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April 22, 2023 6:29 AM

Parrots taught to video call each other become less lonely, finds research The parrots were recruited from users of Parrot Kindergarten, an online coaching and educational programme for parrots and their owners. The birds first learned to ring a bell and then touch a photo of another bird on the screen of a tablet device to trigger a call to that bird, with the assistance of their owners. In total the birds made 147 deliberate calls to each other during the study.
posted by tiny frying pan (33 comments total)

I would like to subscribe to the Twitch channel where we can sit in on these calls.
posted by mhoye at 6:32 AM on April 22, 2023 [42 favorites]

“I was quite surprised at the range of different behaviours,” said Hirskyj-Douglas. “Some would sing, some would play around and go upside down, others would want to show another bird their toys.”

The team’s paper is published in Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

click: "our results show that 1) every bird used the system, 2) most birds exhibited high motivation and intentionality, and 3) all caretakers reported perceived benefits, some arguably life-transformative, such as learning to forage or even to fly by watching others. We report on individual insights and propose considerations regarding ethics and the potential of parrot video-calling for enrichment."

learning to fly! it seems parrot-parrot zoom can be pretty uplifting.
posted by kliuless at 6:55 AM on April 22, 2023 [11 favorites]

This is so amazing
posted by Zumbador at 7:01 AM on April 22, 2023 [5 favorites]

that's adorable! We tried video chats with our bird (a retired racing pigeon) and she had no interest in the experience. Either shes a luddite or (more likely) her blessed brain is too small for that kind of thing.
posted by serif at 7:05 AM on April 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

This feels achingly sad to me in a way. I spent a little a flock of cockatoos recently and am increasingly opposed to caging birds, it’s so blatantly robbing them of one of the basic joys of birdness. And yes, I am aware of chickens. Still.
posted by aspersioncast at 7:15 AM on April 22, 2023 [25 favorites]

Parrots today and their screens...how come you never see a parrot reading a book anymore?
posted by PlusDistance at 7:30 AM on April 22, 2023 [44 favorites]

There could be a whole new social media platform that could corrupt the animal farm elections!
posted by srboisvert at 7:38 AM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

I hate seeing parrots all by themselves. Seems cruel.
posted by SoberHighland at 7:49 AM on April 22, 2023 [9 favorites]

Carl Safina's 'Becoming Wild' is a fantastic book about animal culture - which includes the social side of animal behavior. There's a whole chapter on macaws - is a fantastic book.
posted by kaibutsu at 7:54 AM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

Some gif-like images are included with this article.

Also, the co-author worked previously on the DogPhone.
posted by xigxag at 8:20 AM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]

Parrots never cease to amaze me. Along with corvids they've completely upended my (and many others) idea of bird intelligence. Makes you wonder what dinosaurs were really like.
posted by tommasz at 8:42 AM on April 22, 2023 [16 favorites]

They love hanging out with their bros. I hope after the study someone can make this widely available!!! 😤
posted by grobstein at 8:45 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yeah, like others, while I find this interesting, it mainly made me feel sad for the parrots. I'm generally against the idea of caging wild birds, and this makes it seem clear that if you're going to do it, you should at least get two of them.
posted by coffeecat at 9:07 AM on April 22, 2023 [10 favorites]

Metafilter: Yes, I Am Aware of Chickens
posted by MrBadExample at 9:18 AM on April 22, 2023 [22 favorites]

Now that I've been feeding the birds and squirrels in our yard post-Hurricane Ian (OK, it's mostly the squirrels), I've noticed a small green parrot with some red on their head perched on the powerline a couple mornings, likely an Ian survivor that escaped from a damaged/destroyed home. Hope they're finding other friendly birds with which they can socialize.

