While the general public loves to visit zoos to be able to see some of the world’s coolest animals in person, for the workers, the job is so much more. They get to help animals, birds, and reptiles–like this parrot named Harley.
On September 8, the Cincinnati Zoo shared a TikTok video (@cincinnatizoo) of a sweet parrot named Harley. The clip was an update on how Harley is doing after he was first introduced a year ago. Take a look!
@cincinnatizoo Way to go Harley! He’s come such a long way in one year! #parrot #cincinnatizoo #animaltraining #animalsoftiktok
In the 40-second long video, we meet Harley who was first introduced a year ago. Harley had never learned to fly. He’s a 21-year-old blue and gold macaw who came to the zoo from a private owner who had never given Harley the opportunity to learn how to fly.
The zoo then set out to help Harley learn how to fly using something called the splits.
“Remember Harley the parrot who never learned to fly?” the text on the video reads. Harley is standing on what looks to be a ladder and was being encouraged to jump to the other wood stand. “This was called the ‘splits period,'” the video explains.
Working hard to learn to fly wasn’t easy for Harley. “Splits led to his first and only ‘I’m stuck, I need help!’ moment,” continued the text on the video.
But slowly and surely, Harely’s confidence grew.
“This was his first ever flight!” the text clip on the video read as the sweet bird took to the air for the first time.
And since then, he’s done incredible. “It’s been a full years since he first trusted himself to take to the air!” the video explains. “A year later … this is where we are! He’s even participating in education programs!”
In the caption of the video, the zoo shared their excitement for Harley. “Way to go Harley! He’s come such a long way in one year.”
In the comment section, people cheered on Harley for his hard work and determination, too.
“He’s like Blu in the movie Rio!! Lift, tuck thrust… you’ve got it Harley!!!” one viewer wrote.
“In his little head he was probably thinking ‘wait, that’s what these things on the side do,” another shared.
“I am absolutely not going to cry over a bird learning to fly,” someone else tried to explain.
“My favorite part of this is watching the trainers using body language to encourage him, I love it so much,” added another.
“This is making me so emotional. Good job Harley ,” another viewer admitted.
According to an earlier update, Harley never learned to fly because he was never shown how. “It is actually a learned behavior,” Cincinnati Zoo trainer, Sarah Paese, told USA Today. “They would learn from their parents leaving the nest. So, Harley, being a pet, didn’t get that opportunity.”
We’re proud of you too, Harley!
