You may wonder just how some birds find their sources of calcium when in the wild. In captivity we provide them with cuttlebone and man made blocks but it’s not always so easy out in the wilderness. While eating egg shells and finding mineral blocks in the wild is a common option for wild birds, researchers have discovered a unique way that Vasa Parrots (like our store bird Frankie) get their calcium intake. Vasa parrots were seen using the pits of dates and pebbles to pulverize shells. The males would then lap up the powder and regurgitate it to females before mating with them.
If you would like to learn more about the wonders of Vasa parrots, you can check out the article linked here! https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2015/research/tool-use-parrots/