That Bird Blog » Talking Birds

Macaw, Spouting Foul Language, Banned from School

findiviglio — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:55:13 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Educators at an animal rescue center in the UK got a rude surprise when they recruited “Mr. T” to visit local schools as part of a conservation-themed program. The 7 year-old Green-Winged Macaw was friendly and eager to show off his speaking abilities, but most of what he said was not fit for classroom use. Before coming to the rescue center, Mr. T had lived in a private home, and had picked up a huge vocabulary…unfortunately, almost all of it consisted of curses and insults!

Un-learning Bad Habits?

One rescue center employee is working with Mr. T to see if he might be taught to stop cursing. In my experience, however, teaching a macaw to speak is easier than teaching it to forget what has been learned (much like 3 year-old children who pick up the “wrong” words!).

A related and very interesting phenomenon is unfolding right now in several Australian cities. Cockatoos that have escaped from captivity are teaching entire flocks of wild individuals to speak! Please see this article for the very amusing details.

Fortunately, the rescue center where Mr. T resides is home to “well-behaved” wallabies, kangaroos, scorpions and other animals, so his services as an educator are not needed immediately. It will be interesting to see who prevails, the macaw or his new teacher…I’m betting on Mr. T!

Parrots Behaving Badly

Mr. T is not the only Psittacine to be ejected from various UK forums in recent times. Awhile back, an Amazon persisted in cursing like a trooper each time he was called upon to perform in a play…despite the fact that he knew his lines perfectly (seems like he planned the “mistakes” very carefully!). Another was banned from a bar for stealing drinks, heckling pool players and starting fights by whistling at female patrons (this bird now living in more appropriate surroundings). Please see this article for details.

But one cursing parrot, an African Gray named Mishka, has done quite well for herself – winning an international speaking contest and a movie role. Please see the video and article below… her repetition of “I want to go to the Kruger Park with Sterretjie” (Sterretjie is her favorite companion, a Ring-Necked Parakeet) is priceless!

Odd Birds I have Known

Mischievous birds of all kinds enlivened my zoo career. Margie, a Cassowary, liked to sneak up and kick her fence whenever anyone leaned against it. A fellow zookeeper allowed himself to be ambushed regularly, and the huge bird really seemed to look forward to “surprising” him. An Indian Hill Myna that called “Help, let me out” in a huge aviary was quite a hit with visitors…but not with the zoo director, when he came to record bird calls for an upcoming presentation! From overly-amorous Great Horned Owls to overly-aggressive Turacos, there have been many odd characters in my life… please see the articles below for details.

Most bird owners and bird watchers have their share of amusing or embarrassing stories…please write in with yours, so that I can share them with other readers.

Please check out my posts on Twitter and Facebook. Each day, I highlight breaking research, conservation news and interesting stories concerning just about every type of animal imaginable. I look forward to hearing about your interests and experiences as well, and will use them in articles when possible.

Please also post your questions and comments below…I’ll be sure to respond quickly.

Thanks, until next time,

Frank Indiviglio

Unique Bird Behavior – Ravens Use Beaks to “Show” Objects to Mates

findiviglio — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:28:55 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The act of holding up or pointing to an object, in order to draw another’s attention, has been observed only among ourselves and Great Apes. Known as deictic gesturing, this behavior is considered critical to the development of language, and a sign of great intelligence (you parents will likely recall the first time your toddler did something similar!). Along with parrots, crows, and magpies, Common Ravens, Corvus corax, have proven themselves among the brightest of the world’s birds. Recently, they have been observed to utilize deictic gestures, and are the only birds known to do so.

“Hey…look at this if you care about me”!

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and the University of Vienna have reported that Ravens pick up objects such as stones, branches and moss and show them to other Ravens. In most cases, the bird being solicited is the other’s mate. Once his or her attention is drawn, the pair usually jointly manipulates the object for a time.

Pair formation in Ravens is a long, complicated process, and mated birds are known to engage in complex tasks that require a high level of cooperation. This, and their intelligence, was long ago recognized by people living within their range. In the northern reaches of North American and Asia, Ravens featured prominently in mythology and folklore. Ornithologists believe that showing and jointly “handling” objects may be used to test the suitability or interest of a potential mate, and to strengthen the bond once the birds have paired up.

Parrots and Crows Ace Tests

Several other interesting studies concerning avian intelligence have been published recently. Most have focused on Parrots and Corvids (Crows, Magpies, and Ravens). Believed to be the most intelligent of all birds, the learning abilities of both groups have shocked researchers. In some test situations, New Caledonian Crows have scored on par with Chimpanzees and other Great Apes.

