News and Stories

As long as there has been a bird show at the Cincinnati Zoo, there has been one constant through all the changes and evolution of the show’s 45 year history, Reggie the Eleonora Cockatoo.  The legend of Reggie started when Gary Denzler was putting together a group of birds for a new bird show when a fellow trainer in southern California spotted Reggie in a pet store and told Gary he found a cockatoo that would be a good fit for the new show.  Reggie became a staple of the show and for decades entertained and educated audiences with his sweet “hello”, upside down swinging and cute wave goodbye.  

As Reggie aged, he unfortunately developed a feather chewing behavior that eventually got to a point where he had to be taken out of shows due to his appearance.  The bird show team focused on reducing this behavior trying new homes, flooding his home with enrichment, taking daily trips to other areas in the Zoo, working part time in the purchasing department as an office assistant, playing movies, and even living with friends in the Children’s Zoo for a short time.  Unfortunately, none of these worked for Reggie.

Then one day, when socializing Reggie in the theater seating, Reggie did the unthinkable, he flew! In his 40 years at the zoo he had shown little interest in flying but now a new chapter was opening for him.  Through new training and a new medication regimen, Reggie’s chewing behavior decreased and in 2022 he had a renaissance returning to the bird show stage as a flying bird.  Reggie looked so good that past trainers did not recognize him in the show.  He even joined the outreach team doing programs off zoo grounds, something he had never done before.  In recent years, Reggie was celebrated as being the last of the original birds that started the show back in 1981.

Sadly, Reggie’s health took an abrupt downward turn and during an examination a large mass was discovered that was pushing on his esophagus preventing food from passing through.  The mass was in an inoperable position and with that information the vet staff and bird show team made the agonizing decision that it was time.

Reggie is an inspiration to us all that animals can be resilient and through training and trying new things, behavioral challenges can be overcome.  After 45 years and 6,000 shows, there will never be a bird like Reggie. There is now a gap in the show but an even bigger hole in our hearts. He will be missed, he will be remembered, and “his wave hello is the same as his wave goodbye”