots! My 6-year-old granddaughter and I had a lot of fun looking at them. Her favorite was the fluffy-headed Electus parrot and the second to last gray one that looks like an owl.,
You have a perceptive grand daughter! The eclectus is the parrot I keep wanting to adopt and the African Greys are just the most incredible talkers. I am so glad your grand daughter enjoyed them <3
I love the shots of multi-coloured parrots you’ve shared with us I only saw green parrots in our part of the world, in Bangladesh I mean. 🙂
It is quite a rainbow isn’t it! I would love to visit Bangladesh and see your parrots.
Love the closeups you managed! They’re all beautiful. I hope we can take more off the endangered list soon <3
I share your hope. They deserve better from us. <3
Beautiful photographs. We had an Eclectus Parrot we rescued several years ago. They are really fun birds. Ours died of kidney failure, which is apparently fairly common in Eclectus the vet said. It was probably compromised by the horrible care it got before we rescued it. We have an African Grey who’s 11 years old now and a Gold Cap Conure who is 27 years old.
Oh my gosh! How awesome is that! How do you manage the birds with your cats? This is something I have been thinking about.
The birds have their own room, and the cats learn the difference be wild birds and parrots. The snake has her own room as well. I have to keep the separated as in the song.
I want to visit your house…….
If you are ever in Albuquerque, let me know.
I will. Thank you.
So colourful! I like the fellow with the fuzzy top, the Eclectus Parrot. I can see why you would want to bring one home.
They are gorgeous, sweet creatures. The female is solid emerald green, and the male is solid ruby red. Simply stunning.
I love that they are free-flight! You named them right – parrot portraits – as they seem to be posing for you. Just lovely! Too bad you could not take one home to the Hollow.
Thanks so much. I think seriously about adopting an eclectus every time I visit. But, now we have Herbert the cat to factor into the equation.
Gee whizz Cindy! I have ran out of superlatives for the quality of your work. Every feather is outlined and I feel like I could touch them. Brava!
Awww, they are wonderful creatures and it makes me happy to look at them, and share them with friends like you <3
😍
How beautiful!
Glad you enjoyed & cheers to you~
Beautiful indeed.
Very happy you like them.
Gasp – such beauty with those bright colors. Your pictures come to life and I feel I could reach out and touch the screen and pet those pretty birds!
The would love it if your could. They like being cuddled and petted and fed. Just like us!
Wow! Colorful! ‘Wunnerful, wunnerful’ -Lawrence Welk.
Laughing…..I live somewhat near to Lawrence Welk Village. I wonder why I have never visited!!! 😉 😉
Excellent.
Merci beaucoup!
Brilliant photos of these exuberant colorful creatures!!!!! 🙂
Thank you Marina. Much appreciated!
They all look so beautiful and vibrant, we dare say even seem to be posing! Great photos!
Parrots are being studied for their “sense of self in relation to the world,” so they may well have been posing. They certainly look the camera directly in the eye!
Superb shots, Cindy! 🙂
I used to, when i was younger, breed macaws, such as Blue and Golds. We now have two pet birds; both of them talk. One is a Scarlet Macaw and the other, Tweetie, is a Yellow Nape. Scarlet is as cuddly as a puppy and is very intelligent. Tweetie was with us since she was very young and talks with great comprehension. She does not just mimic. She even makes up her own questions and statements. She uses different words for the same meaning. Like (when she sees me with a bowl of food), “What do you have?” or “What do you got?” 🙂
Oh, how wonderful! Gives me goosebumps. Parrot intelligence is finally getting the scientific attention it deserves. I have always known how amazing there are. I would love to see and photograph your parrots. They sound incredible!
Is amazing about how intelligent they are! Way more research is needed. I think that the way Dr. Pepperberg — one of the scientific researchers of parrot intelligence — is doing it is partly wrong. I can see in her videos that her parrots are frustrated with being pushed to respond in the way that Pepperberg wants.
