GREATER VASA PARROT

Unique in many ways, the Greater Vasa Parrot provides an enchanting slice of prehistory for those who share their lives with these unusual creatures. From their unique grey brown plumage , pterodactyl calls, and characteristic whine to their unusual mating rituals and soothing whistle, Greater Vasa Parrots are like no other. Seriously endangered in its native Madagascar, the Greater Vasa remains relatively rare in captive breeding programs and rarer still as a family pet. Spending any time at all with these fascinating creatures makes one wonder why this is so. Dark grey feathers notwithstanding, the Greater Vasa is a uniquely beautiful and fascinating bird.

Featherlust Farm is proud to be one of only a very few successful breeders of the Greater Vasa Parrot in the United States. Our breeding program currently includes fourteen breeding Vasas. Our females generally produce no more than one clutch per year with babies hatching in mid to late spring. The mating rituals and in fact the entire breeding process of this parrot is unique among birds and fascinating to witness. As with most parrot species, the genders are not visually distinguishable. Unless of course you notice the reptilian-like hemi-penis of the male or happen to be around during the mating season when the female entices her mate with her sexy, yellow, featherless head.

Unlike most other species of parrot, it is the female Vasa who relentlessly pursues the male; hungry both for the food he provides and for his love. She pursues him so relentlessly in fact that for the sake of the exhausted male we house some of our breeding Vasas in trios: two males and one female.There is clearly no mistaking a female Greater Vasa parrot when she is ready to mate. She loses nearly all of the plumage on her head and the newly visible skin turns a New York taxicab yellow. The actual mating is no less vigorous than the courtship. We have seen pairs joined either piggy back or side by side constantly beaking each other for as long as 45 minutes at a time. Ideally, the end result of this uniquely Vasa foreplay is a clutch of two to four eggs hatching into adorable big-footed babies in 17 to 19 days. While on eggs, the female accessorizes her chic yellow head with a funky yellow-orange pouch under her lower beak. This pouch must contain some avian variant of Miracle Grow, for baby Vasas pulled from the nest at 3 1/2 to 4 weeks of age can weigh as much as 500g. And they are voracious eaters rivaling even the largest macaws in their appetite and enthusiasm for food. With such large enthusiastic offspring, the female Vasa has her own unique way of keeping the chicks comfortable and out of trouble. She whistles. And so, we whistle. We whistle to soothe a nervous bird and we whistle to distract a bird with a mind for other things. Vasas respond to whistling.

As a pet, the Greater Vasa Parrot is affectionate, easy going, and entertaining. They display little if any territoriality and are relatively quiet. When they do call, it is with a wonderfully unique almost prehistoric sound. These parrots make wonderful additions to any flock whether that flock consists of humans, dogs, cats, giraffes or other birds. They love rain (showers) and sunshine and will bask happily in either. They thrive on love and attention but are not demanding of it. Get to know a Greater Vasa Parrot and you will truly be enchanted.

For more information on the Greater Vasa and availability of babies, contact Featherlust Farm. We love to talk about our Vasas!! And even though asking if a bird will talk is one of our pet peeves, we must say that Vasa's can be excellent talkers.