[APRIL FOOLS] It seems like there’s an app for everything—especially in San Francisco—and now there’s a new one involving the iconic SF parrots.
Yes, you read that right, a new startup has announced that it is training the San Francisco parrots to act similarly to carrier pigeons with an app that people can use to send messages using the birds. People can handwrite their messages, and then scan and upload them to the app to be delivered. They’re still in the very early stages, so things are subject to change.
Founders Avis Johnson and Jordan Psittacine see the parrots as “untapped potential” and plan on optimizing their flight patterns to trim down wait times for deliveries.
The idea for the start-up came from the founders feeling disconnected from messaging and wanting a more nostalgic approach. It started mostly as a joke after seeing one of the parrots flying by as they discussed their disappointment with modern communication. But the more the co-founders discussed, the more they realized they could be onto something. The new venture aims to combine the nostalgia of letter writing with the uniqueness of carrier pigeons, all while bringing a modern twist with the app.
Johnson and Psittacine assured us that the parrots would be pampered in between deliveries, and they even plan to build an eco-friendly birdhouse for their winged employees. It will be akin to a “bird spa” meant to pamper the birds after their hard work.
The new company and its app will be called “APRIL FOOLS”. If you’re wondering how on earth this is happening, it’s not. There are plenty of wild startups in SF, but this isn’t one of them. The SF parrots are still peacefully spending their days however they please, and no, there’s no app for that.
Even though this startup is pure fiction, the San Francisco parrots are very real. The cherry-headed conures are bright green and red birds native to Ecuador and Peru, and they arrived in SF as a result of the exotic pet trade. They used to congregate around Telegraph Hill, but now you’re likely to see them all over the city, especially near the Ferry Building. Consider donating to parrot rescue organization Mickaboo, which takes good care of the birds if they’re sick or injured.
By Dana Flynn and Jamie Ferrell