If you are ever in the northern Illinois area, let us know; you can sure visit the birds! 🙂
Yes. I know just what you mean. Too often I see experimental design that obviates what is attempting to be studied. I have seen this is studies with birds in labs. I have thought it with other studies too, anything that involves complex creatures (including humans) is affected by reductionist design. It is frustrating to me, to the subjects, and it impacts the results. But at least, finally, science is paying more attention to bird intelligence. They just to keep up with the birdies in terms of the complexity of their design!
My mother’s family all hailed from Illinois. I would love to visit and will give you a holler if I do, thank you!
Ahhhh what a wonderful place. So many more rescue organizations are needed for unwanted parrots. Great pics!
Yes, so true, they get passed around in a shameful manner.
Yes, we have 3 in our home and 2 came to us quite depressed. It has been 10 years and they are finally truly blossoming.
You know what would love to do, visit all the bloggers with birds who have weighed in here, take photos and do posts on each of you. It would be so awesome and so much fun! Thank you for giving these birdies a stable home. <3
They are such interesting and complex beings. Non-parrot people think we are weird, so thank you for seeing the beauty, personality, and value in these birds.
Power to the parrot people 🦜 <3
These are all just beautiful birds, fantastic photos Cindy 💕
Thanks much Charlotte. I am so enjoying watching your opera career take flight <3
Niceee!😲👍
Grazie Mille <3
Wow! Absolutely stunning.
Mother Nature rocks her parrots <3 Happy you enjoyed them!
🙂
Adorable birds, captured beautifully! Thank you Cindy 💛
Thank you more for appreciating our feathered friends Val <3
Oh, Cindy, they are so extraordinarily beautiful! Wonderful photos as always!
Thank you Linda <3 We live in such a beautiful world. It would be wonderful, if we would start taking care of it, and all the creatures living on it…..
Gorgeous!
http://www.motownsavvy.com
Grazie mille~
I’m in love with them all!
It seems that parrots live longer than people. Therefore, why would anyone subject a sweet bird to a semi-life, filled with caring and love? You know you will die & leave it one day. The parrots should stay in their natural habitat.
Oh… humans are not nice to animals, by and large.
Agreed. It is tragic. Lots of these birds, even when raised by loving people are shuffled about when their owners die or get sick. Many of them pull out their own feathers in misery. It is very sad. Humans are failing to alter their behavior towards, animals, the earth, and their fellow humans. There are 59,000 homeless people living on the streets of LA right now, most of them with untreated mental illness. We’ve had plenty of warning about all this, and we ignore it to our own peril.
Leave it to you to capture these incredible images of the birds. I am in awe when I look at these colors and feathers, but the eyes…oh my goodness. They speak to me.
Thank you so much, Cindy. You take me to places I’ll never see anywhere except through your lens. It’s enough for me.
Awwww, people like you make blogging a joy and privilege Sheila. <3 Parrots are such intelligent creatures. Even in the wild, they are curious about us, and will go out of their way to people watch. I have loved parrots since I was a kid.
I’m in love with every single one of them.
Which is why we understand each other so well <3
Pingback: Parrot Portraits~ — (a beautiful gift from Cindy Knoke…be sure not to miss any of the gorgeous photographs) | Rethinking Life
Thank you my friend for supporting our feathered friends <3
These parrots are beautiful!!!!!!
I <3 people who <3 parrots!
How are they both beautiful and endearingly cute? I suppose that’s what got them to a sanctuary: they are themselves and not what we project.
Yes. Exactly. They are highly social creatures, used to living in flocks, and they live a very long time. People put them in cages and leave them alone and they become miserable and act out. Sometimes their owners die or get sick and the birds then get shuffled around and traumatized. In a better world, they would live in the wild unmolested, and we would thrill to catch sights of them there.
They’re beautiful, but I love the Eclectus one best, lol. The Pink Moluccan comes in at a close second for me! 😊
I have been wanting to adopt an Eclectus for years. They are sweet tempered too.
