Pet of the Week: Mai Tai the Parrot
This Congo African grey parrot fills his home with sound and love — just keep him away from wooden antiques
Becky Harris
December 5, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
This feature is part of our Pet of the Week series, in which we profile pets shared by home dwellers and home improvement pros.
Mai Tai, a Congo African grey parrot, is a social guy who likes to emulate household noises and fill his home with original tunes he has composed. He has been known to turn picture frames into sawdust with his beak. Mai Tai is the alpha around the house, and though he has an appetite for destruction, he is a gentle bird who brings a lot of love into his home.
Mai Tai, a Congo African grey parrot, is a social guy who likes to emulate household noises and fill his home with original tunes he has composed. He has been known to turn picture frames into sawdust with his beak. Mai Tai is the alpha around the house, and though he has an appetite for destruction, he is a gentle bird who brings a lot of love into his home.
Photos by Liz Ruork
Pet at a Glance
Pet: Mai Tai, a Congo African grey parrot
Age: 21 years
Location: Toronto
Owner: Liz Ruork
Mai Tai had been purchased by a couple when he was just a hatchling. After the wife died and the husband, Bert, moved into a nursing facility, Mai Tai moved with him. “He rode through the halls on Bert’s walker, and he was a happy bird,” says current owner Liz Ruork. “In 2012, Bert became too ill to interact with Mai Tai. Mai Tai became depressed and began to feather-pick, which is the sign of a stressed bird. Bert’s family felt it was time to find a new home for Mai Tai.”
Through a mutual connection, Bert’s family found Ruork, and she agreed to bring him into her home. “Mai Tai was not thrilled with his change in circumstance at the outset,” she says. “After a couple of months, I had despaired of his bonding with me. Then I spoke to an expert who recommended changing his diet, and our relationship blossomed.”
His diet now includes a rich and varied mix of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains. “He also loves to chew on bones and gets quite excited by offers of cheese or salmon,” she says.
Pet at a Glance
Pet: Mai Tai, a Congo African grey parrot
Age: 21 years
Location: Toronto
Owner: Liz Ruork
Mai Tai had been purchased by a couple when he was just a hatchling. After the wife died and the husband, Bert, moved into a nursing facility, Mai Tai moved with him. “He rode through the halls on Bert’s walker, and he was a happy bird,” says current owner Liz Ruork. “In 2012, Bert became too ill to interact with Mai Tai. Mai Tai became depressed and began to feather-pick, which is the sign of a stressed bird. Bert’s family felt it was time to find a new home for Mai Tai.”
Through a mutual connection, Bert’s family found Ruork, and she agreed to bring him into her home. “Mai Tai was not thrilled with his change in circumstance at the outset,” she says. “After a couple of months, I had despaired of his bonding with me. Then I spoke to an expert who recommended changing his diet, and our relationship blossomed.”
His diet now includes a rich and varied mix of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains. “He also loves to chew on bones and gets quite excited by offers of cheese or salmon,” she says.
Mai Tai is a smart and musical bird. “African greys are renowned as the best talkers and the most intelligent of birds. They have the emotional development of a kindergartener and the intellect to match,” Ruork says. “I was interested in adopting an African grey because I had read about Alex, a remarkable bird whose obituary appeared in The Economist and on ABC News.”
While Mai Tai doesn’t talk, he does make many different sounds. “He quickly learned all the electronic beeps in the house, the alarm system chirps, the sound of a truck backing up, the dog next door barking and many more,” she says. But the best surprise was that he is a music composer. “He whistles completely original tunes,” Ruork says. “Admittedly, his favorite time to do this is when I am on the phone, and running second is when I am listening to opera on the radio. No, he does not sing along with the opera; he sings in competition with the recording and with great enthusiasm!”
While Mai Tai doesn’t talk, he does make many different sounds. “He quickly learned all the electronic beeps in the house, the alarm system chirps, the sound of a truck backing up, the dog next door barking and many more,” she says. But the best surprise was that he is a music composer. “He whistles completely original tunes,” Ruork says. “Admittedly, his favorite time to do this is when I am on the phone, and running second is when I am listening to opera on the radio. No, he does not sing along with the opera; he sings in competition with the recording and with great enthusiasm!”
