Kid Territory:Critters: Clifford the Little Red Bird

Clifford is one good-looking bird!

He loves to nibble on most anything.

Clifford may be sweet most of the time, but he will bite if he gets annoyed.

 

Zoo name: Clifford
Species: cardinal lory
Location: San Diego Zoo

His story

Cardinal lory #406042 was hatched at the San Diego Zoo’s Avian Propagation Center in April 2006. Keepers were quick to foster the little naked and helpless chick, providing him with a warm, soft “nest” and meals eight times a day. However, shortly after his arrival, the baby bird required some additional medical attention. Doting keepers made sure he received the care and nurturing he required on his road to recovery. Lory #406042 grew quickly and enjoyed interacting with his humans. He earned the nickname “Monster” because he would land on his keepers’ heads and “play” in their hair while they were cleaning his enclosure. The rambunctious little red bird moved to the Children’s Zoo in the spring of 2007 and was dubbed “Clifford.”

Loyal, playful, and always willing to help

Clifford is a gregarious boy. He greets his daily visitors with excited chirps, screeches, squawks, squeals, clucks, and screams. He flies (drops) to the door of his enclosure when a “friend” approaches and “dances” with delight. While perched on a finger, Clifford likes to preen. He will make sure his feathers are in fine shape and tirelessly attempt to manage the feathers (hair) of his human handler. Every now and again he will give a loud squawk as if to say, “Your feathers are a MESS!” When all is finally in order, he likes to snuggle on a warm, soft lap. Clifford spends time with both keepers and Zoo educators; he is now one of the San Diego Zoo’s animal ambassadors.

Not necessarily man’s best friend

Although Clifford may seem sweet and affectionate, he is an unpredictable wild animal. And for most people, a lory does not make a good pet. Lories are very curious and often destructive little parrots: they pick at anything and everything nearby. They throw their food, water, and toys on the ground. And (yuck), they can even shoot their poop several feet. Lories require a great deal of attention. Their vocalizations can range from a cute chirp to an all-day, ear-piercing scream (they don’t get hoarse, either). Lories, like many parrots, can be very particular about whom they like, and whom they DON’T. Jealous or aggressive lories will bite. Lories enjoy a long life, and can live nearly 30 years.

Where you can see him

Although Clifford lives in an off-exhibit area at the Children’s Zoo, you may have a chance to meet him during informal walk-around animal presentations. Now he is even beginning to travel to assemblies, Zoo party events and classes, and even worldwide, via videoconferences. Clifford’s quite a character; maybe some day he’ll even be the star of his own show!

More

Job Profiles: Taking Care of Animals
Animal Bytes: Lory and Lorikeet, Parrot