Miss my African Gray Sammy <3
How awesome you had one Eunice <3
I could never place him. So smart loving and handsome
Yes. I understand. And I hope you know, I have felt privileged to be connected to you, Eunice.
<3 me too
<3
Cindy, thank you again for lovely photographs!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are beautiful photographs of stunning birds from Cindy Knoke!
Blogging is such a gift because I get to know wonderful people like you Charles. Thank you <3
FANTASTIC PHOTOGRAPHS CINDY, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
Thank you China & cheers to you <3
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
These portraits are indescribably beautiful. I’m awestruck.
Awwwww……I <3 my very kind blogging friends. Thank you Liz & be well.
Cindy, I just love this birds…they are so beautiful and very intelligent too. Thank you for sharing. Awesome and stunningly beautiful.
Awwww…..Thank you! I <3 my friends who <3 birds.
I adore parrots. I did bird rescue for the Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture in Colorado for several years back in the nineties. I rehabilitated everything from lovebirds and cockatiels to cockatoos and greys, and lots of birds on the size scale in between. Then I found loving homes for the ones who weren’t too angry or traumatized to adapt to new owners. But parrots are as intelligent and hungry for attention as toddlers, and when they’re hurt, they don’t heal easily. Nor do they ever grow up. When you get a parrot, you’re basically committing to decades of feathered child-rearing. Reputable breeders won’t sell parrots without asking their new owners how the birds will be provided for in case of death or incapacitation. In fact, parrots never should have been taken into captivity. Especially in our fast-paced, mobile society, they don’t fit most people’s on-the-go lifestyles. The neglect–not tomention outright cruelty I saw as a bird rescuer–was part of why I got out of the biz. I was starting to deeply dislike my fellow human beings. In any case, I’ll always have at least one bird. Right now, because I’m busy raising a daughter, writing, and working as a freelance editor and proofreader to support my author habit, I’ve only got one parakeet named Rocket. But his cheerful chattering and chirping makes my home a happier place.
I hear you. So wonderful that you did this. Thank you! I met a parrot rescuer who had an amazing facility in Anza Ca. that appears to have closed. She was in The Twin Towers during 911. She quit her job and bought a remote place near The Holler where she rescued traumatized birds, and bred endangered ones. I asked her about the history of the birds, many of them were given up by loving owners who were undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and told by their physicians to remove the birds. I didn’t expect this story. She said many owners were heartbroken. It is such a tragic business from all angles. First the birds were stolen from the wild, dramatically reducing their numbers, and then they were bred to live solitary lives as pets which is utterly unnatural. Some of the parrots at Free Flight have the plucked feathers which is such a sad sign of unresolved trauma. I hear and agree with everything you are saying. It is hard not to lose confidence in our species. We do way too much harm. But, then, there are all the good people too. People like you. Thank you.
So beautiful and sweet! Thank goodness for sanctuaries!
It is so wonderful to see them in such a positive, healthy environment <3
As Terry said, it just takes one person. Mr. White is a true hero!
Amazing Photos.
Grazie mille <3
Great Beautiful Photos
Honored. Thank you & cheers!
A wonderful collection of these adorable creatures!
Awww, so happy you find them adorable! <3 🦜
Very pretty ! 🙂
Thank you!
I think the saddest case I ever had was an African grey whose feathers had been plucked by a twelve-year-old boy. His mom called us to take the bird because she had “gone and turned mean.” She hated women and kids from then on, but she fell in love with my husband. We kept her till our daughter came along, and she would let my husband snuggle her and rub her head, but I couldn’t get anywhere near her without her going carnivorous. We gave her to a sanctuary because we were afraid she would hurt the baby. She never did stop plucking, though, once that boy got her started. And man, did he ever teach her to cuss! Once a parrot learns to swear, its retail value drops by half, right there on the spot.
Oh my God. That is horrible, and so sad. Humans are the superior beings???? We’ve got a looong way to go to catch up to the less harmful creatures <3 🦜
Wow! Nice to see such beautiful & colorful parrots.
