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Volume 6 August 2005

Carer Stress - Impact on Birds, FAQ -What does your bird’s body language mean?

I’ve just had an interesting e-mail from Linda Adam, who works with one of this country’s most highly qualified avian vets, Ross Perry who is also interested in a holistic approach to health. I quote, “I was wondering if you were thinking of ever doing an article on the impact that parrot/cockatoo carers and THEIR behaviour/attitudes have on their pet birds. I believe this would be of enormous interest and value to many.

We see many sick birds in the busy, mainly avian practice, at which I volunteer on Saturdays in Homebush, here in NSW. The problem is that their “owner’s,” attitudes, fears and emotional states often adversely affects the birds and we feel that these frequently contribute to the birds’ illnesses.

Few people realise this, although we do advise on the matter as diplomatically as we can! We also suggest that people elicit a sense of calm on their birds by thinking calming thoughts and if open to it, through spiritual means and other methods such as EFT. This may be a topic to include at some stage, as it would, I believe, benefit a vast number of readers. I've observed that this is largely an unknown area for carers and one that they, understandably, do not think about often enough in bird sickness situations.”

Australia's only newspaper devoted to the care and breeding of birds - including finches, canaries, parrots, cockatoos, budgies, softbills, pheasants and waterfowl. It is full of news, information and feature articles from Australia and around the world. For more information visit: www.talkingbirds.com.au

Companion Parrot Support Network FREQUETLY ASKED QUESTIONS

`What does my bird’s body language mean?’ – Interpreting expressions of communication in non-verbal behaviour chains.

One of the most common precipitating factors leading to the onset of behaviour management and handling problems that we humans experience with captive companion parrots is a lack of understanding and awareness of the subtleties of the non-verbal `body language’ of our parrots. Developing your knowledge of how to interpret the behavioural displays of your avian companions is an essential step in progressing to a deeper level of appreciation of how to more effectively and sensitively interact with your parrot. In answer to this FAQ we’ll examine communication forms that our parrots utilise in `non-verbal’ contexts that don’t include vocalisations. We might be able to discuss vocal communication for the next FAQ!

First of all, let’s define what we’re talking about when we say `body language’. Essentially the scope of this encompasses observations of individual physical behaviours that result in definable variations to the anatomical and mechanical movements of the bird. Some of the most commonly recognised physical behaviours associated with parrot `body language’ observations are often described as follows…

Beak gaping, beak rubbing, beak grinding, pupil dilation, nape feather raising, tail flaring, blushing (in Macaws), contour feather tightening, wing quivering, heightened and lowered posture, mechanical movements around an enclosure or on a perch, leg tucking, stretching and plenty of variations of all of the above!!!

Interpreting the body language of parrots is not as easy as it is for primate species such as humans, monkeys and apes. With their well-developed and evolved skeletal musculature there are literally dozens of subtle variations in `expression’ that primates are capable of that carry meaning and message to the environment around them without the need to utter a sound. What we find in parrots however is a more limited range of physical behaviours, so indeed we sometimes see combinations of individual physical behaviours that carry more than one communicative meaning! Consider the typical `crest raising’ physical behaviour of a member of the Cockatoo species group. This `display’ could indicate a range of communication possibilities. Is the cockatoo excited, alarmed, alert, afraid or soliciting interaction? In reality we can’t be confident of the intended message by observing such a single behaviour in isolation. We need to start by looking at the other physical behaviours occurring in combination with the crest raising to really form an understanding of what that cockatoo is trying to tell us.

When we focus on `body language’ what we are really doing is connecting individual physical behaviours together in what we call a `behaviour chain’. A behaviour chain is simply a sequence of observable and measurable behaviours that, when performed in a particular sequence, serve a functional role in response to environmental and/or physiological stimuli. What we then tend to do is to assign labels to these behaviour chains that help us define their function. As an example, when we refer to a parrot as `aggressive’ what we are really doing is labelling a behaviour chain that we have observed in relation to the way the parrot might then be expected to interact with a stimulus in its environment. Taking the raised crest of a cockatoo out of isolation we might also observe a flared tail, a lowered posture, dilating pupils, lengthways rubbing of the beak in a rapid motion along the perch, beak gaping and swaying. Sensitive observers would recognise such a behaviour chain as related to potential `aggression’ from such a bird towards a given stimulus. Of course that’s a pretty overt and obvious one to arrive at a good interpretation for! Many times it’s the more subtle shifts in our birds that take us by surprise.

When we seek to interpret the physical displays of our parrots it is essential to keep in mind one of the fundamental understandings about the behaviour of our birds. Essentially this involves acknowledging that all behaviour is functionally related to environmental stimuli. Looking at the non-verbal language of our parrots we need to always consider what we observe in relation to the status and dynamic of the environment. When we sit back and observe our birds and their behaviour chains in combination with what’s going on in their environment, and not in isolation, we can reach a new level of enlightenment about `why’ our parrots might do what they do. When we reach this stage of awareness we can then really start to develop strategies that enable us to implement highly positive and rewarding experiences for our birds that will either increase behaviours that we wish to reinforce and encourage and/or set about working on extinction schedules to diminish behaviours we’d rather see disappear!

