Native to remote mountain areas of New Guinea , little is known about the wild habits of the threatened Pesquet’s Parrot. This is a medium sized bird with an elongated head that gives it a vulture like appearance. The bare head and long beak are probably an adaptation to keep the soft fruits that it feeds upon from collecting on its feathers. The diet is believed to consist mainly of several species of figs. Pesquet’s are mostly black, with parts of the wings and belly a bright red. The striking feathers on the Pesquet’s Parrot are ultimately its downfall. The native peoples of New Guinea regularly hunt these parrots for their feathers being the third most common traded item behind pigs and money. The feathers are used for elaborate headdresses that are worn during ceremonies and parties. The contrasting red and black feathers are thought to symbolize good and evil and man and woman. The feathers are often used as ornamentation in wedding ceremonies. To curb some of the hunting of the Pesquet’s Parrot, the St Augustine Alligator Farm and the few other AZA zoos that hold Pesquet’s are joining together to send feathers back to New Guinea. By collecting naturally shed feathers, we hope to save at least a few of these rapidly disappearing birds.

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• Art of Papua New Guinea
• Pesquet's Parrot
• Web Cam
• Photo Contest
• 2004 Show Schedule