Videocalling parrots seems kinda obvious in retrospect. Hopefully none of them figure out how to turn on the cat filter.
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 9:36 AM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]

Also, the co-author worked previously on the DogPhone

DogPhone?
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:39 AM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

Went looking for video of parrots video calling each other. Found it.
posted by amtho at 10:12 AM on April 22, 2023 [10 favorites]

Not DogPhone but dog video chats.
posted by sardonyx at 10:52 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've noticed a small green parrot with some red on their head perched

That sounds like a cherry-headed conure, apparently there's a whole famous flock of them in San Fransisco
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:55 PM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]

Parrots never cease to amaze me. Along with corvids they've completely upended my (and many others) idea of bird intelligence. Makes you wonder what dinosaurs were really like.
posted by tommasz

They only had flip phones. No video. Probably why they're extinct.
posted by Splunge at 1:28 PM on April 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

They love hanging out with their bros. I hope after the study someone can make this widely available!!! 😤

I've now watched the video, and they make it clear that the parrots need a lot of scaffolding and help from their human parronts to be able to use the technology well. I'm fully convinced that the birds understand it on some level and choose to participate on purpose, and that it is enriching for them. But it seems like it's not ready to be opened up outside the context of the research project. I hope it can be though!!!
posted by grobstein at 1:36 PM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]

the parrots need a lot of scaffolding and help from their human parronts to be able to use the technology well.

So did middle-aged humans, back in the 1990's. This study only lasted 3 months, and would only include whatever instructional/guidance time the humans (who probably were not all professional animal trainers/communicators) could put into it. ~1000 hours for 18 parrots -> 55ish hours per parrot.

That's roughly equivalent to 1989 Bob from accounting trying to learn spreadsheets (DOS-based), without knowing how to read or write (or that the accountant in the mirror wasn't actually a rival from accounts payable), in less than 1.5 work weeks. (Or, since the parrots actually learned over 3 months, I guess it would be 19 hours/month or ~6.5 hours per week. Bob could do OK, but again, Bob probably _does_ already know how to read, and that words and letters are a thing, and what pictures are, and telephones).

So... I wouldn't take this as a sign that parrots couldn't ultimately create their own AI.

What I'd _love_ to see is a system where they could call each other _without human intervention_. They could spend as much time on Zoom as they wanted... I bet they'd get better fast.
posted by amtho at 2:10 PM on April 22, 2023 [10 favorites]

I know why the caged bird streams.
posted by caviar2d2 at 2:38 PM on April 22, 2023 [33 favorites]

What I'd _love_ to see is a system where they could call each other _without human intervention_. They could spend as much time on Zoom as they wanted... I bet they'd get better fast.

Me too!
posted by tiny frying pan at 3:17 PM on April 22, 2023

Yeah, like others, while I find this interesting, it mainly made me feel sad for the parrots. I'm generally against the idea of caging wild birds, and this makes it seem clear that if you're going to do it, you should at least get two of them.

I've had small parrots most of my life and getting two is not always a guarantee that they will like each other. Parrots have their own complex social norms and personalities. Housing different species together or near each other can be disastrous--lovebirds can bully a cockatiel for example--and budgies even bully and exclude each other. I had one budgie that preferred to live by himself and ignored the other budgies.

I did hope that my cockatiel could live with a budgie, but my cockatiel would go on the attack when they were out together.

Sharing the favourite human can also be a problem for multiple birds and one ends up having to supervise constantly. Parrots are a total lifestyle--they only have you for all their needs and entertainment.

All my birds since 2009 have been rehomes or adoptions because I didn't feel right supporting pet shops.

Unfortunately, like zoos, we're stuck with the results of the pet and wildlife trade. Caring owners can learn and provide enrichment and a good diet as much as possible for their birds. And anyone who loves birds can advocate against habitat destruction or choose not to shop from places that sell live animals.

I'll be the first to say that parrots often make terrible pets. You're essentially living with a wild, but very smart, animal. The number of birds in rescues and sanctuaries are proof of this--they require a huge time commitment whether it's cleaning, vacuuming, training or entertaining them. Chances are good a parrot will outlive you.

