Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 09/05) - Birds don't know what to make of the Rocher's family pet. Their confusion is easily understood.

Seeing a blue and gold macaw outside in Yellowknife is enough to make anyone look twice, even ravens stop to puzzle over the unusual bird.

Birds have always been a part of life for the family of Les Rocher and Sandra McDaniel. They've had the macaw since she was born 12 years ago. She doesn't, however, have a name. "To me birds don't suit names," said Sandra.

The family owned the bird's parents who hatched three eggs. One chick died at birth, but the other two flourished. Born without feathers, the birds were just skin with a large black beak and bulging eyes, Sandra said.

The brightly coloured gold and blue plumage started to grow in after a few weeks.

A special friend

The two birds were good friends until a few years ago when the male accidentally flew into the mouth of a husky. The female now gets companionship where she can. She's partial to men.

"There's not a girl in the country who could touch this bird," said Lindsey Rocher.

Her special friend is Les. She sits on his shoulder while Les scratches her. She even tries to groom him, running his hair through her beak like a feather.

On days with nice weather, the macaw roams freely outside. "It gets to be a bird for as long as it can handle the cold," Sandra said.

Neighbours in the Woodyard area are familiar with the macaw and its distinctive call, but the bird never strays too far.

She comes inside when she is ready. If the front door is open she walks right in. If not, she looks in the window waiting for someone to notice. During the winter the family sets perches in different windows so she can keep track of what is happening outside. "For a bird, it has a good quality of life," Sandra said.

Sandra's been told the macaw could be as intelligent as a seven-year-old child and she believes it.

The macaw makes its distinctive squawk when the phone rings as if to remind the family. It also knows friends from strangers, watching newcomers carefully.

Her favourite food is chicken bones. She likes to break them in half and eat the marrow. She is also fond of nuts, especially almonds in their shells, and fruit.

Macaws can live up to 80 years so Sandra and Les have plans to leave her in their will to one of their six children.

"It's like a member of the family," Sandra said.