Squawk – it’s May 31, World Parrot Day!

They’re colourful, they’re cheeky, they’re incredibly clever… and some of them are endangered in the wild.

Established in 2004 by the World Parrot Trust, World Parrot Day, the day aims to promote awareness and conservation for parrots around the world.

Did you know?

7 facts about parrots – from https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/our-campaigns/sentience/animal-awareness-days/world-parrot-day/

1 – There are more than 350 parrot species. These include parakeets, macaws, cockatiels, and cockatoos.
2 – The smallest parrot is the buff-faced pygmy parrot. It weighs around 10-15 grams and is around 8.5 centimetres long. The largest parrot is the hyacinth macaw, which measures 90-100 centimetres.
3 – Parrots are long-lived. Kakapos can live for up to 95 years, scarlet macaws live for 40-50 years, and African grey parrots can live up to 50 years in the wild.
4 – Parrots are sentient beings who communicate with one another through their tail feathers and voices. Some blush to show their emotions, and they can also mimic other animals, including humans.
5 – Parrots are very clever. Researchers have shown that African greys have the cognitive skills of a five-year-old child.
6 – African grey parrots fly several miles every day in the wild. When kept as pets, these beautiful creatures are often cruelly confined in small, caged spaces.
7 – Parrots kept as pets often behave abnormally. They may pluck out their own feathers due to stress, boredom, and a lack of socialisation with other parrots.

By celebrating World Parrot Day, we can contribute to the protection of these magnificent birds and ensure their survival for future generations.

Many of our member artists love to paint parrots! From the largest Palm Cockatoos, to the gorgeous Rainbow Lorikeets, to the small, endangered Orange-Bellied Parrots with only a few dozen individuals left in the wild, parrots continue to inspire artists with their beauty, their intelligence and their antics.

At last year’s art exhibition at Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, QWASI raised $1,000 donation to Parrots in Paradise – a non-profit parrot sanctuary in the Glasshouse Mountains, QLD. Learn more about their fantastic work in protecting parrots here: https://www.parrotsinparadise.net/

Art works below by our talented members. Please check out their profiles for more information.