The articles linked below describe some of what these brilliant avian test-takers have accomplished recently – Keas that learn and build upon problem solving skills and discard them when need be, Japanese Crows that take advantage of both traffic and traffic signals when feeding, African Gray Parrots that pick and choose human words to fit specific situations, and more…

Please also post your questions and comments below…I’ll be sure to respond quickly.

Thanks, until next time,

Frank Indiviglio

Escaped Pets are Teaching Flocks of Wild Cockatoos to Talk!

findiviglio — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:13:26 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. When the staff at the Australian Museum in Sydney began receiving calls about entire flocks of talking cockatoos, galahs and corellas, they suspected pranksters, or that alcohol was involved. But, oddly enough, the reports turned out to be genuine. It seems that an odd phenomenon is taking shape in Sydney and other Australian cities…wild parrots are talking to one another – and to people!

Mimics by Design

Cockatoos and other parrots are social birds, and have complicated systems of communication that we are only just beginning to understand. For example, ornithologists recently learned that some species provide their chicks with “names” that are then learned and used by other flock members (please see article below). The ability to learn from one another, and from people, is behind Australia’s latest unique bird story.

City Life Fosters Talkative Wild Birds

People have been hearing groups of birds uttering phrases such as “Hello there” (and others that I cannot repeat here!) to one another. One woman tossed out a casual greeting to Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo perched on a park bench and was shocked to receive a “Hello Darling” in reply! Talkative wild cockatoos are especially common in suburban yards, parks, cities and other places where birds congregate and are in frequent contact with people.

Talking birds that have escaped captivity are apparently responsible for starting the trend. Such birds usually take up with wild relatives, at which point they likely “show off” their unusual talents. New words probably fade away over time in the countryside, but in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and other urban areas the words may be reinforced by contact with other pets or people themselves (apparently, some urban Australians have the endearing habit of talking to birds; please see video below). For example, in the Sydney Botanic Gardens, where cockatoos have become very comfortable around people, talking birds are said to be quite common.

Drought, Bird-Friendly City Helps Process

Another factor may be the long term drought in western New South Wales, which has forced cockatoos to relocate to new habitats. Many wind up in Sydney, where they find food, water and protection from hunting. The new influx of displaced birds from the west has made it more likely that wild individuals will learn human words from feral pets.

Australia’s Avian Bullies

Quite a few Australian bird species have taken to city life, and several seem to have a talent for annoying people. Please see this article for more on ibis, cuckoos and cockatoos “behaving badly”.

Please also post your questions and comments below…I’ll be sure to respond quickly.

Thanks, until next time,

Frank Indiviglio

Small Cockatoos with Big Personalities – Introducing the Corellas

findiviglio — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:29:30 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Cockatoos are often considered to be the most intelligent, playful and trainable of all parrots. But most new parrot-keepers believe that all cockatoos are large, noisy and very expensive, and tend to pass them by. While this applies to many of the world’s 40+ species, one group – the Corellas – averages only 12-15 inches in length; among the cockatoos, only the Cockatiel is smaller. Corellas possess all the wonderful traits of their larger relatives, and few of the drawbacks. In fact, the Goffin’s Cockatoo or Tanimbar Corella may just be the best cockatoo pet for most people.

Corella Overview

Despite their small size, Corellas demand a great deal of attention and space, and cannot be relegated to life in a cage. Successful owners usually find that they become more like dogs than birds in their interactions with people. Well-habituated cockatoos of all kinds love physical play and touching, often to an amazing degree. They also tend to be unsurpassed when it comes to learning tricks.

The downside of all this is that they cannot tolerate boredom and solitude. Like other cockatoos, Corellas also have very strong personalities, and need a kind but firm owner if behavioral problems are to be avoided. Fortunately, Corellas tend to be quieter than larger species, and are not as quick to use their beaks to vent their frustrations (please write in for further information).

A large parrot or macaw cage can serve as home base for a Corella, but daily out-of-cage exercise and interaction time is absolutely essential. An outdoor aviary is also a wonderful option.

Goffin’s Cockatoo or Tanimbar Corella, Cacatua goffini

Goffin’s Cockatoos were common in the trade and very inexpensive when I first began working for bird importers in the 1970’s. This branded them as poor pets, but these little dynamos soon surprised everyone.

It turns out that there are few parrots that can match a well-trained Goffin’s. In my opinion, they pack all the brains and charm of an Umbrella Cockatoo into their 12.5 inch frame, and remain my choice for first-time cockatoo owners. Please see the article below for detailed information.

