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Tipper, African Grey Parrot
The delusion is extraordinary by which we thus exalt language above nature: making language the expositor of nature instead of making nature the expositor of language. —Alexander Brian Johnson
Language is coveted as unique to Homo sapiens. Its high regard is reflected in the preoccupations of human culture: theatre, films, books, internet chat rooms, poetry, and television. However, despite the myth, linguistic aptitude is not limited to humans and parrots are one good example. Parrots demonstrate a linguistic fluidity beyond their own species dialect that no human can match. Further, parrots are beautifulmore than beautiful. They are stupendous. Unfortunately, parrots have suffered as a result of their splendour and speech. Tippers story speaks for thousands of parrots.
African Grey Wild Life
Tipper is an African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), a species who is considered among the most versatile of linguists. On average, Greys are about 400 grams (14 oz) and approximately 33 cm long (12.8). Tippers feathers display every visible shade of grey from palest silver around his face to deepest charcoal on his wings. Each body feather is tipped with a contrasting shade of grey: dark feathers are tipped with tinsel, pale feathers are tipped dark, and his beak is ebony. The tail is a colorful contrast: it's long and brilliant red. In time, as they age, elder Greys may show the distinction of scarlet peeking out from the silver grey feathers on their body.
Grey parrots are actually composed of two subspecies and hail from west and central equatorial Africa. For the most part they live in the rainforest at elevations less than 2000 meters although they must now find refuge in diverse habitats as a result of the extensive forest clearing. Like all wild parrots, African Grey lands have are beleaguered by war, habitat destruction, and an intense captive trade.
The Greys fly among the tree tops, hang out with elephants, and sing complicated songs. A youngster, such as one Tippers age, living in an undisturbed flock of wild Greys learns to move across the great African Congo with parents and extended family flocks to visit various spots within their range --some for showering, a few for napping, others for foraging. One favourite roosting site is palm trees, and in particular those trees overlooking water or trees on islands in the middle of a river.
It is easy to appreciate the incredible hardship that solo caged living brings when we learn that Greys live communally in flocks made up of up to hundreds of individuals. Their social lives are of primary importance to their survival because these provide outlets for expression, communication, companionship and a sense of belonging. In the wild, birds like Tipper stay with their family flock for a year or more, with the first year entirely devoted to learning the social and physical skills needed to be a successful parrot. Contrast this to the domestic environment where parrot social life is determined largely by breeding quotas, industry demands, and human habits.
During the day, after they leave their roosts, African Greys break into groups of about 30 and forage berries, fruits, nuts, and seeds as they climb up and through trees and bushes. At days end, the Greys rejoin the larger flock to share stories and experienceswhat they encountered in food and potentially dangerous predatorsand groom themselves and each other. Vision, flight, exercise, communication, taste, touch and exploration all are necessary flock activities. Parrot social life is life itself.
Tipper's Story
In contrast to his wild-caught compatriots, Tipper was born in captivity in 1998, and eight years later relinquished to the Utah Critter Sanctuary & Ferret & Parrot Rescue Shelter. Destined for the pet trade, Tipper was raised at the nadir of a booming market for hand-fed Grey babies. What happened between his hatching and his surrender to sanctuary is anybody's guess. Only Tipper knows for sure. He was probably less than 3 months old when he was sold to humans who bought him, a cage, a toy, bowls and food. Less than 10 years later, Tipper has been rejected and passed from owner to owner until he finally became homeless. (To see Tipper in his current location, visit Petfinder).
When he was surrendered into shelter, the people who gave up Tipper told their story of disappointment: Tipper doesnt act like a well-socialized Grey: he isn't friendly, he wont' come out of his cage, he's not playful, he doesn't talk all that much, he's easily frightened, and worst of all, he's a biter. They described how they struggled to get him to exit his cage until they discovered toweling.6 Using a towel, Tipper would be caught by the head and neck in his cage and his wings pinned to his body. Tightly wrapped and held feet up, the panicked bird twitches and thrashes until he is set free back into the cage and allowed to kick off the towel. (It is notable that at the shelter, Tipper has never bitten anyone and is considered to be very gentle.)
Unlike many traumatized birds, Tipper is still in overall good health, beautiful, and in excellent, full feather--an upright and feathered parrot. He has yet to begin the feather destructive behaviors (FDB) so often seen in both well-placed and ill-treated domestically-situated parrots. (See Feather Destructive Behaviour in sidebar.) However, the legacy of his suffering expresses in other ways.
