Merlin the macaw celebrated his 14th birthday with a big party at the Nova Scotia Maritime Museum of the Atlantic that included cake, lots of guests and a leisurely bath.

"Today is his hatch day celebration. Like the Queen, he has an official May holiday birthday," said the bird's caretaker Johanna Kristjansson, who also does exhibit maintenance and interpretation at the museum.

Merlin is the museum's mascot.

Plenty of children were on hand Saturday to watch Kristjansson lightly mist Merlin with a spray bottle filled with warm water as he did a little dance.

"It's neat because he dances around and he plays peek-a-boo and it's just a really sweet thing," she said. "He just loves it."

'International star'

Kristjansson gives Merlin a bath almost daily.

"Once you spray him, he preens himself, he takes care of his feathers. He goes to the spa a couple of times a year to get his talons done."

Kids celebrated Merlin's birthday with arts and crafts. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

Macaws have similar life expectancy to people; they can live to be around 85 years old.

For Merlin's big day, the museum pulled out all the stops with a big birthday cake, arts and crafts for the kids, and a scavenger hunt that will continue Sunday.

There were also presents for Merlin, sent in the mail by fans from around the world who like to keep tabs on him via Nova Scotia Webcams.

"They send him cards and gifts. He's just an international star," Kristjansson said.