Parrots Using Video Chat to Keep in Touch
4/29/20262 min
Knowing how clever parrots are, researchers wanted to see how they’d respond to another parrot saying hi on a tablet or phone. After being trained how to start a call, many parrots chatted amiably on calls and stayed on for the maximum amount of time. Some birds even seemed to develop friendships, choosing to stay in touch even after the experiment ended.
This episode is brought to you by Wild Delight Bird Food, which aims to support wild bird populations with clean, nutritious ingredients in every blend. Available at Chewy.com.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAriana Remmel· Host0:00
This is BirdNote. Video chats help us keep in touch when we're far apart, and now some birds are in on the fun, too. Knowing how clever parrots are, researchers wanted to see how they'd respond to another parrot saying hi on a tablet or phone. Researchers taught the parrots how to signal they wanted to make a call by ringing a bell so they could decide for themselves to participate.
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:23
Do you want to call a friend?
Ariana Remmel· Host0:25
The bird's caretaker would show the parrot a screen with photos of birds to choose from by touching.
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:31
You want to call Rosie?
Ariana Remmel· Host0:33
Then the person would start the call.
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:35
You want to say hi? [parrot squawks] Where is she? Yes. There she is. [parrot squawks] Yes, that's Rosie. Yes.
Ariana Remmel· Host0:43
Many parrots chatted amiably during the call, behaving much like wild birds keeping in touch with their flock. They often stayed on the phone for the maximum allowed five minutes. Some birds even learned skills from each other and seemed to form lasting friendships, continuing to call each other after the experiment. The researchers think that video chats could help enrich the lives of birds in captivity. Sometimes it's just nice to have a friend to squawk on the phone with. [parrot squawking] For BirdNote, I'm Ariana Remmel. [parrot squawking] This episode is brought to you by Wild Delight Bird Food, which aims to support wild bird populations with clean, nutritious