Why do some parrots?

Question

live more than 40 years? what purpose does it serve?

Answer 1

Parrots are beautiful birds. And some people love them as companions.

They live that long because God made them that way.

Answer 2

Why do people live more then 40 yrs? What purpose does that serve? Animals are put here on this earth for the pleasure of people and for 40 yrs a bird can make many many many people happy because they are passed from house hold to house hold when their owners need to place them in another home. And birds love living with people when they grow to be that old so I think that is the purpose it serves. To make the lives of people happier then they would be if we didnt have birds at all.

Answer 3

Well, in the wild, a longer life means more time to procreate. The Scarlet Macaw, for example, has a lifespan of 60+ years in captivity. In the wild, they few live over 30, and roughly 20 of those years are used for seasonal breeding, and they nest only once in a season. They lay 2-4 eggs at a time so they can keep their species numbers up. This is thought to be a species adaptation- snakes, lizards and some other opportunistic predatory birds find their eggs and chicks easy (and tasty) prey, so it is their own characteristic that they spend a longer time living for repopulation. They are also threatened from the sky- Orange-breasted falcons are known to attack a macaw in mid flight.

This long amount of time is crucial. They do not breed in the wild until they are over three years of age, and anything can happen within 3 or 4 years that they are growing up.

The only reason why we know most species can truly live that long is that fact they generally get better care in captivity then out in the wild. In the care of an owner, with a diverse diet, proper exorcise and mental/emotional enrichment, it has been documented some parrots outliving their owners. They also do not have to deal with deforestation and predators. In the Macaws case, the oldest living one died at 103.

Answer 4

Something puzzles me about your question.

What makes you think 40 years is a long time?

I am guessing you think people live a long time?

I don't feel the same way as you about this for sure. I wish I never had to die and I don't understand why birds don't live a 1000 years and people live 2000 years. It is a shame that life is so short.

But to answer your question in laymans terms.

A birds body is just like any other living thing be it made of metal or of flesh wear out. The bearings in a machine rub till they wear out. Same as the joints in your body after a while they will wear out. Nerve endings like wires get old and don't conduct electric and your brain like in birds and your computer will no longer beable to talk to other parts of your body to let them know your heart should keep beating or that you are hungary because the the brain don't get the message.

So with that said.. The wiring and bearings and other parts are built with better grease and heaver guage wires and can last longer in some birds then a dog or a cat or other birds. Like people has even better made parts and can live even longer.

Or the faster you live the sooner you will burn out just like a light bulb.. The brighter it burns the sooner it will burn out.

Well enough of that ..

Answer 5

It has much to do with their metabolism. If you feed a parrot correctly, they have a very healthy diet.
They make good pets. Many can talk, be taught to do silly tricks and just be fun to be around. Since good people take care of their animals and love them, it's nice that they live a long time. We get to enjoy them and love them.
It doesn't sound like you are interested in birds. Are you interested in any pets? Are you at least kind to animals? If the answer to the last question was a,"No", you may need some professional counseling. Being Cruel to animals is a sign of mental problems.

Answer 6

You are obviously not a parrot lover. A parrot can be a companion for life: this alone would serve its purpose. Some parrots are so intelligent and have been trained so well - they make an absolute fortune for their owners.

Answer 7

What a silly question. Why do some people live over 100 years? What purpose does that serve?

Answer 8

Many species take a few YEARS to reach sexual maturity. Even after becoming sexual mature, they will stay with their parents and help raise siblings.

Parrots are very socially and emotionally complex animals... we are just beginning to grasp HOW complex and evolved these birds are.

Just like humans, it takes a long time to "figure things out".

Like humans and evolved species of ape, some parrot species have been observed making tools, having language structure, and non-procreating sex.

I think that it only "makes sense" for an animal with the potential to be atleast as smart as a human three year old, to live a long time... they have alot to learn!

Answer 9

The long life expectancy of parrots seems quite anomolous to me when compared with other long lived species which are usually characterised by late sexual maturation, low litter/ clutch numbers and long term care of the off spring. Parrots become sexually mature quite early (-3 years?), have a relatiuvely high reproductive potential (2-3 per anum) and young are independent at a young age. why are they so long-lived (50-100 yrs). Something to do with increased reproductiv output of longterm pair-bonded birds?

Answer 10

Seeings how you haven't gotten a REAL answer I will chime in here.The main reason most of the Large parrots live so long is because they are so slow to develop.some take 10 years before they can breed,most 4-5 years old before they can be good reliable breeders.They are the main source of food where they come from for many predators.So the longer they live the more young they can produce.They can and do breed up in thier later years.Although it does shorten thier lives considerably as it takes valuable minerals and vitamins out of them to breed.

Answer 11

Most Parrots have the same aging as humans do thats why they live so long. Example: Mc Claw and African Grey have the same live spam as we humans do. Told to me by my vet. Owner of a African Grey Parrot.