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| Name: |
Tuk
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Age: |
Three and a half years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Quaker Parrakeet
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| Home: |
Kingsville, Texas, USA
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Tuk,
the Quaker Parrakeet, was born July 4th 1998. We got him five weeks
later; we named him Tuk-Tuk, because that is what young Quakers say when
they are begging for food, so cute. I hand fed him for another two and a
half weeks.
Tuk was very vocal at that stage. I started writing down all that he
said. At over two hundred phrases I quit keeping track. Three and a half
years later he is still coming up with something new. It seemed like an
endless task then, now, I know it was.
Now there are some people that say that parrots do not talk, they just
mimic. Well okay if that is what they think. But I know better. Now Tuk,
I don't feel is different than other Quakers. He does ramble on like
most parrots do at times. But when he wants something, whether it is
something to eat, play with or even just your attention he will talk. He
even talks with a specific thing in mind, a target goal. For example
when I get up in the morning I pass through the dinning room, where
Tuk's cage is, on my way to the kitchen to start the coffee.
Here is a conversation that happened one morning.
Tuk saw me and said "Good morning"
I said, "Good morning Tuk."
Tuk, "What are you doing?"
Me, "I am making some coffee."
Tuk, "Oh."
Tuk, "Is it good?"
Me, "Yes it is, Tuk."
Tuk, "Mmm good."
Me, "Thank you Tuk."
Tuk, "Open the door."
Me, "No, Tuk."
Tuk, "Please."
Me, "No Tuk, I am not opening your door."
Tuk, "Pretty Please."
Well what could I do, I opened his door. Now I tell you Tuk knew what
he wanted, when he didn't get it he talked me into it. He had an
objective and he accomplished what he wanted. That was not mimicking.
Tuk is my wife's bird, even though I hand fed him his heart belongs to
Cheryl. One of Tuk and my last interactions was when I got between him
and Cheryl and asked Tuk for a kiss. He kissed me all right; he
chomped down on my lip. He is smitten with Cheryl but then so am I, so
how can I fault him? He still talks to me, plays peek-a-boo with me
and even sings with me now and then. He is still my buddy, even though
he is Cheryl's bird.
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