Black-capped Lory

May 4, 2008-May 10, 2008

The black-capped lory is VJ Czar World’s first Organism of the Week. Actually, I chose to feature this bird because of the fact that my family has got one as a pet. Ours is a male black-capped lory whom we call by the name “Kawan”. He was transported illegally from somewhere in Indonesia to the Philippines. Birds similar to Kawan as well as other exotic animals, are caught to be sold on pet shops. What a sad scenario…

Anyway, let’s move on to what I should say.

The black-capped lory is a kind of parrot which is native in the East Indies—from the island of Java in Indonesia through New Guinea. It is also found in the northern parts of Australia. This lory is also called as western black-capped lory and tricolored lory. Like most parrots, black-capped lories have very colorful plumage and relatively vigorous characteristics. Normally, they reach up to 12 inches in length and weigh about 30 to 300 grams.

Black-capped lories are commonly found in primary forests and forest edges in most lowland areas up to 1,000 meters, but not in monsoon forests or coconut plantations. They are usually in pairs and occasionally in groups of 10 or more. They feed on fruits, pollen, flowers and insects.

Taxonomically, it is known as Lorius lory. It has seven well-known subspecies which vary significantly in color. However, all of these subspecies possess green wings, red heads and body around the wing, a black cap, grey-black cere, yellow underwings, and blue legs and belly. A certain subspecies known as Lorius lory cyanuchen has been classified as endangered, with only 5,000 of them currently existing.

The black-capped lory may be kept as pets. It is certainly noisy yet very entertaining. It can also be taught to mimic sounds and speak short phrases and expressions.

Top 3 Black-capped Lory Snapshots

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Oscar the Naked Cockatoo

Above is a video of an unfortunate ill cockatoo named Oscar. She has a disease called “beak and feather” which is caused by an unusual virus that attacks the immune system. This disease gets Oscar irritated the moment her feathers grow in. Eventually, because she couldn’t take it anymore, she tends to pull her feathers out. As a result, she turns into a naked bird.

Actually, Oscar is not yet fully naked. She still has few feathers left on her neck and head. The reason? Well, she just can’t reach them, that’s all.

Oscar is a girl cockatoo. It was a year before it was determined, through a blood test, that what they thought was male, was truly female, and it was too late to change names. If they can still change her name, I would prefer to baptize her as “Oscara”, “Oscarina” or “Emmy” (for Emmy Awards..haha..nonsense).

She’s been living here in this world for 12 years now. I think that’s long existence already for a bird. Sooner or later, her disease will damage her nails and beak and finally, will take her life. How sad...I guess that’s life.

Anyways, if you wanna visit Oscar personally, just head towards the Humane Society of Broward County. Just make sure to do it as soon as possible. You might catch her dead if you’ll do it on the last minute.

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