Around the house, Mai Tai loves to work on his carving skills. “More than a few picture frames have gone to sawdust in his impressive beak,” Ruork says. Her pretty little 19th-century Austrian cupboard will never be the same.
While Mai Tai moves freely around the house most of the day, he does have a cage, and he sleeps about 12 hours a day. He’s most active in the morning and evening.
While Mai Tai moves freely around the house most of the day, he does have a cage, and he sleeps about 12 hours a day. He’s most active in the morning and evening.
Besides his more musical and destructive habits, Mai Tai enjoys a good neck rub and perching on throw pillows.
Mai Tai has a friend at home, Harry, a miniature poodle rescue. Ruork, Harry and Mai Tai like to take walks in the garden together. Unlike Mai Tai, Harry is not into picture frames, but he likes to rearrange the throw pillows and create a cozy napping spot several times a day.
Mai Tai is the alpha around the house. “He and Harry have a careful but cordial relationship. He likes nipping Harry’s toes when he gets the chance. Lucky for him, Harry is a shy and reserved little guy,” Ruork says.
She also involves both of them in her work. “I am a massage therapist working from home, and Mai Tai and Harry are both a part of my practice.” she says. “Clients love to greet them and bring treats for them, and I believe that they make a contribution to my clients’ well-being.”
She also involves both of them in her work. “I am a massage therapist working from home, and Mai Tai and Harry are both a part of my practice.” she says. “Clients love to greet them and bring treats for them, and I believe that they make a contribution to my clients’ well-being.”
Ruork gives Mai Tai’s cage a thorough cleaning once a week when her cleaning lady is there. Mai Tai is occupied then since he loves to follow the cleaning lady around the house. He’s mostly cage-trained but does occasionally have accidents. “Luckily, he doesn’t produce a lot, and I don’t have any rugs at all anymore,” Ruork says.
“Mai Tai is really a gentle, quiet and well-behaved bird compared to most larger parrots, but he is still a handful,” she says. “There are thousands of parrots in shelters and rescues because folks don’t realize the high demands of living with them,” Ruork says. “With an average life span of 50 to 60 years, a parrot like Mai Tai will live longer than I will, and it is up to me to make sure he has a good life.”
Those who are thinking of getting an African grey should first educate themselves about the bird’s needs, and contact a shelter or rescue. The United Nations recently banned the global trade of wild African grey parrots to help counter a decline in their numbers.
Your turn: Could your pet be the next Pet of the Week? Show us your design-loving pets by posting a photo in the Comments!
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“Mai Tai is really a gentle, quiet and well-behaved bird compared to most larger parrots, but he is still a handful,” she says. “There are thousands of parrots in shelters and rescues because folks don’t realize the high demands of living with them,” Ruork says. “With an average life span of 50 to 60 years, a parrot like Mai Tai will live longer than I will, and it is up to me to make sure he has a good life.”
Those who are thinking of getting an African grey should first educate themselves about the bird’s needs, and contact a shelter or rescue. The United Nations recently banned the global trade of wild African grey parrots to help counter a decline in their numbers.
Your turn: Could your pet be the next Pet of the Week? Show us your design-loving pets by posting a photo in the Comments!
Read more about pets and design
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OMG for real, how old is Boomer and is he house broke? What is that hanging off the back of him and how does he react to guest? How old is Boomer, I have a million questions, like how did you get so lucky and does Texas law allow you to keep him, the state I live in would not allow it. I think it is wonderful for people that know what they are doing and the commitment involved as with all pets. What is the life span of a Kangaroo?? Thank you for sharing, I love it.
I hope Houzz does a story on your kangaroo! Just wondering how you ended up with such a pet, and why you have him in the house and not outdoors. I would think Texas weather would be mild enough -- and I'd think you'd need a lot of space for him to exercise.
Mai Tai could have found no better home in which to assuage his grief, form new attachments, taste new foods (and furniture), and sing new songs than he has with Liz.