The museum is home to Merlin the Macaw, who is as much a part of the staff as any of our two-legged members of the Museum Crew!
Merlin
Merlin the Macaw Heads to New Home
Merlin, a Rainbow Macaw, is an intelligent and curious bird, who will live a natural, long life. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s priority is to ensure that Merlin lives a healthy, long life. We believe that rehoming is the best option for Merlin. Safari Niagara is CAZA certified (Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) and cares for a variety of birds, including exotic species. It is home to other macaws, and staff are trained and experienced at working with these animals.
Merlin will travel from Halifax with Safari Niagara staff to Ontario to be rehomed on Monday, April 15.
Merlin’s Background
In 2020, the museum’s first COVID-19 closure disrupted the museum work routine for all staff, including Merlin. The change in routine and lack of visitor interaction affected Merlin whichledhim to snip his feathers. Merlin’s health and happiness are priorities for us, and we are following his veterinarian’s recommendations. This includes medication to help Merlin’s coping behaviour towards stress. Merlin’s behaviour is common, and his feathers do grow back. Merlin receives regular visits from his veterinarian for general health inspections.
Since the latest museum re-opening, Merlin has exhibited more positive behaviours and is now in constant company of museum friends. Please be assured we are monitoring his well being. As the museum is Merlin’s familiar home, many of our staff are his regular caretakers, ensuring he has continual social contact and interaction.
Merlin joined the Maritime Museum crew during the Pets at Sea, March Break event in 2006. Heis particularly fond of green grapes, peanuts, carrots, walnuts and yes, even crackers! His daily meals consist of pellets and fruits and vegetables. A part of his regular care is a warm water spray bath, which he enjoys greatly.
Merlin has no flight training and therefore is not going to take off into the rafters. Merlin does occasionally leave his enclosure, under staff supervision. Since macaws can live to be 80 years old, you'll have plenty of chances to stop in for a visit.
Merlin is quite talkative and laughs on a regular basis. He has learned to mimic the word "Cracker" and "Peek-a-boo" as part of his regular vocabulary. He is usually willing to engage with people but is also quite happy to chat to himself, especially during the middle of the afternoon, during his daily nap.
The Merlin Cam, after 10 years of service on NS Webcams, ended on Monday, August 30, 2021. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic integrated Merlin’s activities together with other museum programs and online news through the museum’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts tagged #MerlinMacaw for followers to see, read and hear about him!
The museum continues to support the long-term partnership with Nova Scotia Webcams, with a webcam of Halifax’s waterfront views that include the museum’s anchor-yard, and wharf.
Ship’s Cats
The first was Nannie, a coal black tabby, who gave birth to a litter of kittens aboard ship and who vanished one year when Halifax was host to the Atlantic Bowl College Football Championships.
She was succeeded by the magnificent Bertram Q. Bilgewater or Bert, a dead-ringer for Sylvester from the Bugs Bunny cartoons and one of the waterfront's most popular residents for many years. Bert embodied the true spirit of the wharf cat, tangling with a variety of critters over the years, from rats and gulls to mink and much larger dogs! After many years of gallant service, Bert was struck down by a sudden illness and despite a heroic fight, detailed in the local newspapers, passed away.
Erik the Red- Rodent Control Officer (1997-2017)
With the passing of Erik the Red, our beloved RCO, an era of superlative service from four ship’s cats has come to an end. We would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and for sharing their warmest memories of Erik.
Steve Read, our shipkeeper has composed a heart-felt tribute to Erik that summarizes his career and the many adventures that kept him busy on the waterfront. With thanks to Steve, Gerry Lunn and Fred Cox for their photographic skills.
Erik arrives at the MMA
Erik joined the Museum Crew during autumn of 1998. One evening, Steve Read, one of the ship's staff, noticed he was being followed the length of Gottingen Street by an orange tabby, who wouldn't take no for an answer. He came aboard ship and has been a part of the crew ever since, taking on the role of Junior Rodent Control Officer. A trip to the vet revealed that Erik was about three years old and that a return visit would have to be arranged for another three months. Despite coming back from that second visit with two less pieces of tackle, Erik's love for the ship and her staff is as strong as ever.
Erik is more of roamer than Clara and likes to frequent the many businesses that occupy the Summit Building on the Halifax waterfront, where he is held in high esteem. The Museum is constantly receiving pictures of Erik from various companies in a variety of hats and poses, which speaks volumes as to how much he is loved. His roaming has occasionally landed him in hot water and he has been taken home by people from time to time under the false assumption that he is lost! As his tag says, "I know where I live, please put me down!"
As staff were arriving at the Museum at 8:30 one frosty morning in December, 2007, it was noted by a member of the public that a cat had been seen in the Harbour during what was an extremely nasty part of the day. It was Erik!! He had been overcome by curiosity and was investigating some work being done on the waterfront when he went in. Seizing a small pontoon boat, our heroic boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly hit the harbour to fish out the frozen feline, assisted by our intrepid security officer Jason Muise, who tended the lines to the boat from the wharf. Once ashore, Erik took off like a rocket, leading to the formation of a search party. Erik was found at one of his favourite haunts, in the Summit Place, where the staff, who know and loved him well were tending to his sad, soggy self. Erik was just fine once he dried off but certainly went through at least one of his nine lives!
Erik Retires
Clara - Senior Rodent Control Officer (1990 - 2010)
Clara was rescued from the Bide-a-While animal shelter as a replacement for Bert. Although described by shelter staff as "feisty", she decided that she would rather assume the role of the ship's official mascot. She was very friendly and docile and people of all ages were drawn to her gentle, plus-sized charms. Clara may well have been the most photographed cat in town and she loved to roam the waterfront in search of new people to meet and from whom she could bum food.
Clara decided to retire ashore in early 2010. She had an incredibly comfortable retirement but her health began to decline by the end of November. It had been hoped that we might bring Clara back to the ship one last time in early December to have a fond farewell but sadly, Clara passed away on the morning of December 7th, 2010, with her best friend, shipkeeper Steve Read by her side. Clara was a wonderful friend, a great companion and the true definition of a wharf cat. She met thousands of friends during her lifetime and she will be missed. God speed old girl.