So happy you enjoyed them. They beautify our world 🦜
Absolutely!
<3
So beautiful birds und so great pictures! Thank you for that!
Thank you more for appreciating the 🦜🦜 <3
Amazing creatures and pictures!
Thanks my friend and cheers to you <3
Thanks to you for the pleasure you give. ♥
Thank you for you courageous humor.
XXX
<3
That is such a colourful parade, Cindy. A little bit of joy on a drab London morning. Thanks
Ahhh, you thoughtful comment made me happy I posted. Thank you!
Beautiful birds. The close up capture of these photographs enable us see the delicately placed designs and patterns of their feathers which is sheer artistry, not to even mention the vibrant colours, that make these birds nothing but one of Natures grand ‘show-offs’ !
Lovely !
They are each intricate works of art aren’t they. We all are <3
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Gorgeous photos taken by Cindy Knoke at the Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Southern California.
I love my wonderful blogging friends <3 Thank you Patricia 🦜
liebe Cindy, die sehen alle so hübsch aus, wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende mit vielen schönen Momenten, Klaus von der Müritz
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund und Frohe Sonnentag <3
danke, sehr nett
<3 🦜
das freut mich, alles Gute
<3 <3
vielen Dank
<3
wir passen eben auf
Great Pics Ciindy
Much appreciated!
Superb
Grazie Mille Derrick <3
Thank you so much for sharing this beauty with us all, CIndy.
Thank you more for appreciating these vulnerable beauties & cheers to you Lara~
Oh, you took great pictures of these cute birds. Every one of them just looks at you into your heart… They are so adorable.
I <3 my friends who <3 🦜🦜
I would post them on pintarest
Their coloring is fantastic and the sanctuary sounds like a great place to visit and have a chat with the parrots! Thanks for sharing their beauty Cindy.
Thank you more for appreciating the 🦜🦜 Brad & cheers to you~
Thanks Cindy!
<3
Your photographs are absolutely gorgeous!
I am touched and honored. Thank you!
https://youtu.be/9T1vfsHYiKY
Hilarious!
You are a bird whisperer! You have captured their unique personalities in your portraits. WOW!!!
Hugs to you Rebecca <3
Stunning colors on these lovely birdies, Cindy — thank you for sharing them!
Thank you more for appreciating them Debbie <3
Gorgeous colors. They are truly special!
Beautifully captured, Cindy. 🙂
Awww, you are very kind and most appreciated Amy. Thank you & cheers!
The parrots are gorgeous and are so many different colors. Beautiful!
Aren’t they wonderful! Designed with beauty in mind <3
Stunning … very, very stunning!
Love to you Frank, and be well~
They are all so gorgeous … such brilliant colours. And they each have a look of deep thought, of intelligence. Thanks for sharing these pictures!
Wild things, I have learned, are a lot more complicated than I was educated to believe.
Lost in contemplation! Wish we knew what is on their mind.
They see us, clearly. But they only devote one eye to it.
Beautiful
Grazie mille 🦜
😊😊😊
<3
Those are amazing!
I <3 people who <3 🦜🦜
Cindy, as always breath-taking. I love that there is a protected environment for them. Alas, if we don’t do something to turn around climate change, all species will be gone.
Have you been to Africa or China? They are doing amazing things in the desert. The Green Wall across the African Continent and another across China’s Gobi desert, There are many links on YouTube, here is one such video. https://youtu.be/IDgDWbQtlKI ❤
How wonderful, and yes I have been to Africa twice, not China though. So many people are trying so hard, while so many others continue on their destructive paths. Hugs to you Lea <3
You can see why those videos on the re-greening efforts caught my attention. Calins pour toi Cindy <3
<3 <3
❤❤
THese bird portraits are amazing Cindy. It’s like they wanted you to capture their images.
Maybe they did <3 🦜
Each one is a work of art. They are gorgeous birds. Thank you for perfectly capturing their beauty, Cindy.
