04/02/2026
From time to time, we like to share a little about a member of our flock. Today we want to tell you about Freaky.
(Yes, her real name is Freaky! This is a long one, but stick with us... she's earned her endearing name.)
Freaky is an Umbrella Cockatoo. She was relinquished to Garuda Aviary while we were still in Arizona. We’ve always known the importance of flocking parrots together; a lone parrot is an unnatural thing. So, Freaky was flocked with our five other Umbrella Cockatoo.
Most parrots benefit psychologically and emotionally once they have successfully settled into a flock of their own kind, but Freaky always had problems with other parrots. Cockatoo social structure can be a bit intense at times, and Freaky seemed unable to manage. It was as if she had a bullseye on her back that attracted the other Umbrellas to pick on her.
Because Freaky was not benefiting from living in a flock, and seemed to prefer people over parrots, we made the decision to let her go home with one of our trusted volunteers. And there she remained for more than 10 years. Unfortunately, health changes in the volunteer's life necessitated that Freaky return to Garuda Aviary.
Along with the inability to navigate a flock environment, Freaky has a number of other behavioral idiosyncrasies. Sunflower seeds are a staple food for many parrots, but she won't touch them. Most parrots like pellet food, but Freaky will only eat green and orange pellets. Every other parrot who has come to our sanctuary quickly loves our fresh cuisine. Freaky acts as if it isn't food. And once you get accustomed to how Cockatoo behave, it becomes easily noticeable that she's just odd. Always out of place.
In the time that Freaky was absent from our sanctuary, our director Christopher had digested a lot of new information, and questions that previously vexed us were no longer mysteries.
As soon as Freaky returned, Christopher knew exactly what her problems were. First, he assumes she is older than we originally thought. With an incomplete history, it can be impossible to determine a parrot's age, even for a specialist.
Secondly, and most significantly, he believes Freaky is extremely in**ed.
Inbreeding is a very common way breeders minimize costs while maximizing profits.
But it is the parrot’s offspring that pay the price. Consequences of Inbreeding in parrots include various neurological diseases, various organ diseases, extreme behavioral disorders, developmental mutations and generally poor health.
With a clearer perception of Freaky's quirks, it was now obvious why she does not do well in a flock. Like many social animals, parrots will cast out a sick flock member to protect the health of the flock. Our other Umbrellas sense Freaky's dysfunction, and see her as a genetic health risk.
And so, with a modified assessment comes modified designs. While flocking parrots together is usually ideal, with Freaky, it is not. Since her return, we rely on human interaction for Freaky's social stimulation. She has a stand in the kitchen, where she is the Kitchen Duty Supervisor. And all is well.