Little Corella or Bare-Eyed Cockatoo, Cacatua sanguinea

This Australian native ranks right up there with the Goffin’s as a great choice for one seeking an easily-managed cockatoo. Owners invariably describe Little Corellas as “clownish”, rather quiet, and somewhat less demanding of attention than larger species (but they still must be treated as a pet, not a “cage bird”).

Quite common in some parts of its range, the Little Corella sometimes raids crops and damages ornamental trees by stripping bark and branches. Feral populations inWestern Australiaare breeding with the Slender-Billed Corella (please see below), thereby threatening the future of their endangered relative.

Long-Billed Corella, Cacatua tenuirostris

This odd little cockatoo is full of surprises. It sports a long, slender, and most “un-parrot-like” bill that is employed to dig-up its “un-parrot-like” diet of roots, tubers and insects (it also consumes more typical parrot fare). The natural range is also unique, with the 2 known populations dwelling on opposite ends of the continent (Southeastern andSouthwestern Australia); each is now considered a distinct subspecies.

The Long-Billed Corella has a surprise in store for hobbyists as well. Cockatoos are not known for their vocabularies. While many can learn to mimic words, their “pronunciation” often renders them difficult to understand. Not so the Long-Billed Corella, however…its speaking abilities are widely considered to exceed those of all other Australian parrots.

Western Corella or Slender-Billed Cockatoo, Cacatua pastinator

Formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Little Corella, with which it interbreeds (please see above), this species is now highly endangered and is not often seen in private or public collections in theUSA.

Please also post your questions and comments here…I’ll be sure to respond quickly. Thanks, until next time, Frank Indiviglio.

Understanding Parrots – “Bad” Pet Behavior may be Perfectly-Normal

findiviglio — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:32 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrots are complicated, social animals, and as such can be very confusing to owners. What is perceived as “bad” or “destructive” behavior has roots in millions of years of evolution. Understanding your parrot’s natural history – how it lives in the wild – is key to your pet’s welfare, and a rewarding relationship with it.

Understanding Your Bird’s “Wild Side”

Good parrot care begins with a thorough understanding of parrot natural history. Parrot ancestors arose 100 million years ago…your own intentions, however well-meaning, will never overpower the instincts that have evolved since then. This is a very important point to keep in mind – parrots are wild creatures, driven by instinct, and, even after many generations in captivity, are in no sense domesticated (i.e. as are dogs or sheep). They do have remarkable learning abilities that often enable them to modify their instinctual responses. However, when considering parrot care and training, it is paramount that their true natures be considered.

Researching natural history should be the starting for learning about the captive care of any creature, be it spider, budgie or elephant. This is well-known in the zoo world, and has never failed me. However, perhaps due to the wide availability of pet care info, parrot owners sometimes tend to skip natural history books altogether. It doesn’t help that such books are rarely written these days.

Natural History Resources

Books such as Joseph Forshaw’s classic Parrots of the World will provide you with direct observations of what your parrot actually does in the wild. Knowing about such matters as habitat, enemies, feeding and breeding biology, social structure and cycles of activity is critical. This will help you understand what you are seeing in captivity, and enable you to better meet the pet’s physical and psychological needs.

I frequently post articles on parrot natural history on this blog as well… please see the article below for an example, and feel free to write in concerning your bird.

Pitfalls

Unfortunately, captive behavior can be confusing, even for those well-versed in the natural behavior of parrots. This is because natural habitats and social situations are impossible to duplicate in captivity, and pet parrots are exposed to situations that evolution has not prepared them for. So they react as best they can, and in many cases we are unable to understand what is going on.

Some Basic Behavioral Concepts

A complete review of this subject would fill several books. Following are some basic concepts that will hopefully illustrate the importance of understanding your parrot’s “wild side”.

Parrots and their eggs are on the menu of a host of predatory birds, mammals and reptiles. They are primed to be alert, to (usually) stay above possible threats, and to rely on warnings from both companions and other bird species. A single parrot in an exposed location may be terribly stressed, even in predator-free surroundings.

When observing wild parrots, I’m always amazed at the degree of social interaction and communication that goes on between mates and flock members. The group is usually as important as the mate. As with dogs, the innate sociability of parrots can be exploited to our benefit (deprived of companions, they bond with us), but please understand that even a mated captive pair is not living in a natural situation. Likewise, an hour or two of your company in the evening in no way fills a parrot’s social needs.

Vocalizations are critical to survival. Expecting a quiet parrot is usually not reasonable, but understanding parrot sounds may make life easier for both of you; please see the article below for details.