Thank you more for your kind thoughtfulness <3
You are most welcome! ❤️
<3 <3
Beautiful parrots, great close up shots. They are lovely.
Very happy you enjoyed them & thank you! 🦜
Finding parrots in the wild is tricky because they are not so abundant anymore due to poaching for the pet trade and habitat destruction; also they are often high above, flying quickly by, and about the size of a rice kernel even with binoculars. So to see these close-ups is a real treat Cindy. These are some really rare birds. How wonderful to know about Free Flight Sanctuary.
Ah, so happy you enjoyed these beauties, and thank you my friend. It is indeed rare to see them in the wild, and quite a thrill when you do, especially if you come upon them nesting. The destruction of their habitat and the pet trade are just shameful.
I can just hear them saying, “Pretty bird, pretty bird,” and then punctuating it with one of their amazing raucous squawks.
Yep. And then topping it off with hysterical human laughter. I can hear it too! 🦜
So beautiful parrots, especially that blue one!
Absolutely gorgeous, Cindy. You find the coolest places to visit! 🙂 🙂
And I have the coolest friends joining me, like you Patti <3
☺️☺️
Cindy, these are taken with such affection and consideration. And they are marvelous portraits of fascinating birds.
Your sensitive comment touched my <3 Thank you sincerely Sally 🦜
The superb parrot is the cutest!! 😍😍 i love parrots!! Really gorgeous snaps! 👌
I <3 my friends who <3 🦜🦜🦜
They colours are so bright and clear that look unreal like some artist painted them. Beautiful birds!… and pictures as well. Like usual!
Ahhh, you are very kind Alexander & most appreciated too. Our respect for each other’s photography is mutual. Thank you.
🙂
Beautiful post!
Ah, very kind. Thank you Alexander.
I looked at their website briefly and while it is great that they offer homes to unwanted birds, they don’t seem to include information on why these birds are becoming endangered and threatened – because they are being caught and sold in wildlife trafficking. That is a real shame that they don’t highlight what people are doing to contribute to their demise as species. I can imagine your wanting to visit to see these beautiful birds.
That is a good idea. They are more focused on saving pet parrots that end up in horrible shape. I will mention your suggestion to them as I think it is a good one.
What gorgeous colors!
Mother Nature loves rocks her palette with the birdies!
What beautiful creature you captured.
Very kind & most appreciated Valentina, thank you!
My pleasure Cindy 😀
<3
Amazing birds! I especially love the hyacinth Macaw, such a striking color! Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos.
Thank you more Lyn for appreciating the birdies! <3
These birds are beautiful and their colors are so bright and vivid. I love how you mange to capture them at such close range.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness Beverly & be well my friend <3
Magnificent close ups Cindy. Most beautiful colors. 🙂
Thank you <3 Mother Nature, is telling something, with her artistry.
She sure is! <3
<3
Love their vibrant colors!God has truly enjoyed this play with colours while creating them! ❤God must have certainly been in a great mood! 😍
I agree! I think God made parrots to create beauty for us all to look on, marvel at, and smile, and of course, protect <3 🦜
Quite agree!! We truly need to protect them and all the beautiful species that are sadly facing extinction due to thoughtsless human activity creating loss of their natural habitat.
Great post Cindy as always!❤🙂
You said this beautifully and I concur 100%. Thank you Raj <3
❤🙏❤
so beautiful Cindy! Congratulations, in case you missed it, You were selected to be part of the Best Blog 2019 edition. Your work is beautiful, you can check out the post here: https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/best-blogs-spring-2019-edition/
Dorinda’s kindness deeply touches my heart and so does yours in doing this for your fellow bloggers and drawing my attention to it! Sincere thank yous to you and Dorinda. I love being part of our wonderful blogging community. <3
<3 <3 It was an absolute pleasure Cindy and I love being part of this community too!
<3 <3 <3
Beautiful parrots and the capture too is wonderful .
Very kind & most appreciated! Thank you 🦜
The Eclectus Parrot doesn’t even look real… more like a stuffed toy… but definitely adorable. All great shots.
