I once wrote a book about a catfish who tours her museum home using a motion-activated, wheeled fish tank (Clarissa Catfish at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum). At the time, I thought that was a pretty spectacular way for a non-mammal to get around. As it turns out, Clarissa isn’t the only animal going on unusual adventures!
Recently, I came across the story of a diver who took his parrot along for a ride in a submarine. Meet Bebe, a White-winged parakeet who is likely one of the only birds in the world to have personally explored the coral reefs of The Bahamas.
Engineering a Bird-Sized Sub
Owner Steven Lawyer was determined to let Bebe join him on his dives, so he custom-built a “bird-marine.” I had no trouble imagining the concept until I discovered the hull was repurposed from a food container! It makes you wonder exactly what kind of snack jar is sturdy enough for the deep blue sea.
To keep Bebe safe and comfortable, the vehicle was equipped with:
- Life Support: Two air fittings and a one-way valve supplied by a 3000-psi paintball cylinder strapped to the bottom.
- Buoyancy Control: Lead weights were added to ensure the “sub” didn’t go dragging across the sea floor or bobbing uncontrollably to the surface.
- Safety Monitoring: An O2 meter was installed to ensure Bebe always had adequate oxygen levels while underwater.
Bebe’s owner carefully selected a calm, safe location for the first dive to ensure the little explorer wouldn’t be swept away by unpredictable currents.
To see Bebe in action and get a look at his custom-built submarine, be sure to visit his official Instagram account at @bebebirdparrot.
A Thrill-Seeking Traveler
Submerging in the ocean isn’t Bebe’s only claim to fame. This parakeet is quite the adrenaline junkie! He has accompanied his humans on long-distance bike rides (though he didn’t have to pedal) and has even gone skydiving. Strapped into a plastic bubble, he relies entirely on his human to pull the ripcord!
I truly appreciate the incredible enrichment activities Bebe participates in, but as a biologist, I would give anything to hear Bebe’s actual opinion of these experiences.
Does Bebe Have a Voice?
Bebe is a White-winged parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus). While this species is capable of mimicking human speech, they aren’t known for being prolific talkers. They generally prefer to chirp and whistle rather than recite poetry or give interviews.
It looks like we won’t be getting any podcasts from Bebe the Parakeet any time soon. Oh, the stories he could tell! Perhaps his humans should look into teaching him how to type…
Curious about other unique island animals? Dive into the world of the Caribbean with my Curtis Curly-tail series, where adventure and conservation meet on the shores of the Bahamas!