His previous owner described how Tipper would crawl down to the floor of his cage and spin around for hours upon end. Such behaviors are stereotypic ways of responding to and coping with conditions of severe duress. Tipper refused to leave his cage for the entire four years he lived with his previous owner. In the shelter, Tipper only steps off the main perch to go to the cage floor and spin around and sing to himself. He still will not leave his cage even when the door is left open. While friendly, he is still timid with people, but developed a strong relationship with one of the shelter cats. Every night, Tipper would call for the shelter cat. He would call her over and meow and purr. Sadly, the elderly cat died on December 1, 2007. Tipper still calls for the cat and seems quite grieved by the loss.7 He is also reluctant to try new things. For example, while he has been provided with diverse colourful toys with which to play and work, Tipper is unfamiliar with such and so remains faithful to an old, weathered rope toy attached to a bell that was brought with him.
The forced confinement Tipper experienced during his formative periods continues now as a self-inflicted habit. The primary goal of forced confinement is to inhibit personal autonomy and a sense of self-empowerment. Captive life involves not only physical but psychological control. This is illustrated in painful detail through the testimonies of political prisoners, victims of domestic violence, and others subjected to violent incarceration. Almost all will say that it is most difficult to learn how to trust someone else as well as oneself. Imprisonment challenges the ability to regain a sense of agencyto feel and be an instrument of ones own life. His inhibited social skills gave him skewed self-empowerment: he asserts himself by insisting on isolation (staying in the cage) but he reaches out to people by calling and whistling. He craves contact, but of his own design - he is reluctant to learn from humans and it seems this skepticism is well-placed.
The ways in which he was treated before shelter robbed Tipper of self-initiative, eroded his sense of security, degraded his relationships with humans, and perpetuated violence on a defenseless being. The fact that he would not leave his cage illustrates his profound sense of insecurity in the larger world. The fact that he chooses to talk and engage is testimony to his incredible character. What is amazing is not just his and other parrots abilities but their profound desire to reach out to communicate to members of the species responsible for so much of their pain and grief.
Environments for Recovery
Despite the obvious psychological abuse and physical deprivation, early childhood compromise, and emptiness of cage-bound solitary life he has experienced, Tipper has managed to retain a positive open attitude towards others and a desire to live. He is described by the rescue faculty as a lively happy go lucky bird who loves to eat peanut treats.
Tipper is lucky to have been rescued from circumstances where he would continue to suffer and likely succumb prematurely. Everything that happened to Tipper that causes him to retreat from humans is entirely unnecessary because excellent information about parrot care and health is available and accessible. Tippers recovery from trauma is now entirely dependent upon the environment in which he finds himself. The shelter has taken the first major step for recovery by creating an environment of security that fosters his ability to make choices safely. However, more is needed.
There are two types of sanctuary needed for trauma recovery: outer and inner.
The outer sanctuary is physical and takes into account parrots physical needs. The true physical sanctuary is replete with enrichments suitable for parrots sensibilities, not humans. If Tipper looks outside his cage and sees other cages, unfamiliar caged or uncaged mammals, and chaos, he will venture no further. It will take an environment worthy of accolades secure, parrot-oriented, replete with the reinforcements Tipper values -- to support progressive steps to recovery. It is wise not to force Tipper to do something he is not yet prepared to do, such as leave his cagebut it is imperative hat he can live in a home that will provide the necessary secure environment commensurate with his needs. Shelter Director Lisa Olson says, Tipper and the other birds here need something more; they need a personal home where they get loving attention in a good environment.
The inner sanctuary needed by Tipper depends upon the physical environment. A soothing place engenders security, self-agency, confidence, sociability. Threats are absent. Parrots rule. The requisite inner sanctuary grows from physical activities like flapping, climbing, swinging, foraging, showering, eating, goofing off with other birds, calling, stretching, napping, sleeping and waking when he feels like doing it.
It is essential that the parrot can develop a deep, respectful relationship with a human guardian that will bring great joy and meaning. If possible, other birds can be a welcome sight, especially to a traumatized parrot. A couple of delightful cockatiels, a small flock of finches, a pair of lovely canaries, another well-equipped parrot with whom the incoming parrot can socialize and gets along with these add immeasurable interest to psittacine captivity.
