A large zoo usually showcases dozens of different parrots. Intersperse the following “talking points” throughout your tour.

G-d’s Human Parrots: Parrots are not the only birds that can mimic our speech. The Hill Mynahs are also particularly good talkers, and the crow, starling, and blue jay can also learn to say a few words.

But none of them come close to the speaking skills of a human being; they aren’t able to have a real conversation. In the words of Professor Irene Pepperberg, the expert who worked with the parrot Alex for more than 25 years: “you can’t interview them. They just don’t have the extent of communication we have.”

Yet it is far more amusing and entertaining to listen to a parrot say, “wanna showah” (VI want a shower”) than to hear a person communicating a brilliant thought.

For centuries, rabbis have used the “talking bird” phenomenon to explain why our “little” mitzvahs and prayers give so much pleasure to the Almighty. Children and adults often ask if G-d really cares about whether we pray and do little mitzvahs and acts of kindness. “What does He need it for,” they ask, “Doesn’t He have angels who can do a much better job than us?” “Actually,” others would add, “Forget the angels, G-d could do all these things Himself infinitely better!”

The answer is that our little actions, like parrots who speak with their walnut-sized brains, cause far greater pleasure to the Creator than the songs of the angels, or the infinite activities that G-d does Himself.

Keep your feathers in good condition: When you watch the parrots in their cages they seem to be fooling around and pricking each other with their curved hooked bills. Really, they are grooming, or preening, each other in hard-to-reach areas.

Birds preen themselves with their beaks to keep their feathers in top-notch shape, and to keep them free from tiny insects which harm their bodies. When it comes to parts of their bodies that their bills can’t reach, they are helped by another parrot, usually their mate.

Like many birds, most parrots have an oil gland located on their back just above the base of the tail. The bird rubs its bill and head over the oil gland and then rubs the oil onto its feathers. This helps clean and waterproof the feathers, so that they don’t get soaked in the rain.

What can we learn from this? Just like parrots help out each other in the art of preening, people can help each other improve with words of encouragement and good influence.

King Solomon said: “At all times let your clothes be clean, and let your head lack no oil.” He was not talking about ordinary garments and ordinary oil. He meant a person’s good deeds, which enhance a person’s inner appearance, and a good name which gives a person a good “fragrance.” Fine feathers make fine birds, and fine deeds make fine people.

Just like birds spend a good deal of the day preening themselves, we should strive to improve ourselves every day, and not postpone it for later – so that when Moshiach comes he does not find us unprepared. The Talmud gives a parable that illustrates this thought:

Patience and sincerity: S. Wakai, who graciously gave us the sound clips on this page, learned this lesson in human relations from her experience with parrots: “Patience and sincerity speaks to the heart of any creature, no mattered how troubled they are or sharp a beak they have!”