Kate Edenborg veterinarian-science freshman

Freshman has cockatoo on shoulder, but don't try to ask him a question ÷ he isn't going to respond

Wildcat: You're carrying a bird on your shoulder? Like a parrot · like a pirate.

Edenborg: Yeah. He a Goffin's Cockatoo.

Wildcat: Did you pay a lot of money for it?

Edenborg: No. He was given to me as a gift from my old boss.

Wildcat: Oh really? What's the parrot's name?

Edenborg: Ernie.

Wildcat: I think Ernie's mad-dogging me. Doesn't he know who I am? I'm El Vato Loco.

Edenborg: Yeah·

Wildcat: He looks like he wants to get crazy.

Edenborg: No. He's not crazy. He's just a boy.

Wildcat: [to Ernie] What's up, Polly? Does Polly want a cracker?

Edenborg: He doesn't talk, actually.

Wildcat: Aw, he doesn't talk?

Edenborg: No. I have other birds that talk, but he doesn't. You're welcome to hold him if you like.

Wildcat: Oh cool. Wow. He just grips your fingers.

Edenborg: Yep.

Wildcat: Does he get all violent?

Edenborg: Uh-uh. I actually go to school · he works with children a lot.

Wildcat: He's just checking me out. That's all good. I can hang with that. [Hands Ernie back] You ever have any bad experiences with birds?

Edenborg: Never. I've worked with them for a while and I'm actually pre-vet.

Wildcat: Oh yeah? Birds are always crapping on my car. Like, seriously, every time I wash my car I have a · do you know what's funny about birds? When they take a step, at least pigeons, I've noticed that their necks stretch out every time they take a step. That would be annoying. Imagine like, if every time we took a step, our necks stretched three or four inches out or up. Know what I'm saying?

Edenborg: Yeah. I don't know much about pigeons. I just work with parrots.

Wildcat: Do parrots do that? When they take a step, do their heads bob?

Edenborg: Not really.

- Interview by Nathan Tafoya