Riti kicking back and fluffy

[Mark & Da Boyz]

She not sick just relaxing.

 

[faislaq]

Remember, the camera adds 10 grams. She sure is a cute little fluff, isn't she? I just noticed how neat her beak is.

 

[webchirp]

She is lovely...

 

[Nancy B]

Wow she's pretty. What kind of bird is she? Adorable

 

[Mark & Da Boyz]

Riti is a Red Fronted Kakariki, a fallow mutation. They are native to New Zealand and sadly are highly endangered. In fact they and the 2-3 other species of Kakariti have almost been wiped out on the large island and hand on only on the smaller island. Like the Carolina Parakeet man as almost wiped them out for the land to grow crops on and then killed the birds for eat a handful of food.

She is very shy and I've had to really work to get her to accept me at all, 1 1/2 years later she will fly to me, take a Sunflower seed from my hand and will sometimes let me scritch her head, but only if she in her cage.

 

[d_msparkles]

She is just so beautiful. I can't get over it.

The kakariki at our local pet store is no longer there and I was hopeful she got adopted. Nope. They sent her back to the breeder she came from and said, "We're not sure what will happen from there."

 

[Nancy B]

She is just so beautiful. I can't get over it.

The kakariki at our local pet store is no longer there and I was hopeful she got adopted. Nope. They sent her back to the breeder she came from and said, "We're not sure what will happen from there."

Why didn't anyone want her? Poor thing...

 

[d_msparkles]

Why didn't anyone want her? Poor thing...

As times has gone on and I have a bird of my own, I don't love this particular pet shop. A lot of their merchandise is open, including trays of millet, which I think must not be sanitary considering there are free-roaming cats and rabbits in the store.

I think because kakarikis can be standoffish (or shy), they are not as appealing as a garden-variety "pet". I would have adopted her, but I had my heart set on a GCC for my first bird, partly because I understand kakarikis have shorter life spans. But I blame the whole thing partly on not being able to market her as a "cuddly pet" and that makes me sad. She was beautiful and had the sweetest chirps!

 

[Mark & Da Boyz]

I call Riti's noises "The Kakariki Giggle"! While she's not nor is she ever going to be the most cuddly little girl she's sweat in her own way.

 

[MauiWendy]

What a cute lil ball of fluff.

 

[greys4u]

Looks like she has green cotton balls around her legs!!

 

[Mark & Da Boyz]

Here's a bit more normal photo of her.

 

[d_msparkles]

So floofy!!

 

[Mark & Da Boyz]

Yes they are...and they are as soft as they look.