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Kiko & Kukui
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This website is dedicated to the parrot -- from the smallest to the largest, from the wilds to the home, the parrot has continually decorated our world with magnificent colors, amazing antics and incredible intelligence. Most of us think of the parrot as a household pet -- a beautiful bird that talks and sits dutifully perched in our homes. Seldom do we envision these amazing birds beyond four walls. In the reality of their world, the parrot is an undomesticated wild animal full of spirit, curiosity and ingenuity. A social butterfly with friends, family, acquaintances -- a job to do and a life to live. They are clever, calculating, caring and courageous. They are an aeronautic amazement in their ability to manuever through just about anything with the speed and grace of the wind that lifts their wings. They are a wonder to behold.
With the creation of amazornia.us we hope to capture the beauty, intelligence and personality of these amazing birds. Through our photographs we hope to enlighten, enhance and entertain...but most of all, to bring your attention to a world rarely seen -- to move your eyes toward the sky and to give your heart wings.
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Mike Bowles & Loretta Erickson
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Mike Bowles, Loretta Erickson, Sydney & Keyta
Mike's interest in birds has spanned decades beginning at the age of 10, when he began feeding a pair of pigeons in his backyard. As pigeons will do, they made Mike's home theirs and in an effort to provide them with shelter, Mike and his dad built a pigeon coop where he could house and raise them. Over the years, Mike entertained and amazed his friends with his pigeons' antics -- including taking a pigeon great distances from home, releasing him and then watching the pigeon return. Eventually, Mike's flock grew to over 50 pigeons.
Some years later, Mike became interested in photography as a means to capture subjects for his paintings. With his love for birds, it seemed only natural to focus his lens toward the sky where he had spent countless hours enjoying the freedom of his own flock.
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Loretta acquired her love of nature at a very early age, as niece of award winning wildlife and Disney Photographers (True-Life Adventure Series) -- Alfred and Elma Milotte, her young years were filled with tales, photographs and film footage from the wilds of Africa, Alaska, Australia and the American wilderness. By the time she was old enough to explore the hill-top forrest Alfred and Elma called home, her feet hit the ground running. For a little girl born and raised in the city, her visits to the hidden paradise became ones of intrigue and adventure. Thus began a life of love and appreciation for nature and wildlife. |
Mike & Loretta's initial interest in the wild parrots began when they became housemates with a domestically bred, hand-raised Yellow-headed Parrot by the name of Sydney. Loretta's close relationship with Sydney stirred her interest in what Sydney's life would be like, were he not captive. Later, their companion parrot-human family grew with the adoption of a Blue-fronted parrot by the name of Keyta. |
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Mike Bowles & Loretta Erickson |
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Together, Loretta and Mike set out in search of the Wild Parrots of Southern California. At first sight, they were in awe and began keeping track of the parrots' whereabouts. In 2001 they began photographing, researching and documenting their local flock. In the midst of their parrot tracking efforts, they became fascinated by the lives of the other birds around them and their interests began to expand. While bird photography in general, became Mike's focus, Loretta's primary interest remained with the wild parrots of Southern California and developing websites on both (amazornia.us and tale-feathers.com).
Dedicated to the welfare of these struggling species, Loretta and Mike continue to photograph and observe the lives of the wild parrots and spend countless hours traveling with the flocks.
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In addition to their in-depth ongoing research, they are presently photographically documenting the individual lives of more than 50 members of their local wild parrot flocks and hope to continue to do so through their lives. Each of these parrots Loretta and Mike can identify by sight. |
In early 2004, Loretta and Mike joined the California Parrot Project. Established in 1994, the mission of The California Parrot Project is to determine the geographical distribution of parrots in California; determine the ecological parameters associated with successful colonization; identify species present and determine their population sizes; establish the extent of interbreeding between closely related congeners; educate the public about naturalized parrots and encourage
public participation in the process of the scientific study of urban parrots.
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Did you know the oldest known fossil from the parrot family dates back over 30 million years,
with some speculation that they could date back over 70 million years.
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