Like Monday said,
Parrots are long lived animals with IQ's equivalent to that of a 3 year old child. They can develop an extensive vocabulary and can be a tremendous source of comfort and affection.
Oh, yeah, they can run anywhere from a cheap $2000 for a new Macaw hatchling to 10,000 for a Hyacinth Macaw baby to 30,000 for a Black Palm Cockatoo. They ain't cheap pets to start with.
That is BEFORE years of bonding, vet care and training.
The story made me sick to my stomach, because it was like reading about one of my own being killed. To me, a felony isn't near bad enough. However, aren't you glad I ain't Queen of the Universe. ;)
I currently have 13 parrots of all types, mostly handicapped, lost or abused rescue birds. They are amazingly intelligent, and each bird has his own very distinct personality and communicates better than a lot of people I know. They're like my kids. I not only consider this murder, but I can assure you that if this drunken SOB had done that to one of my parrots, it would definitely have been considered a murder case because by the time the cops arrived, he would have been beaten to a bloody pulp with a pool cue and his own empty head severed with my pocket knife.