Oh! my feathered friend

Playing parrots macaws and cockatoo
People have kept birds as pets for centuries. They have been admired for their companionship and even ornamental value.  However, some birds, such as parrots and cockatoos are very intelligent and intuitive as well. When it comes to bringing a bird home, it's important to realise that it requires a commitment that is unparalleled by any other. Exotic birds such as a Cockatoo or Macaw lives up to an age of 50-60 years. Even an ordinary parakeet lives up to 20 years. Exotic birds are the most sought after feathered pets in India. By “exotic” we mean, birds that are not native to India. These include; the African Love Birds, Zebra Finches, Java Sparrows and Budgerigars — commonly known as Lovebirds. Abdul Wahab
of the Bengaluru-based Wet Pets, breeds a variety of exotic birds. He  says, “Lovebirds are the world’s favourite birds for keeping as pets. Exotic birds arrived in India years ago, brought in by the British, merchants and travellers, from places as far flung as the Amazon, Africa, South America and Australia. Since then they have been bred in captivity in India and have acclimatised to the weather here.” While Cockatoos and Zebra Finches are native to Australia, the Grey Parrot and Yellow Naped Parrot belong to the Amazon. The majestic Macaw comes from South America. “Cockatoos, Macaws and Grey Parrots make great companions, and if brought home as a chick, develops a great bond with the owner.” Sahil Ismail, of the Pune-based Creekwood Birds, has been breeding and keeping birds since the age of ten.
Today, Sahil is one of  the country’s best known aviculturists with a wide collection of exotic birds. “Keeping birds is relatively easy as they require dry food that comprises of fresh fruit and a mixture of seeds. It is important to constantly supply them with fresh water.” He adds, “In my experience, I’ve found that the African birds are comparatively fragile, while the South African ones are hardy.” Anna Verghese, who’s kept a number of birds as pets at home, comments, “Birds are certainly not as demanding as dogs or cats. They require their nails to be trimmed regularly — so that they don’t scratch us. Also, their feathers need to be clipped as they can’t survive in the wild.” Source: Deccan Chronicle, Open Images In New Browser To Find Its Source Of Sharing