Home
> MAARStore > Parrots Can Paint!
Parrots Can Paint!
Moluccan Cockatoo Philippe admiring his photo in the paper |
|
Parrots are highly intelligent animals, estimated to be on par with the most intelligent mammalian species. Parrots' intellectual capacity is most often described as similar to that of a three to five year old human child. Like most highly intelligent species, parrots live within a complex social structure and young birds are dependent on a protracted developmental stage during which they learn the skills they need to survive. They form strong social bonds with their mates, siblings, and the entire flock. In the wild, parrots spend their days foraging for food, socializing, playing, and flying free.
In captivity, parrots often receive little enrichment, have no contact with other birds, and are confined to cages for all or most of the day. Many birds who are surrendered to MAARS have never been out of their cages, have had few or no toys, stimulation or sufficient social interaction, and have spent hours, days, weeks - or longer - in total isolation.
MAARS Volunteer Susan assisting Umbrella Cockatoo Sputnik by holding his canvas |
|
MAARS provides a safe home for those birds with experienced and expert Volunteer Staff to provide for them. Each birds has as large an enclosure as possible with a variety of toys and perches to provide exercise and enrichment. The MAARS flock is fed a varied and nutritious diet. Birds receive out-of-cage play-time every day and are encouraged to interact with both Volunteer Staff and other birds.
At MAARS Volunteer Staff are always looking for new ways to enrich the lives of the MAARS flock. Volunteers have taught the birds how to fly, play games (making humans fetch is a favorite!), and seek to learn the particular interests and likes of each individual bird.
MAARS was inspired to offer birds at the shelter an opportunity to paint by the work of other captive wildlife sanctuaries and rescues, especially those serving elephants and primates. Not all birds choose to paint or find it to be a stimulating activity, and the skills and interest levels of those who do choose to paint - and enjoy it - vary greatly.
The birds use both their beaks and feet to hold the paint brushes and put the brush to canvas themselves. When we first began painting with the birds we chose the paint colors for them, but after a few sessions they caught on to dipping the brush into the paint on the pallet and we let them choose the colors they wanted to use.
The birds were very excited seeing the colors come to life on paper, and while there may not be a budding Picasso amongst the MAARS flock, painting provides a new and fun challenge for some birds living in captivity.
Click on an image below to order one of these unique prints of the original paintings!
Cowboy |
Harry |
Moluccan Cockatoo Harry showing his flair |
|
Malachi |
6" x 6" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
12" x 6" Prints - $20 |
Sully |
Blue-Fronted Amazon Rascal showing the best way
to hold a brush |
|
Rascal |
Louie |
9" x 3" Prints - $15 |
7" x 5" Prints - $15 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Harry |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie
in his element |
|
Cowboy |
7" x 5" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
Philippe |
Louie |
Harpo |
Moluccan Cockatoo Harpo concentrating hard
on his painting |
|
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
9" x 3" Prints - $15 |
6" x 6" Prints - $15 |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Philippe going with blue now |
|
Cowboy |
Philippe |
12" x 8" Prints - $15 |
6" x 6" Prints - $15 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Philippe |
Peaches |
Moluccan Cockatoo Peaches painting for the first time |
|
Louie |
12" x 8" Prints - $20 |
8" x 6" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Cowboy |
Louie |
Harpo |
Cowboy |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
11" x 14" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie trying a new color |
|
Philippe |
Louie |
10" X 8" Prints - $15 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Louie |
Harpo |
Umbrella Cockatoo Bongo Bob seeking approval |
|
Bongo Bob |
10" X 8" Prints - $15 |
11" x 14" Prints - $20 |
6" x 4" Prints - $15 |
Sputnik |
Goffin's Cockatoo Sully showing he can do it, too! |
|
Sully |
Malachi |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
6" x 6" Prints - $15 |
12" x 6" Prints - $20 |
Benecio |
Bobby |
Citron Cockatoo Bobby working on a self-portrait |
|
Louie |
14-1/2 x 11" Prints - $20 |
7" x 5" Prints - $20 |
14-1/2 x 11" Prints - $20 |
Moluccan Cockatoo Harpo getting in on the action |
|
Harpo |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie starting another masterpiece |
|
7" x 5" Prints - $20 |
7" X 5" Prints - $15 |
Simba |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie just getting started |
|
Louie |
14-1/2 x 11" Prints - $20 |
8-1/2" x 11" Prints - $20 |
10" X 8" Prints - $15 |
Philippe |
MAARS Moluccans |
Philippe |
Rascal |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
12" x 4" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie trying out the color pink |
|
Louie |
Malachi |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
7" X 5" Prints - $15 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Malachi |
Louie |
Malachi |
Malachi |
11 x 8-1/2" Prints - $20 |
14-1/2 x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
8" x 8" Prints - $15 |
Bobby |
Louie |
Ed |
Yellow-Crowned Amazon Ed proving Amazons can paint, too! |
|
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Moluccan Cockatoo Philippe proving he's a pro |
|
Philippe |
Louie |
Hailey |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Louie |
Malachi |
Moluccan Cockatoo Malachi showing how it's done |
|
Cowboy |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Moluccan Cockatoo Philippe starting on a masterpiece |
|
Philippe |
Philippe |
Louie |
11" x 8-1/2" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Corry |
Gomer |
Moluccan Cockatoo Cowboy looking at his handiwork |
|
Cowboy |
8-1/2" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Cowboy |
Louie |
Sputnik |
Bobby |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
Bobby |
Bongo Bob |
Corry |
Sputnik |
8" x 10" Prints - $20 |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
8-1/2" x 11" Prints - $20 |
8" x 10" Prints - $20 |
Blue & Gold Macaw Benecio showing off his work |
|
Benecio |
Moluccan Cockatoo Philippe starting on a masterpiece |
|
Philippe |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 13-3/4" Prints - $20 |
Philippe |
Sputnik |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie working hard on another painting |
|
8-1/2" x 11" Prints - $20 |
13-3/4" x 11" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
Citron Cockatoo Bobby getting fancy with two brushes |
|
Bobby |
Gomer |
Miranda |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
Cowboy |
Bobby |
Louie |
Prince Charming |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15
|
Louie |
Sputnik |
Umbrella Cockatoo Sputnik
having fun painting |
|
Cowboy |
14" x 11" Prints - $20 |
11" x 11" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
Military Macaw Gomer starts out the "MAARS Macaws" painting |
|
MAARS Macaws |
Sputnik |
Philippe |
11" x 13-3/4" Prints - $20 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
10" x 8" Prints - $15 |
Moon Over Cactus |
Louie |
Louie |
Moluccan Cockatoo Louie putting the brush where he wants it |
|
11" x 14-1/2" Prints - $20 |
13-3/4" x 11"Prints - $20 |
11" x 14-1/2" Prints - $20 |
|