Tour de France...er...Chicago? Talking Parrot Asks To Go On a Bike Ride (Late Night Bicycle)

On Bobo's 1st bike ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MleJiZzuVe0 it was immediately clear she really loved to go bicycling. After that, she went out often and enjoyed it so much, that we started to take her on organized bike rides.

Based on how much Bobo liked the experience, we decided to see if the little conures would like it too. Interestingly, they also liked bicycling right away. We are wondering if riding on a bike is, naturally, a cool activity for birds (maybe it's because they get to 'fly' without having to work at flapping? lol).

Three years ago (2009), we brought Bobo on the Chicago "Friends of the Park" L.A.T.E. Ride. It's a unique 25-mile all-night bicycle ride with about 10,000 cyclists. She had a blast! She whistled and called out "Hello" to everyone and totally enjoyed it. We shot some video, but most of it was too shakey to post.

The next year, we brought the conures. Just like the grey, Grasshopper and Zorro squawked excitedly at everyone and loved it all. But because it's so hard to shoot bike-to-bike, plus we had three birds and didn't know how they would react, to be safe we didn't bother to bring the camera.

This year (2011), since everyone was now an experienced L.A.T.E. Ride pro, we brought the camera along and got enough footage to show all the fun.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• parrot
• talking
• african
• grey
• gray
• conure
• L.A.T.E.
• Ride
• 2011
• chicago
• late
• nite
• bike
• ride
• all
• night
• bird
• bicycling
• friends
• of
• the
• park
• Bobo
• jenday
• nanday
• Grasshopper
• Zorro

[metieval]

That is so awesome! the neighbors parrot (I assume Macaw as it is green and 16) took a liking to me. Well I just happen to be on my bike and they was laughing and said take him for a ride. So I did a little slow circle in the street, and he loved it. the next circle was a bit longer and a couple circles, he nibbled me on stopping.

[metieval]

If I ride back and forth on the street with him on the owners shoulder, he will run back and forth across the shoulders chasing me, and yelling. Or worse he hears me coming and starts yelling before he sees me. LOL

[flychomperfly]

@metieval it's like the neighborhood ice cream man with the little kids..."can i...can i...can i?" maybe you can start charging $ for rides? LOL

that's so cool!

birds are incredibly intelligent and in the wild they often fly hundreds of miles per day. this is clearly a real treat for that bird. does the owner like to bicycle too? anything you can do to make the bird's life more enjoyable is appreciated :)

thanks so much for sharing! please keep us posted -- video reply if possible.

[flychomperfly]

@metieval wow! yah, that's exactly how bobo started -- some easy circles. they're amazing, aren't they? it's as if they have instinct for this. and they do tell you their opinion--they let you know. lol!!

lots of green parrots -- does the parrot have a very long tail? that's probably the best way to determine if it's a macaw without seeing it. there are also some big green conures with long tails too. if not a very long tail, could also be an amazon, eclectus, or something else.

cute!!

[flychomperfly]

@metieval OH NO!! sorry to say this, but i'm afraid it may be better to not ride until you have worked out a leash or harness.

what would you do if the bird got lost and it was "your fault" because you had the bird? even though the owner has given you permission, what would you all feel?

i also help rescue lost birds. this is so common--they never fly UNTIL... and then an inexperienced flyer is high up--afraid and unable to fly down.

happens all the time :(

(and yah...under 10mph is bleh)

[metieval]

@flychomperfly They don't bicycle and they just recently adopted the parrot from relatives. But the parrot adopted me right off the bat. So yeah It was one of those oh no,what did I start type things. But I do not regret it because that bird totally loves it. I'd be willing to slow down for a mile and give that bird a ride every day. Just because I know he loves it. I just hope he never learns to say "Ride" or "lets go" because the owners might not like it...

[metieval]

No long tail, and is smaller than your Bobo. I'll try to see if I can't get a video of him and up on youtube. I did tell them if I start doing a pedicab I want him. LOL But I am pretty sure the ride thing is gonna be a habit, and I'll be the slave. that bird totally owns me.

[metieval]

@flychomperfly Around lower mph he is all over the place going from left to right. He basically just sits back there and struts his stuff, Kinda like the look at me (big time). I've never heard a louder parrot than when I leave him with the owner and take off riding away. he is screaming like a 3 year old kid and throwing a tantrum.

thanks for warnings, I'll have to keep it slow.

[metieval]

@flychomperfly he is clipped, no harness or leash, he faces forward. Pretty sure I've never went over 10. but that could explain him moving behind my head a few times. I was worried about him, and really didn't enjoy the ride (as far as riding goes) with him because of that. and I guess he isn't a macaw, maybe a conure but has red on wing tips. so still confused.

Plus holding back at 10 or under on a bike is bleh.

[flychomperfly]

@metieval yes, they love it!

CAUTION

1- is the parrot clipped or flighted? if flighted, does the parrot have good flight control?

2- is the parrot on a harness or leash of some kind?

3- which way does the parrot face when on your shoulder?

NOTE- if a parrot is facing forward, the air will automatically give them lift even if clipped. bobo had to start facing backward (1st clip in video from 2009) or she would get airborne. they can hang on fairly easily--the bumps and wind are the problem.

[metieval]

Well now days later if I show up he will start yelling hello, and whistling. So now it is around the block maybe 10 mph with him on my shoulder. sometimes quiet and often doing his hello, mememe, dog growl, I love you, and his laugh or whistle. The problem is when I give him back and leave he goes nuts. I don't know how fast is too fast for him to hang on. But he loves it.