Our New Cockatoo - Info Appreciated!

[Geeeyejo]

Well, my wife has always wanted a big parrot - now since she agreed to my 10D purchase, what could I say? We shopped and decided upon a Cockatoo. Most were $1800 US and up in the local pet establishments. We checked the classifieds and located a 9 year old male for $900 about an hour North of us. We met the owner (a rather strange gentleman from Syria in the parking lot of the Garden State mall! He had the bird & cage in his van - rather strange, but bird appeared healthy and tame so we went for it. He said he owned him for 2 years & his name was Damascus (capitol of Syria I believe) but was formally named Jesse Jackson. We decided to stick with Jesse since he seemed partial to neither.
Anyway he is a beauty - a Mollucan from other pictures I have seen and must weigh nearly three pounds. I am appalled at the small cage he was kept in - we will be getting him new quarters pronto.
Just wanted to know if any other members have any experience with these birds and could share some insight, pointers, etc. We are aware they are a major commitment, can be noisy and very demanding of attention. He is a bit cage shy now, but will readily come on your arm (big claws ouch!)
Thanks, feel free to post or PM me with any inof that you may have.
Regards,
Gee
Oh, almost forgot this is a photography forum! Pics taken with 10D, 28-70 lens,AV mode,(did not want to use flash and scare him!) F4.5, ISO 800, F60 - Noise (albeit minimal) filtered post processing

[gramps]

We have had several larger birds, mostly Amazons and Macaws. The first thing I would reccomend is to find a vet the specializes in parrots. Then find a store that can help you with some good books on them and a proper diet. Keep his nail trimed to a point where he can use them but not too long so that they would hurt your arm.

[Geeeyejo]

Thanks Gramps,

We are looking for a local Avian Vet - just wanted to give him a few days to settle. We have found a tremendous amount of information on the Web - This internet may very well put libraries (and certainly encyclopedias) out of business! We are a bit surprised, he is not very vocal yet (albeit is has been only about 12 hrs that we have him!) We understand that they do not necessarily talk as much as some of the Greys and others, but that they do like a good scream now and then!
Any other out there with experience/info on these beautiful birds?

[Geeeyejo]

bump up

[Flex]

1800US :shock: those are about US50 from a pet/bird store here!!!

[Geeeyejo]

They must fly them here first class! :)

[Jessica Rabbit]

http://www.parrotlinks.com/forum2/default.asp

There is a specific forum just for Cockatoos :)