Parrots.
Because of my name, I’ve always had a connection to parrots, whether I have liked it or not. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard, “Polly wanna cracker?” But no matter how many times it has been, I’m sure the actual parrot has heard it more than I.
Regardless. After dogs, cats, and fish, guess who might be America’s fourth favorite pet. Birds. Mostly parrots. An estimated 14 million birds live in captivity across the United States. As I said, many of them share my Polly name.
There are roughly 372 species in 86 genera of parrots, and they are found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia. In other words, they come from the southern half of our world.
Parrots are intelligent birds. They have relatively large brains. And, obviously, they can learn. And, like only a few other animals, they can use simple tools.
There are many other things that are cool about parrots. But here is one that is especially so.
Like most other birds, parrots have four toes per foot. But instead of the usual three-in-front-one-behind arrangement, parrot toes are arranged differently. Their toes are configured for maximum grip — they have two in front and two behind, like two pairs of opposable thumbs. Their unique feet make them formidable eaters, not to mention dexterous climbers.
And one more thing. A third of the world’s parrots face extinction. This is primarily due to a combination of habitat destruction and persistent poaching for the pet trade.
I think I would love to have a pet parrot if I thought it was being fair to the parrot. There is something about keeping a bird in a cage that seems unfair to me. If I could take my parrot out for a “fly” a few times a day, like to the park, where she could hang out on branches with her friends or just soar around aimlessly, then I might consider getting a parrot. But I don’t think they will come when called. So.
Anyway, the point to all of this is an article I recently read.
It started out by saying that parrots who live in captivity rarely get out to socialize with their own species. As I mentioned above.
But there is a new study that shows them taking part in video chatting. You know. Zoom calls. Facetime.
In the study, 18 birds were trained to use an iPad to look at photos of other birds and to tap on the one they wanted to call. In just two months’ time, the birds initiated 147 calls. That’s way more calls than I make in two months, I’ll tell you. Anyway, certain birds quickly developed “online” friendships. They sing together and preen one another. On some occasions, they would copy one another. Like hanging upside down or dancing. A few times, they fell asleep together. And, they had certain “preferences” about who they would call. It wasn’t just random. These birds had their favorite friends. Once the study was done, they could keep their iPads. And, lo and behold, they kept on calling their pals.
“Hello. Polly, is that you?”
“Heckins, yes, it’s me, Stella. What are you doing?”
“Eating a cracker. You?”
“Same, same.”
And so it goes.
“”””””””””””””””
“Time doesn’t take away from friendship, nor does separation
— Tennessee Williams
“”””””””””””””””
“If you have two friends in your lifetime, you’re lucky. If you have one good friend, you’re more than lucky.”
— S.E. Hinton
“”””””””””””””””
“No friendship is an accident.”
— O. Henry
“”””””””””””””””
A brand new meaning to fine feathered friends
