Orphaned blue and gold macaws Monty and Bee Bee are a couple of clowns that have outlived their owner.
It isn't unusual or even surprising given the birds can live into their 70s and 80s and sometimes beyond, which means most macaws kept as pets in Australia outlive their first, and perhaps even their second, owners.
When Monty and Bee Bee's owner was diagnosed with cancer, his family contacted the owners of Victor Harbor's Urimbirra Wildlife Park in South Australia to ask if they could take care of his beloved birds.
The team built a special enclosure for the pair, and soon later Callie, another female macaw, in need of a new place to live moved in.
The park has since acquired another two macaws temporarily until their owners can care for them again and has another who visits for "playgroup" a few days a week while their owner is at work.
Keeper Kristin Pearce says Monty and Bee Bee's confidence in their new surroundings has grown since they first arrived about six months ago.
"They had each other which helped them. It is hard for them to bond to another person [when they lose their original owner]. You have to spend a lot of time with them," Ms Pearce says.
'Never-ending supply of cockies'
Taking on orphaned birds and even snakes is nothing new for owners Cheryl and Andy Keane, who have operated the park since the 1990s.
Victor Harbor is a holiday and retirement destination and has the oldest population of any town in South Australia.
Over the years, the park has taken in "a never-ending supply of cockies" who have outlived their owners or been unable to go with them to retirement villages and nursing homes.
Many of those birds have lived out their lives just up the path from Monty and Bee Bee's new home, in an older enclosure for orphaned cockatoos.
Bonded galah pair Maverick and Macey have called the enclosure home for more than 20 years and now share it with perennial third-wheel Callie, a single female galah, and a variety of other birds.
The arrival of five macaws in 12 months at the park shows the growing demand for exotic birds, bird retailer John Turner says.
Mr Turner has operated The Bird Place in nearby Adelaide since 1997, taking over from his father Bob, who started the business 30 years earlier.
He says cockatoos were a popular choice for bird owners 20 to 30 years ago and were relatively cheap, with people able to buy a pet galah for about $150.
While cockatoos still sell well, customers want more exotic and expensive birds like the macaw.
Mr Turner brought his first macaw for $25,000 from the Broome Zoo about 30 years ago.
Now the price for a blue and gold macaw is between $4,000 and $5,000 — cheaper than some puppies.
Mr Turner sells about 10 macaws a year and says he will always take back and rehome any bird that needs care.
In his experience, many long-lived birds get passed down from parent to child.
"I do think they can be easier to place than other animals," Mr Turner says.
"If they aren't tame enough to live with someone, I'll find them a home in an aviary".
'Magnificent' bird that needs to fly
Wildlife veterinarian Associate Professor Wayne Boardman has hand raised and cared for macaws while working in zoos across the world.
He says the birds have specific needs, and some can live for more than 100 years.
"They do require specialist knowledge," Dr Boardman says.
"They're not easy to look after and you must have the right facilities.
"They are magnificent and a big bird to look after. They need to be able to fly.
"It's unfair for them not to be able to fly."
Dr Boardman says macaws, like all parrots, are highly-intelligent birds, which makes them trainable.
But he warns they are known to chew things which can lead to damage when allowed to roam in their owners' homes.
While pet ownership during the pandemic increased, Dr Boardman says there has not been any specific research into the number of macaws kept as pets in Australia.
He says there are low numbers in the wild, with most of those remaining found in the Amazonian area of South America and threatened by habitat loss.
Making long-term arrangements
Legal Services Commission's Chris Stone says pets are considered property in South Australia and can be left to a beneficiary in a will much the same way as a house or car.
He recommends consulting the person you wish to pass the animal onto to gauge their interest.
While it's not possible to leave an estate to a pet, he says it is possible to set up a trust or foundation to take care of the animal.
"They would have to be set up very carefully. There need to be humans involved in the trust that you have confidence in," Mr Stone says.
He believes birds that could outlive their owners for decades need long-term arrangements and concedes even birds given to wildlife parks rely on the businesses' continued operation.
As for Monty and Bee, at the tender age of seven, they have fallen on their talons and are being cared for by a team of dedicated keepers who keep them happy with a diet of walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios and corn.