Eclectus are just mythically beautiful creatures and sweet too 🦜🦜
Fantastic images, Cindy! Thank you so much, for bringing these very intelligent and nice birds to their honour. Michael
Ahhhh, thank you more for appreciating them Michael 🦜🦜
:-))
I love parrots. They are so beautiful, so colorful, and so intelligent.
I <3 my friends who <3 🦜🦜
Beautiful birds! We own two eclectus’ ourselves and they are not the most intelligent but speak incredibly!
Lucky you! I would love to have an eclectus, but Herbert our cat would love him too, for all the wrong reasons!
The difference between the colours on males and females is just amazing.
I know, the solid red, and green is just absolutely gorgeous!
Gorgeous photos of incredible birds. Are there limits on the exotic bird trade that could prevent these birds from being sold so freely as pets – and later needing to be rescued?
Yes, most countries are cooperating with the restrictions placed on exporting exotic and endangered birds. There is still illegal trading of course, and captive bird breeding in most countries. Since parrots often outlive their human hosts, this results in traumatized, orphaned adult birds who were entirely dependent and bonded with their humans, and are then shuffled around amongst people. Also some people buy domestically bred parrots with little understanding of the socialization and time required to keep highly social birds like parrots happy.
Thanks so much for this info, Cindy! Kudos for posting these beautiful images and for sharing the story of this special place. How wonderful that there are people so dedicated to caring for the birds and informing people of their plight.
I am very glad I get to meet you here in cyberspace <3
Agreed!! I love meeting people with common interests and concerns – so much to share~! ☺️
Visa versa 2UX2!
I love all these beautiful birds. You capture their essence so perfectly. My daughter has always had an unnatural fear of any birds flying close to her so it was interesting when we were at the Butterfly Garden in Victoria BC and a parrot took a shine to me. He landed on me and even when other’s tried to coax him away, he remained with me for quite some time. My daughter watched our interaction from a distance but felt less fear because of it. I talked to this sweet bird as my son videoed the whole thing. We should let them choose us as pets, and see how we feel being out of our element. I have never been fond of birds in cages but they do need protection from human predators. Thanks for sharing this, Cindy.
This comment so perfectly sums up why I so admire you Marlene. You are a deep thinker and a sensitive and empathic person. These are the qualities I most admire in people. You daughter and son both sound wonderful, which is no surprise, considering their mother. Be well my friend and thank you <3
Thank you for those kind words, Cindy. You do my heart good. Hugs to you.
Visa versa 2Ux2 Marlene <3
They’re so full of character! Happy travels, Cindy 🙂 🙂
I am home now, but send wonderful wishes to you in the beautiful Azores <3
All of them are so beautiful and colorful. I enjoyed this post. I see very seldom parrots, but few years ago I saw two inside Columbus museum in Las Palmas.
Have a good day!
It is special when you see them isn’t it! I am so glad you did & thank you sincerely for stopping by and sharing your very kind thoughts with me <3
Cindy, I am in awe of the way you’ve captured these majestic creatures! Their feathers in your photos are magnificent! Wow. What breathtaking birds. I love each and every one of them. It saddens me how nature is being destroyed everywhere we look. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. We must do a better job of taking care of the beauty we were entrusted with. Blessings to you for sharing this with us all.
Blessings to back to you X2! I <3 people who <3 our beautiful wild creatures. Thank you & so nice to meet you Holly <3
Wonderful!!
Grazie mille <3
I love seeing all the colors of the birds, beautiful portraits!
You and I will never tire looking at beautiful birds! Have a great weekend~
The pictures are always very good, but I think……….. you are using these parots to get on better, no no, much better for your photographing careeer! Pour ducks, and you probably shoot them later after the great photo, I know people like you, I´ll call PETA
love ya
Tee hee hee. And you’re right. Parrots are excellent subjects for making a photographer look good!!!
For you it seems it´s parrots, mountains, eagles, deers, everything basically.