Parrots spend most of their time – hours each day – finding and processing food. Pets that can meet their needs in 10 minutes at the food dish are left with a great deal of time on their hands (or feet, as the case may be)…boredom is one of the chief impediments to a happy, healthy pet parrot.

Well, I’ve just scratched the surface here…but as you can see, parrots of any kind are very demanding, and owning one should not be entered into lightly. Please post your questions and comments here…I’ll be sure to respond quickly.

Thanks, until next time,

Frank Indiviglio

Please also check out my posts on Twitter and Facebook. Each day, I highlight breaking research, conservation news and interesting stories concerning just about every type of animal imaginable. I look forward to hearing about your interests and experiences as well, and will use them in articles when possible.

Do Parrots Understand What They Say? – “Yes”, According to a New Study

findiviglio — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:54:22 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Most parrot owners firmly believe that their pets understand at least some of what they say. My own experience also indicates that this is true – there are just far too many examples of parrots’ utterances fitting the situation to be mere coincidence. Then, of course, there was the famous Alex, an African Grey Parrot whose amazing learning abilities shocked even seasoned animal behaviorists (please see article below). A recent study took an interesting new approach to analyzing parrot speech, and yielded some surprising findings.

A Unique Look at Parrot Speech

Most folks have utilized “question-answer” type research in order to determine if parrots actually respond with correct answers, indicating that they understand the question posed. However, researchers at the University of Georgia (USA) were interested in parrots’ spontaneous vocalizations. They wanted to see if parrots might change what they said to fit different situations, without being prompted by people.

The study’s results, published in the May, 2011 issue of The Journal of Comparative Psychology, established that the utterances of one African Gray Parrot were not random. The bird, known as Cosmo, altered what he said according to what people were present, where they were and what they were doing.

Parrot Changes Words to Fit Situation

If Cosmo’s owner was in another room, Cosmo spoke twice as many words as when the owner was in the same room as himself, or was not present in the house. Amazingly, when the owner was in another room, Cosmo’s words very frequently related to location – “I’m here”, “Where are you?” and so on. The researchers thought this might be an extension of the natural “contact calls” made by parrots in the wild. Flocks and pairs of parrots (and other birds) issue contact calls in order to “stay in touch”, remain aware of each others’ location and pass along information concerning food, safety and other matters.

When owner and Cosmo were in the same room, most of his words were designed to elicit interaction – i.e. “I want to play”, rather than to establish location.

The researchers concluded that Cosmo was choosing specific words to fit different situations, and had grasped the concepts behind the words he used. Cosmo’s behavior was more clearly understood by viewing “communication units” rather specific individual words. All told, Cosmo used 278 distinct communication units.

Please also post your questions and comments here…I’ll be sure to respond quickly.

Thanks, until next time,
Frank Indiviglio

Parrots and Loose Women – Zoo’s African Gray Parrots Enjoy Talk Show

findiviglio — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:40:08 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I recently wrote on the topic of educational TV shows for parrot owners (please see article below); now it seems that parrots themselves are joining the ranks of avid TV viewers. The staff at Folly Farm Adventure Park, a zoo in Wales, has come up with a unique way to keep their parrots occupied…and the parrots have a lot to “say” about their efforts.

Why a TV?

The group of African Gray Parrots at Folly Farm is kept busy by keepers who interact with them on a regular basis, and are also supplied with climbing and foraging opportunities and other time-tested enrichment activities. The staff was concerned, however, that the parrots might be bored when there were no keepers on site. As an experiment, a 32 inch flat screen TV was installed in the parrots’ exhibit, and the birds’ reactions were observed.

The Parrots Respond

The parrots paid a great deal of attention to the TV, and soon began mimicking rainforest and bird sounds on nature oriented shows. This seemed to make sense, but the birds then surprised their keepers by becoming very excited when Loose Women, a lunchtime talk show, was aired. Some folks were not surprised, however – according to one commenter, the show itself featured a great deal of “chattering”, and so would be a natural for the noisy birds!

Folly Farm’s African Gray Parrots have also taken to mimicking the “beep-beep” make by delivery trucks operating in reverse. Their skilled impressions never fail to draw a few keepers to the loading dock in anticipation of a food delivery!

Music and TV for other Zoo Animals

I’ve used classical radio stations to block out sudden sounds that might disturb especially sensitive zoo animals. In the case of confiscated Palm Cockatoos and a colony of Naked Mole Rats, the strategy worked well.

My only TV-animal experience dates back many years, when I was working with Gorillas. Our females, unschooled in the ways of motherhood, consistently failed to properly nurse their young. Movies showing “good Gorilla mothers” were shown, but the experiment failed miserably…from what I have seen, parrots would have learned whatever they saw on TV!