While Tipper is respected and nurtured at the shelter, his full actualization is on hold, waiting for guardians who will provide the psychological and physical environments he was designed to enjoy. He only needs one homea lifelong home-- but it needs to be a special one.
For information about how to help Tipper, please contact Lisa Olson.
Endnotes
1. The American Federation of Avicultures hands-off policy on the sale of unweaned parrots leaves animal welfare in the hands of buyers and sellers: AFA recognizes that the welfare of unweaned baby birds is the personal responsibility between the parties involved in the transfer of those birds. AFA does not endorse any legislative or regulatory intrusion on issues of personal responsibility surrounding the transfer of unweaned baby birds by attempting to define or qualify who can or cannot provide proper care or hand-feeding.
2. Co-author Linden retired her breeding birds 5 years ago but in 1998 she had a two-year waiting list for hand-raised Greys.
3. See The World Parrot Trust Greys in the wild.
4. Rare footage of Greys is documented in the DVD Where the Wild Greys Are.
5. Languagewhat and how we refer and describe animalsis pivotal to how we conceive and care for them. The term owner is one perfect example. The idea of owning another person is abhorrent in modern society, although human slavery has been and is still practiced in certain locales. However, many species are considered property without legal rights of independence. The term guardian is used in lieu of owner to indicate a relationship of stewardship and responsibility on equal footing without proprietal objectification.
6. Toweling is standard practice in veterinary procedure. Done efficiently and properly, it does not cause long term psychological trauma to parrots.
7. Single parrots well integrated into human life happily exist in households where their needs take consistent priority over those of humans.
Acknowledgements
Authors Gay Bradshaw and Phoebe Linden gratefully acknowledge Utah Critter Sanctuary and Kathy White for their generosities to Tipper and for their help with this article.
Photo credits
Photos 1-3, courtesy of Lisa Olson. Photo 4, courtesy of Santa Barbara Bird Farm.
Read Further
Bradshaw, G.A. & D. Durham. 2007. Restoring natural balance: animal trauma and recovery. Natural Horse. April/May.
Bradshaw, G.A , Linden, P. G., and A.N. Schore, (2005). Behavioural and physiological effects of trauma on Psittacines. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. 26th Annual Conference and Expo, August 9-11, 2005, Monterey, CA. Annotated reference list.
Forshaw, J.M. (1989). Parrots of the World, 3rd ed. Melbourne: Landsdown Editions.
Jenkins, T.( 2000). Feather picking in companion parrots. CPQ Conference paper, Oakland, CA.
Juniper, T, & M. Parr. (1998). Parrots: a guide to parrots of the world. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Linden, P. G. & A. Leuscher. (2006). Behavioral Development of Psittacine Companions: Neonates, Neophytes and Fledglings. Manual of Parrot Behavior. in Luescher, A.(ed) Manual of parrot behaviour. P, 195-210. Blackwell Publishing.
Linden, P. G., Emotions and Health: Teaching Psittacine Birds To Learn, Goteborg International Veterinary Meeting Programme and Proceedings, Svenska Massan Congress, Goteborg, Sweden, 1999.
Meehan, C. L., J.R. Millan, & J.A. Mench. (2003). Foraging opportunity and increased physical complexity both prevent and reduce psychogenic feather picking by young Amazon parrots. Applied Animal Behavior Science 80:71-85.
Orosz, S. E. & G.A. Bradshaw. (2007). Neuroanatomy of the companion avian parrot. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice: Neuroanatomy and Neurodiagnosis. (eds. L. Tell & M. Knipe). 10(3) 775-802.
Orosz, S. E. (2003). Diagnostic workup of suspected behavioral problems. in Luescher, A.(ed) Manual of parrot behaviour. P, 195-210 Blackwell Publishing.
Sheehan, K. L., (2001). The effects of environmental enrichment and post-natal handling on the development, emotional reacitivty and learning ability of juvenile nanday conures (nandayus nenday). MS thesis, Purdue University.
