Cockatoo

A flurry of feathers, white as snow.

A golden crown, lit with the sun’s glow.

Strong wings to carry them far and wide,

As they fly, they sing their happy song with pride.

Hooked beak and strong, taloned feet,

Deafening squawks, hard to beat.

Drawn to people with their food,

Which they take, it’s hardly rude.

When we feed these hungry birds we feel kind,

But unbeknownst to us all, are the effects left behind.

Feeding can cause immense harm, 

It can disrupt the balance, the peaceful calm.

When these birds of snow and sun gather in one place,

The result is less nests, less trees, less space.

So they all roost together, little do they know,

When they do these things, disease begins to grow.

This is beak and feather disease, for birds a fatal thing,

Where beaks degrade and feathers fall from many a wing.

It is up to us to fix this mess, to help, to speak up against the wrong,

So these birds of snow and sun can once again sing their happy song.