Rose Ringed Parakeet or the common Indian Parrot

Who of us is not familiar with the parrot. Bright green colour, awesome texture, intense red band on the neck and the red beak. Once upon a time, every household had one. People used to love to flaunt their caged talking parrot.

Success story of parrot conservation in India

The craze for a parrot as pet took on at such pace that the government and wild life conservationists had to intervene. It is illegal to keep a parrot caged and can attract a fine of Rs 25,000 and/or a jail term of up to three years. Public awareness and concerted drive on bird catchers and smugglers have improved the situation. Parrots in the wild are thriving and many experts even claim that they are able to adapt and survive the harsh urban landscape.

Parrots are elegant and intelligent

Parrots have four toes which are zygodactyl which means two toes are facing forward and two are turned backwards. This means that they look very awkward while walking. But on the other hand, they can use these set of toes to grip things easily as humans do.

One of the neatest trick by a parrot is to hold a seed or fruit in one leg and eating off bits by its beak with one leg on the perch. Parrots are playful and noisy. But they need lot of playtime and activity outside their cages. Thats why it is best left for them to enjoy in the wild, freedom.

Other birds in India are also exploited by humans, like the owls are used by tantriks for some rituals. They are sacrificed during diwali for happiness and prosperity for families. The foreign birds or exotic birds are not covered under the Wildlife Protection Act. This allows bird sellers to sell these birds openly in the markets. It is impossible to find out if these birds have been smuggled in from abroad or bred locally in captivity.

And yes, the most important of all. Parrots cannot tell your future or fortune. Yes they can forage well. So let them be.