Van Sant, F. (1996). The Nit pickers Physical Exam or Beyond Upright and Feathered. in The Proceedings of the International Aviculturists Society, January 1996, Orlando, FL http://www.toolady.com/library/avian/bird_health/bird_disease/prevention/vet_exam.html
back to top back to archives
Archives
Tipper, African Grey Parrot
Language is coveted as unique to Homo sapiens. Its high regard is reflected in the preoccupations of human culture: theatre, films, books, internet chat rooms, poetry, and television. However, despite the myth, linguistic aptitude is not limited to humans and parrots are one good example. Parrots demonstrate a linguistic fluidity beyond their own species dialect that no human can match. Further, parrots are beautifulmore than beautiful. They are stupendous. Unfortunately, parrots have suffered as a result of their splendour and speech. Tippers story speaks for thousands of parrots.
African Grey Wild Life
Tipper is an African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), a species who is considered among the most versatile of linguists. On average, Greys are about 400 grams (14 oz) and approximately 33 cm long (12.8). Tippers feathers display every visible shade of grey from palest silver around his face to deepest charcoal on his wings. Each body feather is tipped with a contrasting shade of grey: dark feathers are tipped with tinsel, pale feathers are tipped dark, and his beak is ebony. The tail is a colorful contrast: it's long and brilliant red. In time, as they age, elder Greys may show the distinction of scarlet peeking out from the silver grey feathers on their body.
Grey parrots are actually composed of two subspecies and hail from west and central equatorial Africa. For the most part they live in the rainforest at elevations less than 2000 meters although they must now find refuge in diverse habitats as a result of the extensive forest clearing. Like all wild parrots, African Grey lands have are beleaguered by war, habitat destruction, and an intense captive trade.
The Greys fly among the tree tops, hang out with elephants, and sing complicated songs. A youngster, such as one Tippers age, living in an undisturbed flock of wild Greys learns to move across the great African Congo with parents and extended family flocks to visit various spots within their range --some for showering, a few for napping, others for foraging. One favourite roosting site is palm trees, and in particular those trees overlooking water or trees on islands in the middle of a river.
It is easy to appreciate the incredible hardship that solo caged living brings when we learn that Greys live communally in flocks made up of up to hundreds of individuals. Their social lives are of primary importance to their survival because these provide outlets for expression, communication, companionship and a sense of belonging. In the wild, birds like Tipper stay with their family flock for a year or more, with the first year entirely devoted to learning the social and physical skills needed to be a successful parrot. Contrast this to the domestic environment where parrot social life is determined largely by breeding quotas, industry demands, and human habits.
During the day, after they leave their roosts, African Greys break into groups of about 30 and forage berries, fruits, nuts, and seeds as they climb up and through trees and bushes. At days end, the Greys rejoin the larger flock to share stories and experienceswhat they encountered in food and potentially dangerous predatorsand groom themselves and each other. Vision, flight, exercise, communication, taste, touch and exploration all are necessary flock activities. Parrot social life is life itself.
Tipper's Story
In contrast to his wild-caught compatriots, Tipper was born in captivity in 1998, and eight years later relinquished to the Utah Critter Sanctuary & Ferret & Parrot Rescue Shelter. Destined for the pet trade, Tipper was raised at the nadir of a booming market for hand-fed Grey babies. What happened between his hatching and his surrender to sanctuary is anybody's guess. Only Tipper knows for sure. He was probably less than 3 months old when he was sold to humans who bought him, a cage, a toy, bowls and food. Less than 10 years later, Tipper has been rejected and passed from owner to owner until he finally became homeless. (To see Tipper in his current location, visit Petfinder).
When he was surrendered into shelter, the people who gave up Tipper told their story of disappointment: Tipper doesnt act like a well-socialized Grey: he isn't friendly, he wont' come out of his cage, he's not playful, he doesn't talk all that much, he's easily frightened, and worst of all, he's a biter. They described how they struggled to get him to exit his cage until they discovered toweling.6 Using a towel, Tipper would be caught by the head and neck in his cage and his wings pinned to his body. Tightly wrapped and held feet up, the panicked bird twitches and thrashes until he is set free back into the cage and allowed to kick off the towel. (It is notable that at the shelter, Tipper has never bitten anyone and is considered to be very gentle.)
Unlike many traumatized birds, Tipper is still in overall good health, beautiful, and in excellent, full feather--an upright and feathered parrot. He has yet to begin the feather destructive behaviors (FDB) so often seen in both well-placed and ill-treated domestically-situated parrots. (See Feather Destructive Behaviour in sidebar.) However, the legacy of his suffering expresses in other ways.