Suggest Shows for Folly Farm’s Parrots

Click here to suggest programs that Folly Farm’s parrots might enjoy. Recent entries (not by yours truly!) have included Feather Say Feather Again, Cockatoo Kill a Mockingbird and Parrots of the Caribbean.

African Grey Parrot Wins International Talking Contest…and a Movie Role!

findiviglio — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:22:46 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Contests in which parrots and other birds are judged based on their appearances are a long tradition…but what about their other qualities? Participants in human beauty pageants are judged on both appearance and talent…and now, it seems, that parrots are as well in some contests. Recently, an African Grey Parrot named Mishka won the World Wide Parrot Talking Competition – without having to reveal any “skin”!

Tough Competition

The contest, sponsored by Besttalkingparrot.com, attracted 60 talented parrots from points as widespread as Chile, Canada, Australia and Africa. The winner, three-year-old Mishka, resides with her owner and family members in a small apartment near Johannesburg, South Africa.

In addition the coveted title of “Best Amateur Talking Parrot” (is there a “Best Professional Talker”?), the clever bird was also awarded a new cage, a pile of toys and a starring role in a soon-to-be-released parrot-training DVD. Hopefully, other parrots viewing the DVD will be inspired to emulate her fine vocabulary and, as it has been described, “delightful accent” (please see video below).

A Lovable but Mischievous Neighbor

At home in South Africa, Mishka is the unofficial “mayor” of her apartment complex. Despite continually fooling neighbors with cries of “Call the police!” and impersonations of wailing police sirens, it seems that she is loved (or at least tolerated!) by everyone.

A propensity for swearing, and even for directly insulting her owner, is blamed on the owner’s sons…unfortunately, teaching Mishka not to swear seems harder than teaching her to swear! In Mishka’s defense, another favorite expression is “Oh, oh, I’m in trouble!”…so she may be trying to mend her ways.

Her longest phrase in “I want to go to the Kruger Park with Sterretjie” (Sterettjie is her favorite companion, a Ring-Necked Parakeet).

Mishka was acquired by her owner at age 3 months, and showed a propensity for speaking early on. She responded very well to parrot-training CD’s – and soon she’ll be starring in one of her own!

A Sadder Note on African Grey Parrots

Despite have been bred regularly in captivity for some time now, surprisingly large numbers of wild African Greys are still illegally trapped and sold as pets.

Recent months have seen a spate of confiscations in Uganda and elsewhere, which makes one wonder just how many smuggled birds are escaping detection. Even when birds are seized, enforcement problems abound…in one recent case, officials of the Democratic Republic of Congo actually returned over 500 confiscated parrots to dealers who were clearly in violation of the law (please see article below).

That Bird Blog » Talking Birds

Macaw, Spouting Foul Language, Banned from School

Un-learning Bad Habits?

Parrots Behaving Badly

Odd Birds I have Known

Further Reading

Unique Bird Behavior – Ravens Use Beaks to “Show” Objects to Mates

“Hey…look at this if you care about me”!

Parrots and Crows Ace Tests

Further Reading

Escaped Pets are Teaching Flocks of Wild Cockatoos to Talk!

Mimics by Design

City Life Fosters Talkative Wild Birds

Drought, Bird-Friendly City Helps Process

Australia’s Avian Bullies

Further Reading

Small Cockatoos with Big Personalities – Introducing the Corellas

Corella Overview

Goffin’s Cockatoo or Tanimbar Corella, Cacatua goffini

Little Corella or Bare-Eyed Cockatoo, Cacatua sanguinea

Long-Billed Corella, Cacatua tenuirostris

Western Corella or Slender-Billed Cockatoo, Cacatua pastinator

Further Reading

Understanding Parrots – “Bad” Pet Behavior may be Perfectly-Normal

Understanding Your Bird’s “Wild Side”

Natural History Resources

Pitfalls

Some Basic Behavioral Concepts

Further Reading

Do Parrots Understand What They Say? – “Yes”, According to a New Study

A Unique Look at Parrot Speech

Parrot Changes Words to Fit Situation

Further Reading

Parrots and Loose Women – Zoo’s African Gray Parrots Enjoy Talk Show

Why a TV?

The Parrots Respond

Music and TV for other Zoo Animals

Suggest Shows for Folly Farm’s Parrots

Further Reading

African Grey Parrot Wins International Talking Contest…and a Movie Role!

Tough Competition

A Lovable but Mischievous Neighbor

A Sadder Note on African Grey Parrots

Further Reading