IndySE
Active member
Parrots are so freakishly intelligent, sometimes I find myself stunned by what Kermit does. It seems rather human-like, so different than all the dogs I've owned, and I struggle to find anything strictly behavioral to explain it.
For instance, Kermit has demonstrated to me that she must have some concept of gratitude (though often chooses not to use it). Sometimes, if I hand her a favorite treat or put her to bed when she's really tired, she'll mumble softly "thank you". And I know usually birds don't know what the words they repeat mean, but I ONLY have used that specific word as my bridging word in training. So.... somehow, Kermit has figured out that it's not only a word that means she's doing something I like, but it works the reverse way too. Now that I think of it, maybe it's not so much gratitude and more like conditioning and training me the same way I do to her...
Another point and case, when I start cleaning her cage I swear she's trying to help me ! As I start organizing her toys or changing the paper, she'll start chipping her own poop off the bottom grate of her cage. Gross, I know, but parrots will do what they do. I know they sometimes do tidy their own spaces, but I find it fascinating she's connected that I am cleaning her cage and is joining in the flock behavior. I figure most of what humans do must look insane to our pets, but parrots study closely.
I recognize one must be careful in just how far we interpret these behaviors with a human lense, but I feel I won't be alone here... I'd love to hear more of our member's testimonies on many human-like traits or concepts that your featherlords seem to have a grasp on.
For instance, Kermit has demonstrated to me that she must have some concept of gratitude (though often chooses not to use it). Sometimes, if I hand her a favorite treat or put her to bed when she's really tired, she'll mumble softly "thank you". And I know usually birds don't know what the words they repeat mean, but I ONLY have used that specific word as my bridging word in training. So.... somehow, Kermit has figured out that it's not only a word that means she's doing something I like, but it works the reverse way too. Now that I think of it, maybe it's not so much gratitude and more like conditioning and training me the same way I do to her...
Another point and case, when I start cleaning her cage I swear she's trying to help me ! As I start organizing her toys or changing the paper, she'll start chipping her own poop off the bottom grate of her cage. Gross, I know, but parrots will do what they do. I know they sometimes do tidy their own spaces, but I find it fascinating she's connected that I am cleaning her cage and is joining in the flock behavior. I figure most of what humans do must look insane to our pets, but parrots study closely.
I recognize one must be careful in just how far we interpret these behaviors with a human lense, but I feel I won't be alone here... I'd love to hear more of our member's testimonies on many human-like traits or concepts that your featherlords seem to have a grasp on.