His previous owner described how Tipper would crawl down to the floor of his cage and spin around for hours upon end. Such behaviors are stereotypic ways of responding to and coping with conditions of severe duress. Tipper refused to leave his cage for the entire four years he lived with his previous owner. In the shelter, Tipper only steps off the main perch to go to the cage floor and spin around and sing to himself. He still will not leave his cage even when the door is left open. While friendly, he is still timid with people, but developed a strong relationship with one of the shelter cats. Every night, Tipper would call for the shelter cat. He would call her over and meow and purr. Sadly, the elderly cat died on December 1, 2007. Tipper still calls for the cat and seems quite grieved by the loss.7 He is also reluctant to try new things. For example, while he has been provided with diverse colourful toys with which to play and work, Tipper is unfamiliar with such and so remains faithful to an old, weathered rope toy attached to a bell that was brought with him.
The forced confinement Tipper experienced during his formative periods continues now as a self-inflicted habit. The primary goal of forced confinement is to inhibit personal autonomy and a sense of self-empowerment. Captive life involves not only physical but psychological control. This is illustrated in painful detail through the testimonies of political prisoners, victims of domestic violence, and others subjected to violent incarceration. Almost all will say that it is most difficult to learn how to trust someone else as well as oneself. Imprisonment challenges the ability to regain a sense of agencyto feel and be an instrument of ones own life. His inhibited social skills gave him skewed self-empowerment: he asserts himself by insisting on isolation (staying in the cage) but he reaches out to people by calling and whistling. He craves contact, but of his own design - he is reluctant to learn from humans and it seems this skepticism is well-placed.
The ways in which he was treated before shelter robbed Tipper of self-initiative, eroded his sense of security, degraded his relationships with humans, and perpetuated violence on a defenseless being. The fact that he would not leave his cage illustrates his profound sense of insecurity in the larger world. The fact that he chooses to talk and engage is testimony to his incredible character. What is amazing is not just his and other parrots abilities but their profound desire to reach out to communicate to members of the species responsible for so much of their pain and grief.
Environments for Recovery
Despite the obvious psychological abuse and physical deprivation, early childhood compromise, and emptiness of cage-bound solitary life he has experienced, Tipper has managed to retain a positive open attitude towards others and a desire to live. He is described by the rescue faculty as a lively happy go lucky bird who loves to eat peanut treats.
Tipper is lucky to have been rescued from circumstances where he would continue to suffer and likely succumb prematurely. Everything that happened to Tipper that causes him to retreat from humans is entirely unnecessary because excellent information about parrot care and health is available and accessible. Tippers recovery from trauma is now entirely dependent upon the environment in which he finds himself. The shelter has taken the first major step for recovery by creating an environment of security that fosters his ability to make choices safely. However, more is needed.
There are two types of sanctuary needed for trauma recovery: outer and inner.
The outer sanctuary is physical and takes into account parrots physical needs. The true physical sanctuary is replete with enrichments suitable for parrots sensibilities, not humans. If Tipper looks outside his cage and sees other cages, unfamiliar caged or uncaged mammals, and chaos, he will venture no further. It will take an environment worthy of accolades secure, parrot-oriented, replete with the reinforcements Tipper values -- to support progressive steps to recovery. It is wise not to force Tipper to do something he is not yet prepared to do, such as leave his cagebut it is imperative hat he can live in a home that will provide the necessary secure environment commensurate with his needs. Shelter Director Lisa Olson says, Tipper and the other birds here need something more; they need a personal home where they get loving attention in a good environment.
The inner sanctuary needed by Tipper depends upon the physical environment. A soothing place engenders security, self-agency, confidence, sociability. Threats are absent. Parrots rule. The requisite inner sanctuary grows from physical activities like flapping, climbing, swinging, foraging, showering, eating, goofing off with other birds, calling, stretching, napping, sleeping and waking when he feels like doing it.
It is essential that the parrot can develop a deep, respectful relationship with a human guardian that will bring great joy and meaning. If possible, other birds can be a welcome sight, especially to a traumatized parrot. A couple of delightful cockatiels, a small flock of finches, a pair of lovely canaries, another well-equipped parrot with whom the incoming parrot can socialize and gets along with these add immeasurable interest to psittacine captivity.
While Tipper is respected and nurtured at the shelter, his full actualization is on hold, waiting for guardians who will provide the psychological and physical environments he was designed to enjoy. He only needs one homea lifelong home-- but it needs to be a special one.
