"Paulie" a feathered Dalmatian?

by Ellen Feinstein Krueger

There's a charming new movie in theaters this week. It's called "Paulie" and its star is a parrot, a blue crowned conure, to be exact. The movie, from Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks films, has been blitzing its way into our lives for the past week or two with adorable commercials that appeal to just about everyone. Without a doubt, Paulie is a cute character. He's a parrot who talks and helps his owner, a little girl with a debilitating stutter, to over come her problem. Along the way, he has adventures that excite and entertain us all. He's a first class spokesman for getting a parrot as a pet.

Or is he? Though Paulie is an extremely appealing character, those of us who already have companion birds in our lives, have great fears that the popularity of this movie will encourage lots of people to run out and get parrots as pets. Is that a problem, you ask? Actually it is.

When Disney released its live action version of 101 Dalmatians there was a crush to purchase those adorable Dalmatian puppies as pets for the children who fell in love with them in the movie. The outcome of these purchases was many unhappy pet owners and just as many miserable dogs, as dalmatians are not a particularly appropriate pet for young children. Their personalities are not suited to the kind of interaction these families had imagined. Soon pet shelters and pounds were glutted with dalmatians that just didn't make it as pets.

Companion bird owners have great fears that the same thing is about to happen with parrots because of lovable Paulie. We who have parrots (or are owned by them, which is really the case), derive enormous pleasure from our birds and would be very unhappy without them. However, we also know the less desirable aspects of keeping a pet bird.

While parrots are extremely intelligent beings, this is often the source of problems. Parrots need and demand a lot of attention. If they are neglected, they can compensate by destructive behavior such as plucking and self-mutilation. Conures, such as Paulie, are very loud. Mornings and evenings, they, along with most parrots, vocalize for a period of time. Since not every parrot is guaranteed to talk, this vocalizing often consists of cries, screams and other harsh sounds that can be annoying.

They're messy, preferring to drop and fling their food while they eat. They eat pretty much all day when they're hungry. And, since what goes in, must come out, pooping is one of the things birds do best, and most often.

Parrots spend a good part of their day grooming themselves, preening their feathers and getting rid of the old ones. In addition to the feathers, there is a generous amount of dust and flakes in the form of dander that comes off of their bodies. They also bathe in their water bowls.

When they're not eating, pooping, preening or making noise, parrots spend a lot of their time playing. The way they play is to throw their toys, shred whatever is handy, and chew on whatever they can reach, regardless of its value to anyone else.

As far as temperament goes, while birds can be sweet and charming, they definitely have minds of their own. It's a rare bird that doesn't give a nip to someone on occasion. Some birds can be nippy to disagreeable all of the time. The bigger the beak, the greater the risk of a painful or damaging bite.

Buying a parrot is a big investment in money, energy and time. A blue crowned conure like Paulie costs in the neighborhood of $400 and up. Some parrots cost more, others less. Parrots do not exist on birdseed. They need a varied diet of pellets, water, fresh fruits and vegetables. They need annual veterinary care and more, if they get sick. This can be costly. Their wings and nails will need trimming multiple times each year. If you don't do it yourself, you'll have to pay to have it done. Your parrot will need the biggest cage you can afford to buy, with lots of toys to keep it amused when it lets you go do something without it.

Parrots are long lived. You may find yourself with a bird that can outlive you. It's an important consideration because of the bonding that takes place between the bird and its owner. Parrots often bond to just one member of a family and don't like the others. If you can't keep this bird, finding it a new home may not be easy. And it will definitely have an impact on this beautiful, fascinating, intelligent creature.

By now you're thinking, if this is a bird lover, I'd hate to see someone who didn't like them. Have no doubt, I do love birds. Anyone who knows me will tell you my parrot comes up in conversation at least as often as my children. He has his own web page. I didn't make one for them. He can be sweet and cuddly, or very fresh. Though he likes the whole family, his greatest pleasure is to be with me. In truth, I'd be lost without him, too. But I knew what I was getting into before I made the plunge.

That's what I am advocating. If you and your family are enthralled by Paulie, if you think you can't live without a parrot of your own, do some research to see if you can possibly live with one.

Go to a bird store and see the way the birds act. Talk to a reputable breeder. Find out what the different breeds are like. Understand that hand feeding a very young bird is a risky, time consuming job. Consider the noise factor. Talk to people who own birds. Go to the library and read books on parrots. Check out a local bird club to see what they can tell you about different breeds of parrots. Surf the internet. There is a mailing list for almost every breed of companion bird out there. Bird Talk and Caged Bird magazines can also give you insight into aspects of bird ownership you hadn't considered.

If, after giving it a lot of thought and preparation, you decide to get yourself a companion bird, get ready for a wonderful rewarding relationship with a great little buddy. You'll find that, movie hero or not, Paulie is nowhere as special as your own pet parrot.