The latest research reveals that parrots learn video calls, acquire skills from their parrots and improve happiness
According to the latest research, if you teach parrots to make video calls with each other, the parrots will request video calls, acquire skills from the other parrots, and improve the parrots' own happiness. Clearly there was.
Researchers Taught Parrots to Video Call Other Parrots
Researchers at Northeastern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Glasgow conducted a study to 'teach pet parrots to make video calls using tablets and smartphones.' Research suggests that video calling can help parrots communicate and improve their well-being.
A research team consisting of Associate Professor Rebecca Kleinberger of Northeastern University, Jennifer Cunha, who studies the behavior of parrots, and Associate Professor Iliana Hersky Douglas of the University of Glasgow recruited various types of parrots and their owners. , conducted an experiment to make video calls between parrots with Messenger using tablets and smartphones.
18 parrots participated in the experiment, and the owner first tells the parrot that 'If you want to make a video call, ring the bell.' In addition, he also teaches how to use smartphones and tablets, but he did not give food as a reward for these learning. Then, when the parrot rang the bell, the owner showed the parrot the home screen of the tablet, showed a picture of the person (parrot) who could talk, and let the parrot choose the other party.
In the experiment, we set up a training time of 3 hours and allowed the parrot to make a video call for up to 5 minutes by tapping the tablet screen with its beak. Owners are instructed to hang up immediately if their parrot shows signs of aggression. Of the 18 parrots who challenged this training, 15 succeeded in making a video call, but 3 were to leave the experiment.
After teaching the parrots how to make video calls, the research team tracked the parrots for three months. Then, parrots who were given the opportunity to make video calls began to request video calls on a regular basis. Associate Professor Kleinberger, who participated in the study, said, 'Some powerful social dynamics began to emerge as the parrots experienced video calls.'
During the video call, the parrot seemed to clearly understand that there was a parrot on the other end of the call, and he said that he barked freely. Owners also report that video calls are an overwhelmingly positive experience for their parrots. Some owners who participated in the experiment reported that they saw their pet parrots learn new skills such as foraging, vocalizing, and flying from their parrot partners. Another owner even reported that a phone call brought his parrot back to life.
Mr. Cunha, an expert who participated in the research study, said that his pet parrot named Ellie quickly became friends with a parrot named Cookie who lives in a distant land. According to Cunha, Ellie has been friends with Cookie for over a year, but they still communicate through video calls.
According to Associate Professor Kleinberger, the type of vocalization used by pet parrots reflects the nature of the ``call/response vocalization'' performed by wild birds. In other words, the research group claims that the parrots are properly communicating with video calls such as 'Hello!'
The following movie is a picture of the parrots actually participating in the experiment making video calls.
According to the research team, the most popular parrots in video calls, that is, the parrots that were most frequently called, were the parrots that made the most noises. Therefore, the research team suggests that parrots also have interaction dynamics that are very similar to human society.
In addition, it seems that the human owner also played a big role in video calls between parrots, and some parrots carefully enjoy the reactions of humans, and some parrots are attached to humans reflected on the screen as partners in video calls. It seems that there was
Associate Professor Kleinberger said, ``It should not be misunderstood that parrot owners make Zoom calls and immediately get along with each other.'' Even if ordinary people tried to teach their pet parrots how to video call in the same way, even if the participants in this experiment were experienced parrot owners who could train things by carefully monitoring their reactions, I warned you that you might shatter your tablet screen into pieces.
Still, the results of this study suggest that video calling can help improve the quality of life of pet parrots. “Parrots have only been around for a generation or two as pets, so we can’t say they are domesticated like dogs, cats or horses,” Kleinberger said. mentioned. Furthermore, even if video calls can improve well-being, he says, ``It doesn't make me as happy as when I was living in the wild.''
However, mental illnesses are prevalent in some species of parrots, and video calls may help improve those mental illnesses.
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