Cockatoo
JAKE, an Umbrella Cockatoo, arrived in January 2018 at the age of 42 after his owner abruptly dropped him off, claiming his screams were unbearable. Ironically, we’ve found Jake to be the complete opposite—he’s an absolute sweetheart!
A true cuddle bug, Jake adores affection and has an endearing habit of making soft clucking noises with his tongue whenever he’s being hugged. He shares his space with two other cockatoos—Cami, a Moluccan, and Casper, a Goffin’s—though he doesn’t always enjoy sharing attention. If we dote on the others too much, Jake’s jealousy quickly shows!
One thing all three cockatoos have in common? Their love for heavy metal! We’ve discovered that they are enthusiastic head-bangers who love to dance and sing along. While Jake doesn’t talk, he more than makes up for it with his impressive screeches—earning him the title of best screecher in the flock!
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Cacatuidae
GENUS: Cacatua
SPECIES: Alba
Cockatoos live in flocks, or cackles. They are monogamous and mate for life. The name “umbrella” is due to the way the crest on their head opens. They are also called the “white cockatoo.” They can be found in Indonesia and the Australasian realm, (Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian archipelago). Their crest is used for communication, and their feathers are covered in a powder to help waterproof them in a tropical climate. Think of putting powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry. Mating season is from December to March where both the male and the female share incubating duties. After approximately 30 day and laying 2 to 3 eggs, the parents choose to raise only one baby. The other eggs were made just incase the first one didn’t work out. The baby learns to fly at about 3 months old but does not sexually mature until the age of 6. Their average lifespan in the wild is 30 to 40 yrs.
Threats
The biggest threat to the white cockatoos is illegal trapping for pet trade birds. Habitat loss and hunting comes in as a close second.
Conservation Status
EN - Endangered