Parrots For Peace brings Mr. Baby to Discovery Center in Binghamton

Mr. Baby, a blue-and-gold macaw with Parrots For Peace, brought a live lesson in peace, ecology and respectful bird handling to the Discovery Center in Binghamton’s Ross Park. The appearance fit the museum’s hands-on mission, and the stop was free with museum admission.

The visit was billed as a chance to meet the entire flock, learn facts about parrot behavior and conservation, and get a special introduction to the newest baby member of the family. Mr. Baby made his premiere appearance at 1:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center, then was set to appear again later that day at Atomic Tom’s at 6:30 p.m.

Parrots For Peace is a family of five blue-and-gold macaws owned by Gloria Waslyn, who has described the birds as Rainforest Ambassadors and Spokes-Avians for Nature and Wildlife. The group’s motto sums up the mission plainly: “May there be peace with mother earth and with all people, animals and nature.” Waslyn has also been described as a career counselor, professional photographer and peace advocate, and she leads the not-for-profit group as president.

The story behind the birds goes back 26 years, when Waslyn and Mr. Baby first bonded. After the Sept. 11 attacks, that relationship took on a public purpose: Waslyn began visiting first responders with Mr. Baby for weeks after the attacks, and the outreach later grew into the broader peace-and-environment work the flock carries out today. Background material on the group says the family includes Mr. Baby and Ms. Merlin, along with their children Peace-nik, Ara and Hope.

At the Discovery Center, Waslyn used the birds to talk with children about how they can bring peace into the world. Mary Mullaney said the birds help children relax because speaking to animals can feel less intimidating than talking to adults. That is the real value of a live ambassador bird: kids do not just hear about conservation and care, they watch a macaw up close, connect a face to the message and see why calm handling and trust matter.

For Parrots For Peace, the point was never novelty. Mr. Baby’s visit showed how a blue-and-gold macaw can carry a conservation message farther, and more memorably, than any sign on a wall.