Kamloops woman Ashley Sokoloski with her two pet parrots.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ashley Sokoloski
May 05, 2023 - 6:00 AM
Outdoor enthusiasts in Kamloops might see a rare trio while out on the trails — a young woman hiking with two very bright parrots on her shoulder wearing harnesses and leashes.
Ashley Sokoloski takes her parrots Meiko and Oska everywhere she goes and the great outdoors is no exception. She takes her birds hiking to lookout points, and she gets a lot of reaction from passersby.
“People say, 'wow you don’t see that every day', and most of them do a double take,” she said. “Maybe they'll become little bird celebrities.”
Sokoloski moved to Kamloops from Prince George last year with one parrot, but a couple of months ago she bought a second, much larger one which is still very young. Whether out on the trails or in and around town, Sokoloski allows the older parrot to interact with kids and people she meets, but she doesn’t allow interaction with the young one yet.
“The large parrot is still learning his manners and getting harness-trained,” she said. “He’s semi-friendly at the moment. I always explain that to people, I wouldn’t want anyone to get injured. The older one is super friendly and loves people.”
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Kamloops resident Ashley Sokoloski takes pet parrots on hikes.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ashley Sokoloski
Sokoloski has loved birds since she was little and grew up rehabilitating many different species of injured birds, and she loves exploring the outdoors around Kamloops.
Kamloops woman Ashley Sokoloski's pet parrot.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ashley Sokoloski
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