Tahlequah Daily Press

Homepage

June 28, 2007

Rare, white parrot born to local breeder

Tahlequah bird breeder Jane Jorgensen never really expected she – or, in this case, her parrots – would do something very few others around the world have done.

After all, the number of breeders across the world who can say they have helped hatch a white Quaker parrot is extremely low. A dozen may be a big overestimation.

But Jorgensen was astonished when she realized the first clutch, or hatch, of eggs produced by two of her parrots resulted in a dark-eyed white Quaker.

“I had never seen this white before,” said Jorgensen. “Normal Quakers are green with a gray forehead and breast. Then, they came up with blue Quakers with a bluish-gray forehead and breast. This bird’s mom was a pallid [light] blue, and the dad was a dark-blue split. So, I got on the Internet to check.”

Then, she realized just how significant this new creature would be to her. Had the bird been red-eyed, it would have simply been an albino Quaker – not really a big deal. That, however, was not the case.

“I found out there are fewer than 10 of these in the world!” said Jorgensen. “A guy in Florida bred one, and a guy in Oregon. They were the only ones in the whole U.S.”

She started questioning experts, and before long, parrot aficionados where trying to track her down.

“People from all over the U.S. started calling and e-mailing me – aviaries in Oregon, Iowa, Florida and Louisiana,” said Jorgensen.

Callers wanted to get their hands on this extremely rare bird, and all were willing to pay for the privilege.

(Jorgensen did not want to publicly specify how much aviaries had offered her for the white Quaker, only that it was a hefty chunk of change.)

Those who called from Oregon, Iowa and Florida wanted Jorgensen to continue hand-feeding the bird eight for more weeks, then get DNA testing the bird, before shipping it to its new owner.

“I was scared!” said Jorgensen. “What if it died? What if it died when I DNA’ed it?”

Jorgensen said the DNA process – to determine if the bird is male or female – requires breeders to cut a toenail until the Quaker has bled enough to soak through a paper card.

“In the breeding industry, it’s very important to DNA birds,” said Jorgensen. “It takes quite a bit of blood, and sometimes, the wound will open up and they will bleed to death, so it’s not an easy procedure. And shipping is costly and very dangerous.”

But a man from Louisiana, whom Jorgensen admits was the lowest bidder, offered to drive up and buy the bird on the spot. Accepting the offer, she said, was an easy decision based on what others wanted.

She pulled the bird from its nest on a Monday, and the buyer arrived the next Friday to take the Quaker to its new home.

“They’ve been working over 30 years all over the world trying to get these white birds, and guess who gets one? Some little old lady in Tahlequah, Okla.!” Jorgensen said, laughing. “That’s what makes Tahlequah unique!”

Contact Josh Newton at jnewton@tahlequahdailypress.com.

Text Only
Local News
ts art kids 1.tif

Tahlequah High School art students Brooke Hunter, left, and Alyssa Bishop work on their latest creations.

  • Artistic wonders

    Anthony Amason understands he sometimes has to push his students beyond their comfort zones so they’ll grow and become successful.

    February 3, 2012 2 Photos

  • Matlock receives five years for rape

    A former Tahlequah High School teacher and coach was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after pleading guilty to rape.

    February 3, 2012

  • school Some enrollment up; some down

    As public schools in Oklahoma suffer further budget cuts , student enrollment continues to increase.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Deputy shoots, kills Norwood man

    NORWOOD – A Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man Wednesday night after responding to a noise complaint near Norwood.

    February 3, 2012

  • Plumb resigns as CNEC chairwoman

    Cherokee Nation Election Commission Chairwoman Susan Plumb announced Thursday she would resign her position on the board, effective Tuesday, Feb. 14.

    February 3, 2012

Sports
Eubanks.jpg

Trevor Eubanks and the Keys Cougars will take on Sequoyah Friday night at Cougar Fieldhouse.

Features
Crime & Courts
Daily Press Calendar 2012
News Updates
Get the scoop!
TDP e-Edition
Poll

Last year, Cherokee County was hit with severe snowstorms in the winter, followed by devastating floods in the spring. What have you done to protect your property, in case it happens again?

I've increased my homeowner/property insurance coverage.
I've shored up the construction (roof, windows, etc.) on my property, or added a storm shelter.
I've moved to an area I believe will be less vulnerable to bad weather.
Some or all of the above.
None of the above.
     View Results
Press Sports Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
AP Video
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy? Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
Stocks