r/OldSchoolCool May 08 '26

1950s Sir David Attenborough introducing his daughter to a noisy cockatoo, 1959 - He turned 100 today

Post image
24.7k Upvotes

122 comments sorted by

1.6k

u/Hulaguy May 08 '26

My little girl is 35. Doesn’t look a day over 30!

193

u/shizweak May 08 '26

What a cutie, I can tell shes comfy and well looked after just by her cheek feather fluffage!

99

u/ItAintNoUse May 08 '26

30? That is clearly a little baby ❤️

28

u/leliocakes May 08 '26

Omg the cheeeeeks 😭

14

u/Cjc2205 May 08 '26

Her cheeks remind me of cauliflower 😅

8

u/thatsapeachhun May 08 '26

I think they meant Sir David Attenborough turns 100 today, not the Cockatoo 😂

9

u/Hulaguy May 09 '26

Yes I’m aware of that. Someone commented about the bird being old and how they can live quite a long years. Mine happens to be 35, so I shared her picture!

4

u/thatsapeachhun May 09 '26

Haha word. Well, yours is gorgeous. I have two kids, and cannot imagine how close you must get with your cockatoo over that amount of time. Hell, I’m only 34 years old!

10

u/Hulaguy May 09 '26

I’ll be 65 Monday. She was my wife’s bird (as well as a severe macaw) and they BOTH jumped ship to become MY constant companions! As I type this I have Topaz the cockatoo on my shoulder and Q her “brother” sitting on my knee preening himself. There is nothing in the world as cool as being a “bird daddy”! They’ outlive me and are in the will. If Sir Attenborough was a bird guy, then I guess I’m in good company! (And hope I live to 100 too!)

4

u/thatsapeachhun May 09 '26

That is so fucking cool dude! I wish I would have the problem of “who is gonna take my friend” after I pass over. They really do seem like people in a lot of ways. Hope everything is well with you.

1

u/SteamSpoon May 08 '26

265,252,859,812,191,058,636,308,480,000,000?

2

u/ExpressRabbit May 08 '26

Technically the truth.

1

u/swordrat720 May 09 '26

She’s angrily judging you for taking her picture.

290

u/Redmen1212 May 08 '26

A 100 year old Cockatoo??

262

u/shizweak May 08 '26

Our childhood cockatoo is almost 40 years old, and she's just as youthful and as much of a larrikin now as when she was a youngster. There's no doubt she'll outlive my parents, so I'm already planning where I'll build her enclosure when the time comes.

That being said, a warning to people thinking they want a parrot as a pet - don't do it unless you can treat them right. They are extremely social birds and require a lot of care, patience and attention.

143

u/tapasmonkey May 08 '26

Not to put a downer on your lovely story, but I was actually rather relieved when my father's African-Grey parrot passed away before he did, because, being a perfect mimic, I'm not sure I could have dealt with the bird calling my name in my deceased father's exact voice every time the phone or doorbell rang!

(still, if you're ready for it, I'd imagine that'll actually be rather sweet and touching)

28

u/pepotink May 08 '26

I believe he was joking but your story was also nice!

2

u/Cave_Bear_Cult May 12 '26

Keyword "larrikin" used. Australian detected.

31

u/turdferguson3891 May 08 '26

The old Reddit Cockatoo.

21

u/blackjackgabbiani May 08 '26

It's been recorded! Probably not for this specific cockatoo but I wouldn't rule it out entirely. There's one in New Zealand who's something like 108.

3

u/brtnyatt May 08 '26

I heard birds do live a long time..

381

u/qwythebroken May 08 '26

Putting aside how simple the math is, the reality of a 33 year old in 1959 being alive today absolutely boggles my mind. 33 is a full grown man, color TV had only been on the airways for a few years at that point. Remote controls were bleeding edge tech.

Microwave ovens were science fiction...

142

u/Jorvic May 08 '26

Not sure if you're aware of this (thus the comment) but he was instrumental in pushing for colour TV to be rolled out sooner than it would have been in the UK, when he was put in charge of BBC2. So, not only is it mental to think about all that he's seen since what would have been seen as approaching middle age back then, he made some of it happen!

27

u/qwythebroken May 08 '26

Now that you mention it, I was loosely aware he was in charge of the BBC (not necessarily BBC2) around this time, which now has me wondering if that influenced my choice to bring that up specifically, albeit subconsciously. I don't think I knew he played a significant role in advancing color TV broadcasts. Although he's lived such a storied life, I'm not even surprised.

I just read up on a little bit of his push for color TV. Somehow it seems fitting that It apparently included "The Snooker Test" broadcasts. The man's a legend!

