Pets have gotten us through so much. For many of us, one of the few positives about the past year has been the ability to hang out more with our fuzzy and loyal pals. But dogs and cats shouldn't get all the credit. As it turns out, birds can also make pretty amazing pets.
Nick Phomkasornsri, who's on TikTok and Instagram under the handle of TheGaysianCowboy, recently showcased a fun video with his pet bird. The clip samples the song "Island in the Sun" from Weezer, giving off even more of a beachy and carefree feel. For those of us stuck inside, the video is a subtle reminder that there's a great big world out there. And one day, we'll all be able to feel the freedom that travel often brings us once again.
But this parrot in particular also has a pretty incredible family life that's worth exploring.
"Klono is definitely the fit one of this duo," Nick wrote in the caption of the video. The comments that followed were all joyous. One follower even stated, "This brings me so much happiness to watch!! Thank you!!" It's truly a video that'll make you feel good.
It's not the only video that Nick has posted of his loyal pet parrot. But by now he knows how popular the videos have become. Every time he posts, more and more followers beg for more footage of his feathered friend.
Klono flies "free flight," which means that Nick trusts him outside of his cage. The bond has grown so greatly that Nick knows Klono won't fly away from him while on these outdoor adventures. That often requires a healthy amount of training. It's apparent that Klono had been given that kind of training.
Being able to fly naturally is also very beneficial to Klono. And his happiness is quite obvious. One of Nick's clips ended up on Reddit's "MadeMeSmile" subreddit, with a caption of "What a happy bird and a great owner." It's quite clear these two were made for each other.
Nick isn't just known for his Klono videos. He's also known for his extraordinary family. When he's not out with Klono, Nick works as a massage therapist. His husband, Steve Wiltgen, is a product manager. The two adopted a son together named Wyatt, who's also featured in many of Nick's videos.
They also have plenty of other animals surrounding them. Nick started up Wyatt's 2nd Chance Ranch animal rescue. That means that Wyatt gets the ability to interact with horses, sheep, and even emu on a daily basis. Quite frankly, it's a life that many of us often dream of.
According to Nick, Steve never had a pet in his life before they met. "He didn’t know what he was getting himself into when he decided to date me," Nick joked on Instagram. Then he told a story about when they first moved in together. "I had found a crow with neuro issues on the side of the road," he explained.
"I brought him home and I put him on the top of our open front door so that he would feel safe away from me," Nick said. "I was outside doing something when I heard the front door slam shut and the crow scream. I ran in the apartment and found Steve standing there having just got home from work."
Nick said that when he got home, he yelled at Steve over shutting the door. But Steve yelled back asking why there was a crow in the apartment. "Sometimes I forget what 'normal' is," Nick joked. At the very least, it seems as if Steve has gotten quite used to Nick's menagerie.
Nick and Steve have quite the adoption story when it comes to Wyatt. The couple sat down with Gays With Kids to tell the story, which ultimately has a happy ending. "We got a phone call from a very close friend of mine," Nick said. "She told me her sister had a baby and that she was unable to parent the child. She asked if we would be interested in adopting him."
The couple were interested and moved to California to prepare for their future family member. But in time, they decided that Texas was more their style and offered a lot more space for Wyatt — and, eventually, the collection of animals that they would later rescue.
Right now, the family has over 50 animals. And Wyatt has formed special bonds with most of them. "He sits on horses, and his pet cow," Nick said. "Plays with chickens, cuddles turkeys, collects fresh chicken eggs, and has two acres dedicated of the yard just for him to run and ride his little motor bike."
Will Wyatt one day make videos with Klono? It seems pretty likely. He's already a natural around parrots, just like his dad. "Watching him grow and learn new things on the daily is so much more fulfilling," Nick said. Surely, he wants Wyatt to experience everything he can.
The Klono videos are even more endearing once you hear the full backstory behind them. It seems as if Nick is truly an animal lover at heart and has managed to live his best life. And he's managed to save a few lives along the way, thanks to his ranch.
These stories are based on posts found on Reddit. Reddit is a user-generated social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website where registered members submit content to the site and can up- or down-vote the content. The accuracy and authenticity of each story cannot be confirmed by our staff.
