Parakeet Decorates Tiny Christmas Tree Like a Total Pro & Everyone's Feeling the Holiday Spirit

When I first got my cats, everyone warned me about what a menace they are with Christmas trees. But I’ve actually found it to be the opposite. That winter, I was out of town for the holiday and bought a hollow, “pop-up” tree for my little apartment, thinking it would only be for one season. But my cats fell deeply in love with it, climbing underneath to rest in the little space below the tree. I have so many pictures of them curled up inside the tree, their eyes sparkling with reflected glow from the lights.

Maybe your pets are menaces who need to be kept far away from the tree, and if so, my heart goes out to you. Because it’s great to share holiday decorating traditions with everyone else in your family, including your pets. Take this adorable parrot, who can even be trusted with glass ornaments on a little glass tree. Now that’s impressive.

In this video a tiny, white-bellied caique is seen carefully slipping tiny glass ornaments onto a small glass Christmas tree. It’s too cute, a really testament to how gentle and careful (and well-trained) these usually playful and rambunctious animals can actually be.

The Playful Parrot

Caiques are a diminutive species of parrot native to South America. Their name, pronounced “kah-eek” means “bathing bird” in an indigenous language, but they are known by several other nicknames to pet bird enthusiasts, including the “dancing parrot” and the “clown bird” due not only to their bright coloring, but also to their irrepressible antics.

Caiques do not often mimic human speech like other species of parrots do, but they adore to play—dancing, tumbling, and yes, marching around for the amusement of themselves and their owners. They are highly social birds, and work best in pairs as well as with a lot of human interaction. These’ birds need plenty of quality time with their carers, and will happily play with them, do tricks and otherwise engage in enrichment activities.

And yes, tree-decorating counts.

Is a Caique Bird Right For You?

As with all tropical bird species, it is vital to understand that birds need as much interaction and exercise each day as dogs do. They can’t just sit around in a cage. They need a large space in which they can hope and flutter freely, as well as several hours a day of playtime. They are extremely social birds that do best in at least pairs.

In addition to the space and habitat concerns, it’s vital to give caiques an adequate, nutritious diet. They should be fed a high quality bird pellet, supplemented with regular feedings of fresh fruits and vegetables. If seeds are fed to the caique, they should only be as a “sometimes” snack, as a seed-only diet will not be adequate to meet their nutritional needs.

With decent care and attention, you can expect them to live up to thirty years. So if you’re going to get a caique, make sure you are in it for the long haul, and that you are willing to give it all the attention it deserves.

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