So, the next time your parrot performs a physical behaviour that you consider `body language’ and an attempt to communicate with you non-verbally, think about the behaviour `chain’ at work and combine this with the environment dynamic. This will help to set you up to succeed in responding to the behaviours in a highly sensitive and potentially rewarding way.

If you would like to receive a free pamphlet with information about my consultation services and workshop experiences then drop me an e-mail with your mailing address and I’ll post them out to you!

Written By Jim McKendry

Pet Parrot Behaviour Consultant and Co-ordinator of the CPSN.

To access information on the Parrot-behviour.info website and the CPSN initiatives please visit:

Web site: www.parrot-behaviour.info.com

E-mail: jim@parrot-bahaviour.info

Just like humans, parrots are affected by the chemical fumes that we produce in our homes, through cleaning products, pesticides and Teflon cooking dishes, which when reach a high temperature, they let off an extremely toxic gas. Parrots are more highly sensitive because they are so much smaller in size, and poison gases such as these described can kill a bird suddenly.

Sunlight contains UV rays that provide essential vitamin D3 for birds. This is a vital supplement for breeding birds and to provide ultimate health for your bird. Having a bird near a window in the house does not provide sufficient light needed to give the birds this essential vitamin, as windows block out the sunlights UV rays.

Safe Plants for Companion Birds

All parts of the following plants can be given to your bird. They are classed as being totally safe and also healthy. Chewing and eating native flowers, nuts, leaves and bark are normal and essential for birds in the wild, this to is true for your companion bird at home.

- All eucalypts species which include the flowers and seed pods (Gum nuts) that forms after flowering. (All parrots love to chew on the sweet tasting eucalypts flavour on the gumnuts. These nuts and flowers are also a vital source of food and nutrient.)

Featured Product of the Month from the PRC Shop

The Parrot Rescue Centre would like to introduce another TROPICAL TOYBOX toy this month, called Blinky Bill. This toy has been very popular amongst the birds.

Kramer was our 'firstborn' (pet as we don't have children), coming into our lives at the tender age of 8 weeks old. I have always had a love of birds, with budgies being my first pets since the age of 6. But this time, I wanted something a little different. Something a little more 'lively' than a budgie that I could interact with. So my husband and I did a lot of research before we decided that a rainbow lorikeet sounded like the perfect, first addition to our household. So, off we went to a bird shop in the western suburbs of Sydney, were we chose 'Kramer', named such after lorikeets 'clown like and klutz' personalities.

Kramer certainly brought a lot of joy to our life, making us laugh no end with his cheeky antics. Most of all, how he loved to lie on his back with his ball in his feet, sticking up in the air and jiggling it about. He loved to roll around in his bath, which too was amusing to watch, and seeing him grow from this 'ugly', mottled coloured lorikeet to a beautiful adult was precious. Kramer was also an enthusiastic 'soccer' player.

I would get him out on the table with his ball and he would roll the ball with his beak and try it get it past me for a 'goal'. He nearly always beat me, he is so smart.

In time we moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast and Kramer, as well as our extended brood now including two beagles, of course, moved with us. I would always make time for Kramer, but I knew I couldn't give him all the time he needed and craved and it was breaking my heart to see him seek my attention when I just couldn't spend time with him. It was after a recent visit to Zarita's boarding centre, when my husband and I went on holidays, did we think about getting Kramer a 'friend'. Zarita told us how much Kramer had got on with 'Lockie' a female lorikeet who had been unfortunately surrendered because she was too noisy for apartment living. Seeing them together was just so beautiful and I realised that taking Lockie would not only be giving her a new home and friend, but would be the best thing for Kramer.

THE CHARITY FUNDING PROJECTS AND PROMOTING
EXCELLENCE IN PARROT CONSERVATION AND WELFARE

Mission Statement:

The mission of The Holistic Bird Newsletter is to provide accurate and reliable information about holistic health for birds. Holistic, which derives from the word whole, embraces the combination of lifestyles and methods to maintain and heal the bird's whole being. Our understanding of the bird goes beyond the physical and includes mental, emotional, social, environmental, spiritual, and energetic aspects. Although the goal of holistic health is disease prevention, it also includes a wide array of healing modalities that have long traditions of use and success. The Holistic Bird Newsletter is dedicated to providing interesting and educational articles to aid and empower those who wish to grow in knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for all birds living in captivity and in nature.

Parrots and Metal Toxicity

Species: Eastern Long billed Corella

Yes, if you pass the essential assessment process.