Charlotte Varcoe
WHILE most Mount Gambier residents have cats or dogs sitting in the front of their car, one resident shares his ride with two Green-Cheek Conure birds.
The birds, native to South America, are popular pet birds showcasing an affectionate and playful nature while also thriving on spending time socialising with their owners.
Mount Gambier’s Michael Teakle and his wife Vicki first adopted their two green-cheeked feathered friends almost two years ago and have not looked back since.
The two birds, named Floki and Helga, are no strangers to the ins and outs of a vehicle, often riding shot-gun in the couple’s car on road trips.
“Floki and Helga are about two years old and they are beautiful colours, one is known as a turquoise and the other is known as a cinnamon colour,” Mr Teakle said.
“Originally we were only going to buy Floki but when we were getting ready to go get him we were told he had bonded with a female.
“They have been inseparable ever since.”
The local couple have since trained the two small but smart birds to ride in the car with them, with Mr Teakle even taking them to work with him as a local delivery driver.
“The two of them travel really well in the car and we do enjoy taking them out and about,” Mr Teakle said.
“They actually go everywhere with us, sometimes even in the car to the supermarket and stay in the car with one of us while the other goes and does some shopping.”
Originally, the couple wanted to purchase a macaw but soon changed their mind due to the practicality of owning one.
“That was when we saw the green-cheeks and we thought they were great,” Mr Teakle said.
His wife, Ms Teakle said the two birds travelled well in the car with the couple altering a pet carrier to help keep them safe.
“We know it isn’t common to take birds in the car like that but we have also altered a pet carrier for them so we have put in perches and other bits and pieces and the two birds just love it,” Ms Teakle said.
“If we are unable to take them with us on a road trip too they are able to be looked after at other people’s houses which makes it a lot easier for us.”
According to Ms Teakle, the two conures were also very clever after almost escaping the pet carrier the first time they travelled in the car.
“When we brought them home, the two of them almost figured out how to open the carrier we had them in,” she said.
“One was working the bottom latch and the other was working on the top latch so they are very clever birds as well.”
She said they also enjoyed a sing-a-long in the mornings with her, with both Floki and Helga presenting very different personalities.
“Floki can be very passive aggressive sometimes but they are both very sweet birds when they want to be,” Ms Teakle said.
“They are also very smart and talk quite often, there are times where they are in their cage with the covers on and they are talking to each other and I often wonder what they are saying to each other.
“They really are sweet and intelligent birds and anyone who is looking into having some we suggest to get them but keep in mind they are very social and need that social interaction.”
