The only animals I’m not comfortable with are parrots, but I’m learning as I go. I’m getting better and better at ’em. I really am.

The remark plays against Steve Irwin’s public persona as someone seemingly fearless around dangerous wildlife. By singling out parrots—animals that are not physically threatening—he highlights that discomfort and learning are personal and idiosyncratic, not always tied to objective danger. The emphasis on “learning as I go” and “getting better and better” frames courage as a practice: competence grows through repeated exposure, humility, and adaptation. It also humanizes him, suggesting that even experts have blind spots and that respect for animals includes acknowledging one’s limits rather than performing bravado.