Parrots have been kept in homes as pets for decades.
They are bright, beautiful, and intelligent animals that people love to have around.
But what about those parrots that are in the wild?
Some people feel like the wild is the best place to see these magnificent birds – in their own natural habitat.
But not all of us have time to head to the forest to see our favorite parrots at work.
So how can we attract parrots to our balcony?
The simple answer is – with food. You know how they say that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through food? Well, the same is true for parrots! If you supply them with the food that they need, they will come running (or in their case, flying).
But what types of food are the most attractive for wild parrots?
Can you attract parrots in the city?
Or is it only possible in the country?
And are there any precautions you need to take when feeding and attracting wild parrots?
Today we will answer all of these questions plus many more – so let’s not waste another minute!
Why do we love wild parrots so much anyways?
People have long admired and been fascinated by parrots.
What’s the big attraction anyways?
Well first off, parrots are extremely beautiful.
Parrots like the Macaw are considered to be some of the most beautiful birds in the world.
The amazing color combinations of their feathers definitely stand out in a crowd and are enough to make anyone ooh and ahh.
The main reason that we are so fascinated by parrots is because of their high degree of intelligence.
Parrots are some of the most intelligent species in the world.
And while all varieties of parrot have different levels of intelligence, there are some that are so smart that it’s fascinating.
Some species of parrot, like the African Grey, can learn over 1000 different words and understand the meaning behind them.
Many parrots can also mimic different sounds.
Parrots aren’t only intelligent, they’re also extremely social.
So unlike many other birds that stray away from humans, parrots often enjoy the interactions – especially if you have developed a bond.
How do you attract parrots to your balcony?
As we already mentioned, the way to a parrot’s heart is through its stomach.
So providing them with fresh food and water is the best way to attract them to your balcony.
Of course, you don’t want to just throw food down on the ground, but there are some things you can buy for feeding birds.
The best thing that you can buy for feeding parrots is a parrot feeder.
Most parrots will not be able to eat from regular bird feeders because they are too big.
A parrot feeder is designed specifically for larger parrots to sit on.
They can be purchased in most pet stores. Alternatively you can set out a shallow dish for parrots to eat from or hang the treats directly from your balcony using natural twines.
Because parrots also require water, you can also put out a bird bath or some other source of water.
Of course, water and food aren’t the only things that parrots need.
So while these are the best way to attract wild parrots to your balcony, there are some other things you can try too.
Firstly, provide them with what they need for shelter.
Parrots typically take shelter in tropical plants and trees, so planting some of these around your balcony may help to attract them – especially if food is available too.
Nesting materials like grasses and dead trees can also help to encourage parrots to stop by for a quick visit.
What should I feed wild parrots?
When setting up a feeding station you want to consider what parrots eat in the wild.
There are dozens of foods that you can choose from that will attract parrots, but you should try to keep it to the foods that they would find in their natural habitat.
This includes:
Fruits
Apples, bananas, figs, berries, and nectarines all make tasty treats for a parrot.
Just make sure to chop them up into bite sized pieces for smaller birds and remove seeds or pits before leaving them out.
Nuts
Parrots can eat a variety of different kinds of nuts including almonds, peanuts, and pistachios.
Just make sure that any nuts you give your parrot are not coated with any salts, sugars, or spices that would make them unsafe for birds.
Most parrots prefer the shells to be left on.
Vegetables
Mixed greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and other vegetables make excellent treats for wild parrots.
Seeds
Most parrots prefer fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables to seed mixes but sometimes purchasing a seed mix is the easier thing to do.
You can find seed mixes full of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and nuts at most pet stores.
Opt for a brand made specifically for wild parrots.
As a word of caution : there are some foods that are not safe for parrots to eat.
Always do your diligence before providing food for wild parrots to make sure that the food you choose will not harm them.
Can I attract wild parrots in the city or do I have to be in the country?
If you were to have asked this question a few decades ago, the answer would probably be that you would be unlikely to see parrots living in the city.
Thanks to evolution and human interaction, however, wild parrots can now be found in both rural and urban settings.
There are two main ways that parrots reached the city.
Firstly, parrots were brought to the city by people.
Many people now keep parrots as pets and either a) the parrot escapes or b) the owner realizes that they are too much work and releases them outdoors.
Once outdoors, these parrots do what parrots know how to do – find other parrots and mate.
By doing so, they create an in-city population that was never there before.
The other thing that draws parrots to the city are people just like you – you know, the ones who provide parrots with food on their lawns and balconies.
When in urban areas, parrots have to search and find their own food.
But when people leave food out for them, this is an easy way to get a meal.
Once a parrot knows that it can come to your home for an easy meal, it will continue coming back for more.
And if the city is where the food is, then why not go to the city?
Precautions for Feeding Wild Parrots:
If you are planning on feeding parrots outside, always make sure there are no feral or pet cats or animals nearby.
Parrots who feed on the ground are much more susceptible to predators – and you don’t want to see them end up as someone else’s meal when you are just trying to feed them one.
Clean all parrot feeders and baths regularly.
Parrots are susceptible to diseases from bacterial growth and if one parrot obtains a disease they can quickly take it back to the entire flock.
Clean up any fruit or food before it becomes fermented.
If parrots eat fermented foods they can become disoriented, leaving them more vulnerable to predators.
Check the ground to make sure no food has been dropped here.
If a banded bird comes to your balcony, report it to local authorities.
It could be missing from a local zoo or could be a lost pet.
Parrots that have escaped from captivity do not have the survival skills to make it in the wild on their own and need to be returned for their own safety.
Not all human foods are safe for parrots.
Never feed them foods that are riddled with sugar or salt like chips, chocolate, cake, or candy.
Always be sure to do your diligence before feeding anything to wild parrots to make sure it isn’t considered a toxic food.
And finally, if you are going to feed wild parrots from your balcony, avoid training them to hand feed.
Though having a beautiful parrot perch on your finger to eat can be tempting, it can put parrots in danger.
Wild parrots that are trained to feed from your hand will become over-trusting of humans, and can put them in danger of humans that may not be as kind as you.