Animals

Meet Frankie

Frankie is a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) that was purchased as a “beginner bird” for a child and was soon unwanted as his novelty wore off… and his screams for attention got louder. He came to Noah’s Ark in 2005 at just 4 years old and now lives in a cockatiel aviary with 120 other cockatiels, all from similar situations as unwanted pets or retired breeder birds for the pet trade. The truth is that no bird is a beginner bird! Parrots, even small ones like Frankie, require a great deal of time, care, and responsibility and can live for 20-80 years! Cockatiels are native to Australia and live in a variety of habitats including wetlands, scrublands, and bush lands. They have a conservation status of “least concerned” and are typically seen in pairs or small flocks. They are primarily a nomadic species and will fly great distances to find food. Sometimes, hundreds will flock around a single body of water.