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Stalking the Blue Eyed Triton Cockatoo, Part 1

The search for Mozart's Younger Brother!

Part 1: Lost in the Woods, Stalking the Triton Cockatoo

Updated: 11-24-2006

For many years we were told over and over again that Cockatoos lived long lives. We were often asked how we planned to provide for our companion after we passed away. So it was a shock when after 14 years our companion passed away. We did not feel like rushing out to buy a new bird, but we knew that we had to start the process to find a new companion.

Mozart hiking the blue trail on Sugarloaf Mtn, 2004

Mozart the hiking on Sugarloaf Mtn


This is our story of the search for a new cockatoo companion. We'll track what it takes to find our new companion in part because we are aware that we have friends and acquaintances who are interested in how the search for another bird is going. We began in November 2004 while we were still grieving the loss of our friend Mozart. We felt like we were lost in the woods, how do we go about finding another loving companion?

Mozart on the Mist Trail at Happy Isles in Yosemite

Mozart on the Mist Trail at
the Happy Isles in Yosemite


We knew that we could not replace Mozart, but we wanted another Triton; not an Umbrella, nor a Moluccan, adorable as they might be. Why? Because from our 14 years experience with Mozart we thought we knew something about Tritons, and from researching and meeting Umbrella and Moluccan Cockatoos, we felt that they would not be right for us. We know that they are right for some, look at the beautiful Moluccan we met on Glacier Point in Yosemite. And it was very friendly! That was such a nice experience, meeting another Cockatoo loving owner that shared her travels with her avian companion. We were not the only ones crazy enough to take our companions on vacation with us.

Meeting a Moluccan Cockatoo, Glacier Pt, Yosemite, Sept 2004

Meeting a Moluccan Cockatoo,
at Yosemite, Glacier Pt, Sept 2004

Another decision we made was that we wanted a male and not a female. Again our preference was based on our experience and how we expect to interact with the bird. We loved our tactile experience with Mozart, but we were aware that a female could not be handled in the same way.

However, in November there were no Triton Cockatoos to be found in the local bird stores, though there were Umbrellas and Moluccans. When we made our sad visit to the American Bird Company where we purchased Mozart 14 years ago in 1990 to inform Pat Boros, his human "mom" of his passing, we learned that Pat's companion Citron crested Cockatoo, "Rascal" had also recently died. However, she revealed that his Triton parents were still breeding and could be expected to begin again in January. This is a pretty remarkable story, because in 1990, Pat did not own Mozart's parents, she had acquired him from a breeder in California. According to Pat, a couple of years later, that breeder decided to retire from the business and American Bird Company purchased the breeding stock. She had transferred the stock to a farm in Virginia.

Pat Boros at the American Bird Company with Mozart in Sept 2004

Pat Boros at the American Bird Company
with Mozart in Sept 2004

In the picture here, look at Mozart sitting on Pats shoulder in September shortly before we left for Yosemite. On our infrequent visits he always showed that he remembered and loved her.


This information from Pat put the idea in our heads of not just getting another Triton, but a Cockatoo that was related to Mozart. Not just any cockatoo, but his younger brother! We had hopes for chicks that might come with the Spring.

As chance would have it, just after we discovered this possibility, we were offered an opportunity to bring home a Triton Cockatoo for Christmas from the Featherheads store in Sterling, VA. But it came too soon after losing our dear companion. We called Susan at Featherheads and declined the offer. (To her credit she had found an "out of synch" baby for us when another purchase fell through.) But we had been seized by the idea of adopting Mozart's younger brother. So Christmas and New Years passed and we waited for the Tritons at American Bird Company to begin their breeding cycle in January. But this story takes more time to play out than we expected. Next...

Story Links


Mozart fluffing up his feathers, Great Falls, MD, Sep 2004

Mozart ruffles feathers,
Great Falls, MD, Sep 2004

This site includes picture galleries from our trips, including pictures of Mozart. Pictures of our 2004 trip can be found on the Yosemite pages. That was his last trip with us. If you are looking for pictures taken during our 2003 trip out to the Southwest to Zion Canyon, Kanab, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon North Rim please visit the Cockatoo Travel pages.

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