Hatch Date: 1988

Hi, my name is Spanky, but everyone calls me Spank. I am a 35-year-old female Goffin's Cockatoo. 

I was with my human all my life, but sadly, he passed away recently. I was being taken care of by my "stepmom", and she did her best, but I'm used to a lot more attention, so she trusted the Rescue to find me a great home. 

My new foster mom adores me!  She says I never got the memo that I'm a cockatoo, so for that reason, I'm VERY well- behaved : >D. Most of the day, I sit quietly on top of my cage, and I don't really care to go anywhere, as long as you don't have me caged. I do pluck my feathers, but not as much as I used to, it's a stress thing.  I'm not sure if I can fly, but I don't really try, so I'm a little unsteady just perching on you and walking around.  

When you keep me in my cage for very long, I'll scream pretty relentlessly.  I can be LOUD, of course, but I AM A COCKATOO! I will scream when I see something outside, or sometimes to get my foster mom's attention away from guests and back on me. Oh, and sometimes when I can't see my foster mom, and I dont' know where she is, because I do have separation anxiety.  But, hey.....  we all have issues, right?  I've been taught that when told to "ring the bell" that means I'm getting out of my cage. So, please tell me to ring the bell a lot. 

I like hanging out with my foster mom, and will step up nicely, but it did take a few months before I really trusted her to hold me safely.  I like to come out of my cage to play and cuddle, and I've been known to eat food off my human's dinner plate, although my foster mom makes me be vegan, like the rest of the family.  She's trying to get me to eat a healthier pellet diet too, but she still leaves in a little seed to get my interest. I love veggies and fruit though! 

You're probably wondering if I bite. I have bitten people in the past, and I know that it may make you afraid of me. I really don't do it on purpose.  And besides, birds bite. 

There's also a dog in my house, and we really like each other. We'll go nose to beak to say hello to each other, then do our own thing. But that is my doggy buddy. So, if you have a dog too, you will need to closely supervise us, if we are in the same room. 

The only word I know how to say is "hello". You'll hear me say this when you cover me for the night and turn out the lights-- it's the only way I know to say, "good night".

Because I don't fly and have no way to escape a situation, my foster mom says I can only go to a home with small dogs, or very submissive dogs/cats.  Ideally, I could also be in a home with someone who's home during the day, and can allow me to be out of my cage for most of the day. 

So what do you think?  Think I could be your forever companion?  


Spanky has been disease tested for PBFD and Chlamydia with negative results. 

As our adoptable birds are living in volunteer homes, or in their family home, we only allow approved applicants to meet our birds. 

If interested in meeting Spanky, please review our adoption policies and complete an adoption application on our website ftlob.rescuegroups.org.