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The fun room

January 8, 2008 : 9:33 AM ET

Feel like adding a little excitement to your life? Head on down to Feathered Friends, the bird part of the sanctuary, and ask to see the cockatiel room. Or, as some children like to call it, the "fun room"!

The cockatiels and other small birds living in there have free rein to fly around and use those wings to their hearts’ content. And boy, do they like showing off what they can do! Walk in their room and they start doing aerobatic fly-bys worthy of a Fourth of July pre-fireworks display. Seeing these birds in full flight is only half the fun, though. The real excitement begins if you’ve remembered to pack a few treats.

The birds will swarm you from all different altitudes. They will land in your hair (it tickles, honest!), on your shoulders, even your glasses. Some of them are a bit shy and prefer to hang out in the upper perches of the room, but even the bashful types will appreciate the snacks you leave behind.

It’s a great room for kids to visit, and the perfect opportunity for those less familiar with parrots to meet cockatiels up close and personal.

So swing on by, bring some healthy snacks to share (the bird folks can tell you what to bring, or they can give you some) and don’t forget to pack the camera!

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Sarah Ause

Dying to have the cockatiels swarm in on you, too? Stop by our visitors’ page to get started on planning a trip to Best Friends.

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January 13, 2008 : 2:54 PM ET
posted by: magsfarm
Yes - the cockatiel room is full of fun and flying~! They love to have their heads scratched and will fly to your head or shoulder if you stand still long enough. They will eat cheerios and popcorn and other treats out of your hand. They love having showers and volunteers to read to them and give them extra love and kindness.

Many of the parrots have had former loving homes and lost them for one reason or other, and they would love to have another happy home someday. Come and visit them and meet all the characters!! Maggie at Parrots at Best Friends


January 12, 2008 : 12:49 PM ET
posted by: kittychump
ciocia - "mango" is a perfect name for a cockatiel! :) I so envy you; it's just not workable for me in my little apartment & with my cat now, to have cockatiels. luckily when i go to my local petsmart in st. louis park, mn, it's the store that stopped selling birds [written up in BF recently] and instead is part of the MAARS bird-adoption program. so i get to visit with the little birdies there - and of course always want to take a couple of them home with me!!!! :( oh well - maybe someday....

I love the BF Feathered Friends stories & am so thrilled that these birdies are able safely to "fly free" within BF's wonderful sanctuary environment! prayers and all best wishes for feathered & human BF friends alike ;)


January 12, 2008 : 11:25 AM ET
posted by: marys@bestfriends.org
The Feathered Friends Department is just unbelievable! Having volunteered there a few times, must say the environment and the energy are amazing. Such dedicated caregivers, and the beauty of the birds will knock your socks off!! This truly is the fun room!


January 11, 2008 : 7:29 PM ET
posted by: ciocia
I am blessed to have a cockatiel companion in my household. He is a loving, sweet, and very comical little cutie. His name is Mango.