Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
88 results for "parrots"
When dozens of parrots were found living in a New Hampshire barn without heat or water, Rhode Island Parrot Rescue mobilized to save every single bird. All 71 parrots are now safe and recovering.
Your pet parrot might actually know your name and understand what it means. Scientists studying nearly 900 pet parrots discovered they don't just mimic words—they use names to identify specific people and even talk about those who aren't in the room.
Pet parrots aren't just mimicking human speech—they're using names to identify specific people and animals, just like we do. Scientists analyzed recordings from nearly 900 parrots and found evidence that these intelligent birds understand what names mean.
Every single kākāpō parrot in existence lives on predator-free islands and wears a tracking device. After cats and stoats nearly wiped them out, New Zealand now manages each of the world's rarest parrots individually.
A Rhode Island parrot rescue swooped in to save 71 birds living in dangerous conditions in an unheated New Hampshire barn. All the parrots are now safe, warm, and getting the medical care they desperately need.
Red-crowned Amazon parrots, endangered in their native Mexico, now have a thriving population of 4,700 birds across Texas cities after escaping the pet trade. The colorful birds found an unexpected home where they don't compete with native species.
A Rhode Island rescue team raced to save 71 parrots living in a freezing barn without electricity or water after predators had already attacked some birds. Now safe and receiving medical care, these colorful survivors are getting a second chance at life.
Bruce the kea parrot lost his entire top beak as a youngster, but he didn't let it stop him. Instead, he invented his own grooming tool and a new fighting style that made him the dominant bird in his group.
A kea parrot missing his entire upper beak has become the alpha male of his group, winning every fight using innovative jousting tactics. Scientists say Bruce's story shows how smart animals can overcome disabilities through behavioral creativity.
Canadian snowboarder Max Parrot went from battling stage II Hodgkin lymphoma through 12 rounds of chemotherapy to winning Olympic gold at Beijing 2022, just three years after his diagnosis. Now 32, he's training to defend his title at Milano-Cortina 2026 while inspiring others to never give up.
Bruce, a kea parrot missing his upper beak, invented a unique jousting technique using his exposed lower beak as a sword. The disabled bird became the undefeated alpha male of his group, marking what may be the first case of a disabled animal maintaining top status through behavioral innovation alone.
Scientists uncovered fossils from 12 ancient bird species in a New Zealand cave, including a flying ancestor of the flightless kākāpō parrot. The discovery fills a 15-million-year gap in the island's fossil record.
A brilliantly colored parrot once down to just 163 birds in the wild has more than doubled its population thanks to local families who became passionate protectors. The vinaceous-breasted parrot's comeback shows what's possible when communities transform from threat to guardian.
Once declared extinct in the wild, New Zealand's treasured kākāpō parrots have rebounded to 236 birds thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. The flightless, owl-faced parrots now thrive on protected islands after being down to just 50 birds in 1995.
A gas-strut specialist in Thailand started building artificial nests for endangered white-shouldered ibis parrots, and the vulnerable species is now thriving. His grassroots effort near a Buddhist temple has sparked a community movement to protect these rare birds.
Ten critically endangered Philippine hanging parrots flew free again after authorities rescued them from an illegal wildlife trafficking operation in Cotabato. Thanks to a concerned citizen's tip, these rare birds got a second chance at life in the wild.
New Zealand's endangered kakapo parrots are entering their first breeding season in four years, offering fresh hope for one of the world's rarest birds. These flightless giants only breed when conditions are just right.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F4b%2F28%2F4b286dc7-77c6-465c-aec6-21168aa42dec%2Fjohn_c_mittermeier_lorikeet_american_bird_conservancy.jpg)
A brilliantly colored parrot unseen for 11 years just emerged from a remote Indonesian mountaintop, proving that even species we feared lost can still surprise us. The blue-fronted lorikeet's rediscovery gives conservationists new hope for protecting the world's rarest birds.
The kākāpō, a chubby flightless parrot once thought extinct, is experiencing a baby boom thanks to berry abundance and devoted conservation efforts. From just 51 birds in 1995 to 236 today, New Zealand's beloved "treasure" species is making a remarkable comeback.
A kea parrot named Bruce lost his entire upper beak but became the alpha male of his group by inventing a new fighting style. His story shows how smart animals can overcome major disabilities through innovation.
Showing 20 of 88