Sunday, January 18, 2009

Parrot Fashion

No Oscar, But He's Pollywood’s Leading Man

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


So there I was, on a hot afternoon in Perth a few days ago, looking for a polygon - but I had to make do with a "polly gone" instead. The brilliant hues of this macaw’s plumage caught my attention, so I had to get a shot of him, just to capture the great colours.

Fans of the peerless TV comedy troupe Monty Python would remember the famous Dead Parrot Sketch, but there were no such worries here. This bloke wasn’t dead. He wasn’t stuffed. He hadn’t even been to a taxidermist.

He’s simply a toy parrot. Yup, flip a switch and he’ll greet you with a marvellously authentic voice. So, yes, you can get really close to him – and he’ll never get his (or your) feathers ruffled.

Check out the rules at Camera Critters or go to Misty Dawn.

20 comments:

Maggie May said...

Well, strike me down..... you had me fooled. Looked real enough.
Yes Monty Python's dead parrot comedy was a scream!

Carol Murdock said...

David........no wonder he looks so bewildered......he is wearing the San Diego Chargers uniform and they got knocked out of the playoffs last week. He is a winner though!

ChrissyM said...

Wow! This is stunning! Those colors are goregorous!!! WOw!

Jinksy said...

I almost put my foot in it here - opening up the Parrot Fashion page, I took one look at his 'plumage' and was all set to post a comment saying he looked to be dressed in fur fabric! Luckily my eye got caught t by Maggie May's comment; I returned to original post and hastily took foot out of mouth and fingers off keys...

becky aka theRAV said...

You crack me up, David. Thank you so very much for your comments on my sky watch photo. You really made my day today when I read your words so I know I did well. Thanks for the encouragement. I will definetly print it, frame it and hang it proudly. Thanks again.

ArtistUnplugged said...

The colors are beautiful! I was thinking as I looked at it that those birds are so amazing, that they look absolutely unreal. Then I read that it wasn't and was disappointed...wanted it to be that amazing.

Daryl said...

Monty Python's dead parrot routine was very funny but my fav was the SPAM routine ...

George said...

A toy, huh? Well, the colors are certainly gorgeous.

Rhea said...

Your "polygone" IS bright and colorful! Does he require batteries?

Rune Eide said...

No offence David, but I'll prefer the Monty Python variety to the stuffed one with a tape recorded voice!

PS Thanks for the comment - it was from an area where you will always find a subject. Or peace of mind.

Mimi said...

I wondered why his feathers looked fuzzy!

® ♫ The Brit ♪ ® said...

Great shot and such striking colours!
It is so lifelike, almost fooled me!

Dianne said...

he looks so real! I was about to get angry that people were making him dress up - or down lol

I adore Monty Python

Withy Brook said...

Certainly took me in - I loved the pattern on his face.
Thank you for commenting on my blog on cyclamen. Yes,they like to be kept cool but not too cool. Embarrassed as you may have seen some of my very amateur pictures!!

Captain Dumbass said...

It's so dull and grey here his colours burnt my eyes.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Norwegian blue does come to mind. The colours are incredible though.

Reader Wil said...

My elder Australian grandson would have said:"You don't fool me! It's a "pretend" bird!". But very colourful! I must say I prefer the real thing. Anyway, thanks for your visit and comment on my termites.

Anonymous said...

I thought, what marvellous colours, can't be real...had to look hard though.

Mojo said...

But was he nailed to his perch is what I want to know!

Misty DawnS said...

When I went to Ohio to visit, I took a stuffed parrot (named Polly) to my dad's wolfdog. Polly was a gift to Matouk from a very dear friend of mine. Matouk tucks Polly in on my dad's pillow (and pulls the covers over her) every night.