This year, going to bird cafes has become a trendy way of pastime in downtown Guangzhou.

The one located in Yuexiu district is among them, offering a close-up view of parrots for bird lovers.

Stepping into the bird cafe, you will see a wall with profile pictures of birds alongside their names and characteristics.

Before getting in touch with the birds, you need to put on shoe covers and sanitize your hands to make sure everything goes clean and safe. The working staff will introduce some dos and don'ts to you.

Parrots like pecking, not only for their nature but also as a way to explore the world and protect themselves. Hence, you are advised to take off your accessories so that they won't be gnawed by birds. Also, you need to be extra careful to prevent your shoe laces from being pecked.

The staff members will show you the right way to interact with birds, and they will also warn about the wrong motions that might irritate the birdies.

The vivacious birds sometimes stroll on twigs, stay on shoulders of visitors or fly over them, which feels like there is a fan atop because of the cool breeze.

Established in December 2023, the bird cafe now owns 25 parrots of different breeds, including Cockatiel, Monk Parakeet, Sun Parakeet and Fischer's Lovebird, with the average age being one year old. The bird cafe has a total of four full-time and part-time working staff members, all of whom are seasoned bird lovers.

The cafe owner Ms. Guo, born after 1990, has five years' experience in keeping parrots. As for her, parrots are so adorable that it is therapeutic to interact with them. It is delightful to watch them sleep, eat and teach them how to sing, according to Guo.

Guo got the idea of opening a bird cafe during a journey. "I hope to spread the concept of protecting animals and respecting life to everyone," said Guo. And she named every single bird in the cafe.

Ms. Su, a tourist from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, keeps a Cockatiel at home. After taking a stroll on Beijing Lu, she came to the bird cafe with her family. While birds seem cute and easy to get close with, it takes patience and proper care to raise them. Therefore, tyros had better learn about the characteristics and habits of them beforehand, according to Su.

Another visitor Mr. Ma, a local citizen, said that the place was a novelty to him, and he suggested to add more popularization sessions in the cafe.

In accordance with relevant regulations, people don't need special procedures if they want to keep Peach-face Lovebirds, Cockatiel or Budgie. However, relevant certificates are necessary if they wish to raise Fischer's Lovebird, Monk Parakeet, Purple-bellied Lory or Green-cheeked Parakeet.

Unlike mammals such as dogs and cats, parrots are poultry, which means those bitten by them do not need rabies vaccine injections. Shallow wounds are suggested to be flushed by running water and disinfected with iodine or medical alcohol. But if the wounds are deep, the wounded ought to go to the hospital to let doctors tell whether they need to get vaccinated against tetanus.

Source & photos: 信息時(shí)報(bào)
Author: Liu Liu