The parrot was a hand me down from someone else he drove crazy...I was being nice only to find out I was in the same boat...the stupid bird is prob still alive - I think I was about 21 years old at the time..........but JimD is right...they are great if you give them the attention they require...still messy tho. I would watch this bird be soooo sweet to everyone else and I would just walk by the cage & it would rear up at me. From there I went to finches.........and then fish....ROFL suited me much better. Watch out for lovebirds too...they have a screech.................... that will put chills up your spine.