5

u/Lost-friend-ship May 09 '26

He was also born the same year tv was invented :) 

57

u/SweetOrangesAreYum May 08 '26

Hey! 33 is young okay? Don't hurt me like that.

73

u/qwythebroken May 08 '26

A mere third of an Attenborough.

16

u/MakoShark93 May 08 '26

Lmao tell me about it. 33 is a grown man, admittedly but it’s still rather young. Not super young but certainly not middle-aged yet.

1

u/activelyresting May 09 '26

I'd say 33 is middle aged, based on living for an outside average of 90 years - 0-30 is young, 60-90 is elderly, ergo 30-60 is middle age. For Attenborough, 33 was barely the beginning of middle age, but still.

17

u/greenroute May 08 '26

33yr old in 50’s must be a grown ass man with shit ton of responsibilities. I guess life feels like a movie reel by now for Sir David, with key core memories preserved and running on loop, my man must have seen crazy places on earth while covering with purely joy and curiosity in every bit of what he did. Legend.

9

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/greenroute May 09 '26

Yeah agreed but, back in the day they popped babies like vending machines and were half way through life by 35. Now it’s like we are stuck in debts trap and popping kids ain’t helping the situation.

13

u/FlurgenBurger May 08 '26

I am 33. Wtf.

2

u/talibatsadaasmashula May 09 '26

his father was born in the 1880s imagine I repeat this man had a father who was born in the 19th century!!!

116

u/Turmericab May 08 '26

It is possible all three of them are still alive. Neat.

12

u/Sacred_Cowskin May 08 '26

Best reply in this thread.

327

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

97

u/3dforlife May 08 '26

A global treasure, dare I say.

30

u/G-I-T-M-E May 08 '26

David Attenborough is also a swell guy.

80

u/Vectorman1989 May 08 '26

Is there anyone with more letters after their name?

18

u/everywhereinbetween May 08 '26

Not nearly enough, if anyone should collect more I'm happy for him to continue his collection 🌟✨️🙌

AND he out-aged Lego but obviously nah how can a legend like him out-age Lego? They changed the rules now 🙌

9

u/davratta May 08 '26

That list does not even include all of the honorary degrees that have been conferred upon him by Universities from all over the Commonwealth of Nations.

274

u/RoyalChris May 08 '26

He has barely aged a day

77

u/salizarn May 08 '26

He looks significantly older

118

u/501uk May 08 '26

And way fewer feathers

28

u/No-Plastic7377 May 08 '26

I lived in N.S.W., and had a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo named Digga, he was loud at times, but he brought a lot of joy.

22

u/Englandshark1 May 08 '26

Happy Birthday Sir David Attenborough!!!

15

u/kuynhxchi May 08 '26

How is she doing?

116

u/jsyk May 08 '26

the little girl or cockatoo? I looked up the little girl's wikipedia page, but it brought me to Jane's story again

  • David Attenborough, we have here with his 2 yr old Susan Attenborough
  • Richard Attenborough is David's equally lovely film maker nature-adoring brother

both brothers had daughters born in the same year: 1954-1955, it's confusing, the girls were curly haired platinum blonde twins.

  • David's daughter Susan is well, they were together today (1954)
  • Richard's Daughter Jane (1955) died in the 2004 tsunami, with her daughter Lucy. the rest of Jane's family in the photo was there and survived. 230,000 people died in this tsunami.
  • Richard and David spoke very publicly about the loss of Jane and Lucy and what the rest of the family saw in order to drive awareness. as not many in the public eye in the united kingdom were impacted but the Attenboroughs were beloved figures

14

u/CheetahTheWeen May 08 '26

That’s so sad - that poor family, what a magnificent loss.

17

u/jsyk May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

david with kitten. his children, susan. 60 years ago

22

u/jsyk May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

susan with dad - david attenborough and uncle - richard attenborough, 30 years prior to today. so to answer the question, it looks like the little girl from op's post has done okay through time

15

u/FrauBlucher_212 May 08 '26

Happy Birthday David Attenborough 🎁🎊🎂

14

u/ttcmall May 08 '26

A good moment.

21

u/velvetrosq May 08 '26

Imagine having David Attenborough as your dad.

9

u/NearbyPerspective397 May 08 '26

Sulphur-crested cockatoo.

When you're in Australia and fifty of them turn up on your terrace every morning... They're the world's naughtiest birds.

16

u/ol-gormsby May 08 '26

Ah yes, the sulphur-crested cockatoo. Ear-splitting at a distance, I wouldn't want one to let loose when it's that close.

8

u/n0thing0riginal May 08 '26

Truly one of the coolest guys out there

7

u/Sii_Kei May 08 '26

Happy birthday, Sir David!

25

u/goteamnick May 08 '26

Those bastards are noisy

44

u/gaborzitoo May 08 '26

I actually find his voice soothing.

