Cockatoo
CASPER, a Goffin’s Cockatoo, joined us in July 2019 in his 40s after his family could no longer provide the care he needed due to the arrival of a new baby. Though he may be the smallest of our three resident cockatoos—standing at about half the size of Cami, a Moluccan Cockatoo, and Jake, an Umbrella Cockatoo—Casper’s bold personality more than makes up for it. He’s fearless, full of spunk, and even tries to boss Cami around!
Despite his size, Casper is highly intelligent and a quick learner. He has mastered mimicking not only Cami’s vocalizations but also our own. One of his favorite tricks? When we move the birds from their night quarters to their outdoor enclosures, we instruct them to "step up" onto our hands. Casper caught on fast—so much so that now, when Jake or Cami hesitate, Casper enthusiastically commands them to "step up" for us!
We also discovered—purely by accident—that our cockatoo trio has a love for heavy metal. When the music starts, they eagerly join in, especially during the headbanging parts!
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Cacatuidae
GENUS: Cacatua
SPECIES: Goffiniana
Goffin's cockatoos live in large flocks, or cackles of up to 300 birds. They are the best imitators of human speech. The Goffin's got their strange name from the naturalist Otto Finsch who named them after a close friend. Their crest is used for communication, and their feathers are covered in a powder to help waterproof them in a tropical climate. (Think of putting powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry). They are smart and like making up dances. They are also mechanical and love to figure things out like how to open a door or lock. Mating season is from December to March where both the male and the female share incubating duties. After approximately 30 days and laying 2 to 3 eggs, the parents choose to raise only one baby. The other eggs were made just in case the first one didn’t work out. The baby learns to fly at about 3 months old but does not sexually mature until the age of 6. Their average lifespan in the wild is 30 to 40 yrs.
Threats
The biggest threat to the white cockatoos is illegal trapping for pet trade birds. Habitat loss and hunting comes in as a close second.
Conservation Status
EN - Endangered