Hallo! My name is Shalom Nayena, which means 'peace' and 'love' in Hebrew and Sanskrit respectively. They fit me very well because I am very peaceful and serene while sleeping, and everyone is always gushing how extremely lovable I am. You can call me Shalom, that is what my family does although my mommy usually calls me her little angel puff. That is because I look angelic, and I give her a powder bath every time we cuddle.
I hatched out of my egg on 16 May '01 at Old World Aviaries and came home to my family on Oct 1'01. I am a Citron-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurae citrinocristata), a subspecies of the Lesser Sulphur-crested cockatoo. I am about 14" long, with stunning orange crest and cheeks. I adore my human flock, but I do not like strangers. I keep still as a statue, and hope they do not notice me. Unfortunately they do, but they always think I am stuffed. Ha! I am also very wary of new toys, although I turn them into toothpicks once I am sure they are not going to chew me first. We Citrons are one of the most exquisite creatures that ever graced the Earth, and I dazzle everyone who lays their eyes on me.
However, beauty comes with a price. Citrons are on the CITES Appendix 1 list, and that is very bad news since it means we are critically endangered. My brothers and sisters who live in the rainforests of Indonesia are suffering because of heavy poaching and deforestation. The good news is that the World Parrot Trust is fighting for our survival. Please support their cause by becoming a member, and save us and our cousins from extinction.
Here are more pictures of me! Am I a cutie, or what? These pictures were taken when I was still living with Dada Scott and Momma Linda at Old World Aviaries. My mom says I am a very pretty and special girl, and she feels very lucky to have me. I also feel very blessed to live with her, although she does get on my nerves at times.
Cockatoos are appreciated for their unsurpassed beauty and intelligence. We are also adorable cuddle bugs, and nothing makes us happier than to snuggle in the laps of our loved ones all day long. However, our gifts can turn against us and every cockatoo's nightmare is to be a victim of "impulse buying".
We are extremely vocal, and many people do not respect nor understand our need to vocalize. We are also very messy, and do not hesitate to plaster your walls, ceilings and furniture with food and whatever that will stick. Cockatoos tend to be dusty as well because our feathers produce powder to make them healthy. However, our powder not only coats our feathers, it coats the entire house as well. This might create health problems for humans who are allergic to fine dander. Owners who are not prepared for the happy shrieks, culinery artwork, and dust will send us packing, and that is why many cockatoos are bounced from home to home.
Because of our cuddle powers, many owners unknowingly spoil us when we first arrive in our new homes. Then reality calls our caretakers away, and we are suddenly left alone with only 1 hour of cuddles and playtime instead of the entire day. Faced with the fear of abandonment, we start to scream and holler. We might even pluck our beautiful feathers. Unable to handle the noise and our imperfections, we are either relegated to the garage or sent off to a new home.
This is a deep insult to us, for we are extremely sensitive and intelligent. Living with a cockatoo is NEVER a right, and we should be treated with respect and understanding. Before you consider adopting one of us, please take your time to do your research! When you have soak up every reliable source of information and advice, ask yourself if you are willing to commit to an intelligent, messy, mischievious, loud and demanding family member (not to mention the large bills, constant cleaning and food preparation) for the next 40 - 50 years. If your answer is 'yes', then you will be blessed with our unconditional love for a lifetime.
My mom takes her role as a parront very seriously. She did all her research before adopting me, and was prepared for the day I arrive. I live in a large house with lots of toys to entertain me. I also have a terrific playgym from Exotic Wood Dreams, and spend hours playing on it. My mom controls my dust problem by giving me frequent showers, doing regular house-cleaning, and running a HEPA filter 24 hours a day. I am fed Roudybush pellets and a variety of organic foods to ensure I have a well-balanced and nutritious diet. She also cooks special meals for me so I could enjoy a warm dinner every evening, which is nice when Buffalo winters are so cold!
Here is another picture of me on my playtree. I am very relaxed here, which is a rare sight. I love hanging out on my playtree, and I show my joy by displaying my 'Too dance. I start flapping really hard, swinging upside down, hollering at the top of my lungs and stretching my crest as far out as it could go. I am so powerful that the playtree starts to rock, and that always cracks my mommy up. After that it is my turn to laugh at her, because she has to vacuum the feathers, food, and whatever rubbish I drop onto the floor that scattered while I let loose my jungle roar.
My favourite pass-time is chewing, and I destroy ... eerrrr, I mean chew everything. My mom recently bought new blinds and curtains, and my eyes lit up as I watched dad put them up. The very first day those lovely curtains went up, I chewed a nice big hole in it so I could peek out and watch the wild birds. Mom did not realize how far I could stretch from my playgym, so she moved it back and now I cannot reach it no matter how far I stretch my neck or feeties. But my most favouritest times are cuddling with my mom, and having her preen my feathers. I go into a trance, and purr like a kitten while she cuddles, skritches and preens me. Aren't I lucky?
I live with an older step-brother, whom I really do not care too much for. He is a Green-cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae) and his name is Fortune. You could get to know him by visiting The Feathered Web. He tries to pick on me, but I do not let him bully me and neither does mom. When he lands on my cage, I raise my crest and open my beak to let him know that he is messing with the wrong chick!
The reality of living with cockatoos - mytoos.com ... who ever said the truth does not hurt?
To know more about Citrons, Leeward Coast Aviaries has an article about Citron cocktoos.
For a library of information about general birdkeeping to health to diet, the Winged Wisdom Magazine at BirdsnWays is your treasure trove.
If you would like to interact with other cockatoo owners or seek advice, please visit Too Ville.
Living with birds is a continuous learning process, and I better myself as a caregiver by subscribing to the Companion Parrot Quarterly.
I am also a member of the World Parrot Trust, which is an international organization based in the U.K.
to send me an email!