I've had a B&G, Mollucan and Umbrella cockatoos, Blue Front and Yellow-Naped Amazons and still have a SI Eclectus. I am almost 50 and wanted birds since I was a teen. In my 20's, I started getting cockatiels, lovebirds and other smaller birds. In my 30's I got the big birds.

The Mollucan and macaw were the best and most interesting of the bunch. The Molly would bark like a dog - including head movements and growls. He'd eat a bunch of whatever dinner was and then look at you and say "I love you". The macaw would eat with a spoon or fork and cuddle with my ex in bed after climbing the stairs looking for her. I've had the Ekkie since hatching - I handfed him.

And I've come to the conclusion that birds are not good pets. Not large parrots anyway. That wonderfully beautiful smart Molly left me with nerve damage in one arm from a bite he administered cause I was stupid enough to be talking on the phone when he wanted attention. He nearly severed the ex's thumb on another occasion. The macaw climbed the stairs another time to find the ex absent from the bedroom and spent much of that day (I was home but in the garage and the ex had left him out) destroying my three-DAY-old bedroom set.

I know lots of people that have them and known of many more that do. A good friend runs a cockatoo rescue in Washington state with 300+ 'toos. Since they live nearly as long or longer than us, but never grow up, most folks end up getting tired of them. They are wild and will always be. They bite for attention and they know how hard they are biting - never doubt that. Once sexually mature, a large parrot is a ticking time bomb. They will have a bad day and do damage. Period. Anyone who tells you different either a) is lying or b) never owned one long enough.

Many folks get babies and give them up in 5 or 6 years and never meet the fully sexually mature bird that goes to rescue or the zoo. My Ekkie is 12 and never once bitten me, but I understand the bird. He's bitten everyone else tho.

Sorry, to rant so long. Just have very strong feelings on this.