Meet Cantinflas

Sigh. I know not everyone is a bird-lover, but isn't he the cutest? This little man has been with my family for almost 15 years and has become my gordo's new obsession. Understandably, of course.

A few facts about African Grey Parrots:

1. They are considered to be the most talented talking parrots.
2. In many cognitive tasks they perform at the level of dolphins, chimpanzees, and even a human toddler.
3. The owner should expect to hear regular renditions of the microwave, telephone, alarm clocks, dripping water, wild birds, video games.
4. They require large cages, a varied diet that includes fresh foods, and plenty of safe and destructible toys.
5. An ability and tendency to produce human speech.

Specifically, Cantinflas:

1. Repeatedly says PANGIT (translation: UGLY). We have yet to figure out who he is referring to.
2. Makes some noise resembling a laser: pew-pew, pew-pew, and whistles, and says hello when the phone rings.
   
3. Loves apples and corn, and apparently cheese - although we don't feed him that too often.
   
4. Rips apart newspapers.
5. ...and for some reason continues to call (in my mom's voice) for FRED - our gardener who passed away nearly 4 years ago.
   

Considering they have a life span of about 50 years, Cantinflas is a mere teenager and has many decades left in him. Thus, we have made the decision to bring him with us to Mexico. Of course, we did not ask him for his opinion, although I do get the impression he won't be very happy to be confined for the duration of the trip. But now that I think about it, it will be his first time flying; naturally or otherwise.

Now we are faced with the slight inconvenience of actually getting him to Mexico from across the Pacific. Who knows if that will happen this trip over, but at least now you know that with all the other things in life that I must worry about, I've added importing a pet parrot to my list.