You are a good friend Charly. Thank you & be well.
You too
<3
O, Now I have my own computer!!
Yay!
Gorgeous colours and terrific details!
Ah, thank you & cheers too my friend <3
We have those in our backyard, so to speak. Beautiful 🙂
I want to visit your backyard!
If you ever visit Australia you truly should ☺
Where are you? We are going to New South Wales again soon….
Oh my! These are adorable.
Aren’t they wonderful creatures! <3
Beautiful photos, Cindy and so glad to hear there is a sanctuary like this. xxx
God Bless those who rescue creatures great and small <3
They do have different expressions. 🙂
Yes, and personalities too!
So diverse and nice
Thanks much!
These guys are so handsome 💜💜
Aren’t they stunners! Full of personality too <3
Absolutely gorgeous 💜
You are very kind. Thank you <3
💜
Parrots are so beautiful. 🙂
I <3 people who <3 parrots!
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
I know that you all love parrot videos so feast your eyes on the beauties captured by the camera of Cindy Knoke… Stunning birds…lovely way to end the day.
Hugs to you sweet Sally & thank you sincerely for your thoughtfulness <3
Always delighted Cindy and they are so pretty.. ♥
<3 <3
As always great images, Cindy we had an African grey for many years and did he talk although my friend had a Macaw and that could talk the hind legs off a donkey and some…But both had great characters 🙂
Your comments make me chuckle and reminds me a bit of Mark Twain. It would be so awesome to have a talking parrot <3
He was always a great talking point and such a character…Never a dull moment you should get one, Cindy 🙂 x
I would love to someday……
I love these, Cindy. They have such a sweet yet mischievous demeanor. Hugs on the wing!
I <3 my friends like you Teagan who love 🦜🦜
bonjour ou bonsoir mon Amie et gentille CINDY
Merci pour ta présence
L’amitié est une source d’énergie
Elle dégage en nous une chaleur
Cette amitié c’est comme une
Source , comme l’eau qui coule d’un ruisseau
Elle nous donne de l’énergie positive et d’un besoin mutuelle
On ne peut se passer dans la vie de
Rire, pleurer, s’exprimer et se laisser aller
Comme les rayons de soleil qui entourent la terre
L’amitié c’est une force que nul ne peut ignorer
je te souhaite un très belle semaine une belle journée ou soirée
Et tout le meilleur dans ta demeure
je te fais de gros bisous
Bernard
https://i.postimg.cc/jd74HCDL/bonjour-bonne-journee-ensoleillee-astuce-jour-L-1.jpg
Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
Astonishingly beautiful portraits! 🦋 🦜 💕
Your kindness is much appreciated.
My pleasure, Cindy 😊
<3
Outstanding, their color, soft feather coats and they are so cute. My oldest girl had two parrots once, a male named Jake, and a female named Jessie. They could be hilarious watching them, but got to be a bit of work trying to take care of them with a job, etc. but were so much fun to watch, and especially when Jake once rolled a peanut on the counter riding it like one log rolling until he got it to the edge of the counter and let it roll off as it surprised him and then flew back to his cage. They were so funny, those two. They were amazon or south American parrots I believe.
They are wonderful creatures, but quite a lot of work as you mention to keep happy and healthy in captivity. Jake and Jessie sound wonderful <3
Beautiful!
Grazie!
I really love the birds, as I do almost all creatures.
As for the writing, I have no special pattern. I write when I do and if I try to write in any other way, I cannot write. So I wait until I am inspired to write and then start working. It works out pretty well for me that way. Thank you for the great post and photos.
Thank you and it is lovely to meet you <3
Astounding!
Grazie!
Really amazing gallery (as always)! Bye. K
Thank you Kamila & cheers to you my friend.
Beautiful birds. I am a bird lover myself, though not of your caliber.
Ahh, so incredibly kind of you. Every bird lover is exactly like me. And I love being able to meet similar souls. We like creatures that can fly away from us. This is a huge commonality. It is wonderful to meet you.