Spring was well underway Saturday at Malabar Farm State Park, the former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield in southeast Richland County. Located at 4050 Bromfield Road near Lucas, the sprawling 850-acre state park and working farm has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. Bromfield was born in Mansfield in 1896 and began to develop his ideas for Malabar Farm came to Bromfield while he was living in France during the 1930s.  It became a reality when he returned home and bought 600 acres of farmland in 1938.

Poncho is a 60-plus-year old double yellow headed Amazon parrot inside the lobby of the visitors’ center at Malabar Farm State Park. An amazing talker, Poncho decided to become silent and just eat when this video was recorded. He loves to shout “Hello!” and “Pretty bird!” and also loves to whistle.

City editor. 30-year plus journalist. Husband. Father of 3 grown sons and also a proud grandpa. Prior military journalist in U.S. Navy, Ohio Air National Guard. -- Favorite quote: "Where were you when...