Birds who do fun things on social media may have lots of training and socialization and I fear this message gets lost with funny and cute videos. Sure the bird does something fun for five minutes, but if you can't handle chewed cupboards or daily poop patrol--just keep watching the videos or get a stuffed animal.

If you want to learn more, attend a few parrot club meetings to decide if you, your house, your family and your lifestyle are suitable for a parrot. And #adoptdontshop when you can!
posted by Calzephyr at 5:08 PM on April 22, 2023 [17 favorites]

Once again Kenneth Parcell was ahead of his time.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:13 PM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

getting two is not always a guarantee that they will like each other

I have an idea for helping the process along :) Parrot e-dating? I really really want to see the videos that result from that.



Does anybody else want to start a Kickstarter or other patronage fund just to help this woman accelerate her research?
posted by amtho at 9:27 PM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Calzephyr, on adopt don't shop, I've been meeting the local small animal rescue people in the last few years and it's been a revelation.

I'd grown used to dog and cat rescue and foster people. Small animal rescue is a totally different crowd, especially the bird rescuers.

All of them women, all very polite and put together, and ABSOLUTELY UNCOMPROMISINGLY FIERCE when it comes to protecting birds.

I think it's because they have to deal with people trying to make a lot of money, smuggling wild caught birds, and backyard breeders.

The small mammal rescue crowd are a lot less intimidating. Also fierce in a different way. Much gentler.
posted by Zumbador at 10:42 PM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

I feel, or hope, that one day we will look back at the centuries that we've put birds in cages solely for our own amusement as yet another horrific blip of inhumanity to other creatures that once was.

I don't understand how people can put an animal whose every instinct is to fly around with it's flock mates doing bird stuff into a tiny space alone for the overwhelming majority of it's life and profess to have feelings of love or nurturing towards that animal.

If you loved the animal you wouldn't be torturing it so.
posted by newpotato at 3:18 AM on April 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

The bright side here is that these humans, the focus of this FPP, care immensely about these bird's emotional well-being, and it's lovely to see.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:48 AM on April 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

I have an idea for helping the process along :) Parrot e-dating? I really really want to see the videos that result from that.

Beakr?
posted by dragstroke at 8:59 AM on April 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

All of them women, all very polite and put together, and ABSOLUTELY UNCOMPROMISINGLY FIERCE when it comes to protecting birds.

I think it's because they have to deal with people trying to make a lot of money, smuggling wild caught birds, and backyard breeders.

Yes! There is a lot of fierceness with the parrot crowd. I get so tired of, when people learn I have birds, saying something like "I had a bird once...but it died horribly/flew away/my parents made me get rid of it".

You just get so tired of these stories because some situations are so preventable, like switching out your non-stick cookware for cast iron or glass. There are times when birds need to be rehomed--death, divorce, moving out of the country--but every time I see "Oh, the kids got tired of it"--ugh!

To be somewhat fair, pre-Internet, there were very little resources on pet birds. Unless you were lucky to find Bird Talk on the newsstand, you were limited to books that didn't account for a bird's wild nature and may even have discussed breeding. You relied on finding toys and supplies at pet and department stores. Most of these supplies were plastic, and others, like sand perches, unsafe.

Speaking of, it's wild to think department stores used to sell birds and small pets--and that's how you end up with little bird jails. Also, good luck finding an exotic vet in the past.

In some ways, we've come along way with living with birds, but there's always plenty of room for everyone to grow our parrot knowledge and advocate for better welfare. Even after almost 40 years, I'm learning new stuff all the time!

Whew! I don't want to write a book, but yeah, I'm pretty passionate about parrots, especially the little guys :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 9:31 AM on April 23, 2023 [5 favorites]

The article goes into some detail of how the interactions were managed—the owners monitored the video calls just like they would in-person visits and concluded calls that went in harmful directions.

It sounds like if you're already a responsible owner, this might open up new avenues for enriching your pet's life.
posted by Wilbefort at 11:59 AM on April 24, 2023 [1 favorite]