Humans have enjoyed the company of animals such as dogs for a very long time. As far back as thousands of years ago, dogs were used both for companionship as well as utility to help us with hunting and foraging, etc. Comparatively, you’ll see that parrot companionship has only become more widespread in recent years. As birds become a more common sight in our communities, we have begun to see more art and products designed for those who enjoy them. I’d like to take a look at some of the ways parrots have made their ways into our homes through modern art and everyday products.

I’m going to focus on non-food items in this post because those are the things that interest me the most about this topic. Every bird needs food and clean water, but not every bird needs a customized sign next to their cage with their name and a sassy message like “beware of the small dinosaur”. But that’s exactly the sort of thing you are buying and you can’t tell me otherwise. I may also be guilty of this, I admit. But why do we do it, what else is out there, and how are parrots affecting the pet industry as a whole?

The Business of Pets is Huge

According to Michigan State University, in 2023 the pet industry had an overall economic contribution of $303 billion - and that’s an increase of 16% from the previous year. It saw remarkable growth during the pandemic due to people spending more time with their pets and more people buying and adopting animals to help cope with the stress and loneliness of suddenly being stuck at home. 

Though not as common as say, dogs and cats, parrots hold a respectable 3rd place as a popular companion animal in the United States. They share a large portion of the sales we see in the pet industry every year. Because parrots are an exotic pet with pretty specific needs to keep them healthy and happy, this has created an opportunity for vendors to sell some pretty specialized items. Some of those items are versions of everyday household items that have been adjusted for safety. For example, because birds are sensitive to irritants in the air due to their respiratory systems, their owners have to look for products such as cookware and cleaning products that are deemed “bird-safe” and free of certain materials and chemicals. 

But it’s not just practical items that parrot owners are buying. There’s been a huge increase in the amount of money people are spending on parrot-themed accessories and art.

Parrot Invasion! From Our Walls to Our Clothing

There seems to be one thing that parrot owners love to do as much as spend time with their birds - and that’s shop for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a large merchandising website like Amazon or a smaller one, parrots are everywhere! All you have to do is search on these websites for “parrot” and you’re met with some pretty diverse, interesting items. There’s a ton of clothing listed like t-shirts and scarves. There’s household items like mugs and towels with colorful parrots of any species you can imagine. You can even get custom, handmade jewelry made of your bird to show off your love (and let’s face it - obsession) for them. 

Parrots have been inspiring art for many, many years. But it’s not just canvas you can find them on anymore. Their likeness is created and sold on all different mediums like stained glass, metal, wood, clay, and even needle felt. A person can look up their bird’s species in a shop and find all sorts of fun and beautiful pieces to surround themselves with that reminds them of their birds. Art styles featured can vary from realistic to cute and cartoonish and everything in between. Thanks to digital technology and merchandise available at our fingertips, we can be only days away from receiving something like a custom portrait of our bird to hang on our wall or stickers to put on our laptop and water bottles. One example I've seen is customized trading card posters with a bird's "stats" and funny comments on their personality. If we want a custom item of our bird or a special gift for someone we know with one, all we have to do is send a photo to an artist and wait for the magic to happen. It has never been easier to indulge ourselves in our bird obsessions through all sorts of products.

The Development of Better Products

We’ve continued to improve upon our knowledge of what it takes to keep our birds safe and happy. Research has given us the data we need to improve the products that we buy and make them more appropriate for parrots and their specific needs. The standards of the industry are changing and evolving in order to give customers better choices on how they spend their money. Perches are being produced that are made of better materials than dowel and plastic perches (see image of a budgie on a plastic perch), which were commonly seen in bird cages in the past. These improved materials promote the health of a bird’s feet whereas some choices in the past could cause issues with them like bumblefoot, a bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction. Toys are more than just plastic mirrors and bells that sit in a cage - a customer now has a choice of many kinds of toys made from different woods and mechanisms for enrichment. Toys can be destroyed in no time (if they’re really good) or can provide foraging opportunities and can be used for training. 

