The emotional bonds humans can develop between themselves and animals are quite remarkable. Of course, friendships between species can go beyond just humans, as we can find a few examples of unlikely friendships in the wild as well. However, it’s harder for humans to form bonds with some animals than others. Birds are just one example of creatures that take a lot of work for humans to develop friendships. However, with the right amount of patience (and treats), there have been many who have found ways to earn their trust. Parrots are by far some of the most interesting birds humans can bond with. Not only do they communicate using cute chirps, but they can also mimic human speech.
However, many believe these creatures are much more than just good mimics; there’s some evidence to suggest that they actually understand what some words mean. In other words, some can hold a real conversation with their humans. Now, I know it sounds far fetched, but if there’s any parrot who can change your mind, it’s Willie, a quaker parrot who once did something remarkable — save a human life. You see, it all began when Willie’s human, Megan Howard, was babysitting a toddler named Hannah. Howard was feeding the breakfast when she left the room for a moment. That’s when the child began to choke on her food.
Willie the parrot, saves the life of a toddler – WTF fun facts… pic.twitter.com/tqvu7tMCMz
— Kanishk . (@kaniishkk) September 22, 2016
Suddenly, Megan’s attention was called back to the kitchen when she heard Willie yelling “Mama, baby” over and over again while wildly flapping his wings.
When she returned, Hannah was beginning to turn blue.
Did You Know? Willie the parrot alerted his owner, who was in the bathroom, when the toddler she was babysitting began to choke, saving the girls life 🦜 https://t.co/PKSJjbeaCz
— Emma Schneider (@EmmaSchneider20) August 3, 2020
Howard was able to save the little girl’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver, but she credits Willie as “the real hero.”
“The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I’ve heard it,” Hannah’s mother, Samantha Kuusk, told KCNC-TV. “My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed.”
Willie would receive a special award from the American Red Cross during an event hosted by Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter called “Breakfast of Champions.”
A guy from Australia who's making a kids TV show about animals just called the @CBSDenver newsroom asking for video of "Willie the Parrot", who apparently helped save a toddler from choking. Checked the archives. Yep… Willie was honored in 2009 by the Red Cross. #TheMoreYouKnow pic.twitter.com/DT10jKmZJo
— John Fenton (@higuysimjohn) August 1, 2018
You can learn more about Willies remarkable story in the video below.