3

u/pepotink May 08 '26

That's what she said

5

u/Arnwald May 08 '26

Brits or cuckatoos ?

3

u/mildpandemic May 08 '26

Yes, but the cockies in particular.

6

u/itsabeautifulworld May 08 '26

Can we make him immortal? Please?

9

u/r0sten May 08 '26

I'm pleased to report she too is still alive. It's a weird thought that the photo is so old that it's uncertain the child would still be with us.

4

u/kwenronda May 08 '26

I can hear this picture

4

u/Moftem May 08 '26

What a legend! What a life! What a spectacular human! Blessings to him!

4

u/sowhat4 May 09 '26

That 'little girl' is 71 years old now and takes care of her father in terms of household management and shopping. She used to be a primary school teacher. I'll bet David was about age 33 in that photo.

4

u/Few-Abbreviations633 May 09 '26

He's like the Mr. Rogers of the nature world.

8

u/berrylunezxc May 08 '26

A century of curiosity and kindness.

5

u/Vectorman1989 May 08 '26

Reddit be nuking the bots before I can even get to them these days

3

u/yaffle53 May 08 '26

My ex-wife would like this. She loved a cockatoo.

3

u/catgirl320 May 09 '26

Happy birthday Sir David! Thank you for all you have done to show us what an amazing blue marble we live upon🌍🌎🌏

2

u/Thin-Percentage8935 May 08 '26

There were always rumours he had a cockatoo 

2

u/youarelookingatthis May 08 '26

What an old cockatoo at 100! It must at least be a cockathree or cockafour by this point.

2

u/Skyline0Fever May 08 '26

We have a flock of sulphur crested cockatoos that nest near us (inner Sydney), can confirm, they are very freaking loud.

2

u/gibbarish May 09 '26

Our little dude is 16. Hatch day December 10th

2

u/SinCity30171 May 09 '26

Endlose Liebe für einen der tolzten Menschen!!

2

u/Smooth-Duck-Criminal May 09 '26

A man who truly deserves to have lived past 100

3

u/Local-Fisherman-2936 May 08 '26

David or cackatoo turned 100?

2

u/Sii_Kei May 08 '26

Sir David!

1

u/Robot_Clean May 08 '26

Noisy enough to rouse the audiences watching "Citizen Kane".

1

u/Block444Universe May 08 '26

This is so adorable

1

u/KerryGoodS May 08 '26

Great man!

1

u/helloxxxpeople May 08 '26

Wonderful man

1

u/acr5978 May 08 '26

Lol. That's the year I was born.

1

u/The_Bearded_Mage May 08 '26

Who turns 100? David or the cockatoo? 😅🤷‍♂️ JK, I know it's David

1

u/efltjr May 08 '26

This little girl is probably 75 now haha

1

u/Excellent-Ad872 May 08 '26

67 years ago. That's mad! Such a fucking legend of a human being.

1

u/Noahms456 May 08 '26

That means she’s like 75 now!

1

u/jimthewombat May 08 '26

That’s a sulphur crested cockatoo

1

u/n_mcrae_1982 May 09 '26

I didn’t realize cockatoos lived that long.

1

u/vorm May 09 '26

He looks like Tommy Steele

1

u/cyla33 May 09 '26

OMG look how small his daughter is! So cute (>o<)

1

u/Greengiant2021 May 09 '26

There’s a handful of people on this planet of ours, we don’t necessarily know them on a personal level however we collectively love them unconditionally…David Attenborough is one of these people 🥰…

1

u/beviebooboo May 10 '26

I wonder what David Attenborough sounded like when he was a young whippersnapper.

1

u/pirate_meow_kitty May 10 '26

I’m Australian and those guys like to scream. I’d be walking past a tree and can just hear AAAAAAAAAA from above, and low and behold there’s a cocky up there losing his shit

1

u/RepostSleuthBot May 11 '26

Looks like a repost. I've seen this image 1 time.

First Seen Here on 2025-08-20 95.31% match.

View Search On repostsleuth.com


Scope: Reddit | Target Percent: 92% | Max Age: None | Searched Images: 1,098,813,021 | Search Time: 0.29637s

1

u/whatever-696969 May 11 '26

Mt favourite person

1

u/LauraJaneFirstave May 12 '26

Wonderful man and wonderful picture, never seen this before.

1

u/zarkione May 08 '26

Even the cockatoo seems starstruck.

1

u/TheStaffmaster May 08 '26

Perhaps the reason we are seeing so many awesome folks living to such great ages, is because Death is too busy with all these pointless wars around the world, and besides, it's not like anyone is going to be angry that ol' Thanatos is back burnering them.

-1

u/pearlglowy May 08 '26

Pride and pressure make people say weird things.