Many parrot enthusiasts flock to places like Etsy for custom items of their bird, but they’re also going there to buy things like cage accessories in order to make sure they are created specifically for their bird’s needs. Many craftsmen have taken to the website to create accessories like perches and toys. One man has been creating perches by hand on Etsy through his shop KittandFinnWoodworks for several years now. He uses different woods like kiln-dried natural maple and poplar to create custom perches (example left). I asked him what he thought about how his customers shopped and what he believes is important to them when it comes to buying the products he creates for their birds. He said that they “tend to be very invested with the fit and form of my perches to fit the individual needs of their setups and their pets.” When thinking about the long-term commitment of owning a bird and how much to invest in their comfort and health, he said “ The difference comes in with the long term commitment of owning a bird. Personally I didn't realize my conure could live 20+ years when we rescued her, but it is my responsibility because of that decision to give her the best and most comfortable life I am able to.” His sentiment is a common one among bird owners. The responsibility and love we have for them seems to show in how we care for them and also the money we are willing to spend to protect them and give them a good quality of life. 

It is worth mentioning that there’s something about the parrot community that I have continued to notice as I have participated in it for all these years. So many people are willing to put their money to a good cause and help one another. Time and time again, I’ve seen posts and calls for help from people unable to afford something important for their bird like medical supplies, vet visits, and even food when times are hard. Many of the members of the community seem willing and eager to donate and help - even to strangers. The above-mentioned shop owner helped to provide a whole setup of special, custom perches for someone with a conure with no feet. He only had little “stubs” and it was hard for him to get around and his owner couldn't afford to buy him perches that would accommodate him and posted about her struggle on social media. She had done her best and created ramps made with popsicle sticks, but to the seller mentioned above, he wanted better for her and her bird. After we sent her the custom perches and platforms that he crafted for her, that bird had a much better quality of life. This person was a stranger to the shop owner, but they had something important in common - the love and responsibility of caring for a parrot. 

So, it’s not just fun items like mugs and stickers that are making a difference, it’s the everyday products needed for the bird’s comfort and health that are continuously evolving and being developed by even everyday people trying to improve their bird’s lives. 

The nutritional needs of a parrot have perhaps undergone the most impressive changes. Compared to just recently, parrot owners have more information and knowledge than ever about what they need to feed their birds to keep them healthy. This is something that the people at Bird Street Bistro have taken seriously, and you can see the proof of that through the quality of the products they provide. For example, their Hearty Veggies Parrot Food has ingredients that are beneficial to birds like an organic blend of dried vegetables and nutritious grains.

What Motivates Us to Spend?

The answer will certainly be different depending on who you ask. However, I’ve noticed some commonalities. People seem to get really excited to buy something that reminds them of their own bird. Not just because they’re looking for items to buy out of necessity or fun - they’re looking for something that can remind them that their bird is an important part of their lives. As humans, we seem to really value the items and people we surround ourselves with because we see those things that we love as a part of our identity. If you were to ask, most people with parrots would say they don’t see them simply as pets. Most see them as an important member of their family. With such an important place in our homes, it’s no wonder we like to spend money on them and on things that remind us of them.

What are some things you’ve bought for your bird that stick out to you? Perhaps it’s their favorite food, or perhaps it’s a toy they can’t get enough of. What about items that you’ve bought for yourself? I have a few mini posters around my home that feature silly conure drawings of a  Green-cheeked conure that make me smile every time I look at them. That’s because it’s the species of one of my birds and it reminds me of  how much I adore her. I’ve seen people that frequent my local parrot rescue that have brightly colored tote bags with parrots on them, jewelry like earrings and pins, and one even donated a large, hand carved parrot statue for fundraising that was quickly purchased. 

It’s likely that we will continue to see more creative ways to express our love for our birds through products for ourselves. It’s also likely that we will continue to see progress in the development of products for our birds when it comes to their safety and health. As we invest the money and time into research and development of these products, we will see an improvement of the quality of life for birds everywhere.