For information about how to help Tipper, please contact Lisa Olson.
Endnotes
1. The American Federation of Avicultures hands-off policy on the sale of unweaned parrots leaves animal welfare in the hands of buyers and sellers: AFA recognizes that the welfare of unweaned baby birds is the personal responsibility between the parties involved in the transfer of those birds. AFA does not endorse any legislative or regulatory intrusion on issues of personal responsibility surrounding the transfer of unweaned baby birds by attempting to define or qualify who can or cannot provide proper care or hand-feeding.
2. Co-author Linden retired her breeding birds 5 years ago but in 1998 she had a two-year waiting list for hand-raised Greys.
3. See The World Parrot Trust Greys in the wild.
4. Rare footage of Greys is documented in the DVD Where the Wild Greys Are.
5. Languagewhat and how we refer and describe animalsis pivotal to how we conceive and care for them. The term owner is one perfect example. The idea of owning another person is abhorrent in modern society, although human slavery has been and is still practiced in certain locales. However, many species are considered property without legal rights of independence. The term guardian is used in lieu of owner to indicate a relationship of stewardship and responsibility on equal footing without proprietal objectification.
6. Toweling is standard practice in veterinary procedure. Done efficiently and properly, it does not cause long term psychological trauma to parrots.
7. Single parrots well integrated into human life happily exist in households where their needs take consistent priority over those of humans.
Acknowledgements
Authors Gay Bradshaw and Phoebe Linden gratefully acknowledge Utah Critter Sanctuary and Kathy White for their generosities to Tipper and for their help with this article.
Photo credits
Photos 1-3, courtesy of Lisa Olson. Photo 4, courtesy of Santa Barbara Bird Farm.
Read Further
Bradshaw, G.A. & D. Durham. 2007. Restoring natural balance: animal trauma and recovery. Natural Horse. April/May.
Bradshaw, G.A , Linden, P. G., and A.N. Schore, (2005). Behavioural and physiological effects of trauma on Psittacines. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. 26th Annual Conference and Expo, August 9-11, 2005, Monterey, CA. Annotated reference list.
Forshaw, J.M. (1989). Parrots of the World, 3rd ed. Melbourne: Landsdown Editions.
Jenkins, T.( 2000). Feather picking in companion parrots. CPQ Conference paper, Oakland, CA.
Juniper, T, & M. Parr. (1998). Parrots: a guide to parrots of the world. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Linden, P. G. & A. Leuscher. (2006). Behavioral Development of Psittacine Companions: Neonates, Neophytes and Fledglings. Manual of Parrot Behavior. in Luescher, A.(ed) Manual of parrot behaviour. P, 195-210. Blackwell Publishing.
Linden, P. G., Emotions and Health: Teaching Psittacine Birds To Learn, Goteborg International Veterinary Meeting Programme and Proceedings, Svenska Massan Congress, Goteborg, Sweden, 1999.
Meehan, C. L., J.R. Millan, & J.A. Mench. (2003). Foraging opportunity and increased physical complexity both prevent and reduce psychogenic feather picking by young Amazon parrots. Applied Animal Behavior Science 80:71-85.
Orosz, S. E. & G.A. Bradshaw. (2007). Neuroanatomy of the companion avian parrot. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice: Neuroanatomy and Neurodiagnosis. (eds. L. Tell & M. Knipe). 10(3) 775-802.
Orosz, S. E. (2003). Diagnostic workup of suspected behavioral problems. in Luescher, A.(ed) Manual of parrot behaviour. P, 195-210 Blackwell Publishing.
Sheehan, K. L., (2001). The effects of environmental enrichment and post-natal handling on the development, emotional reacitivty and learning ability of juvenile nanday conures (nandayus nenday). MS thesis, Purdue University.
Van Sant, F. (1996). The Nit pickers Physical Exam or Beyond Upright and Feathered. in The Proceedings of the International Aviculturists Society, January 1996, Orlando, FL http://www.toolady.com/library/avian/bird_health/bird_disease/prevention/vet_exam.html
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"Science in service to animals"
African Gray Parrot Facts
Of the more than 350 known species of parrots, nearly 100 are threatened in wild.
Species Profile
Genus: Psittacus
Species: erithacus
Size: Erithacus, 33cm (12.8 in); timneh, 30cm (11.7 in).
Adult Weight:
Erithacus 400g (14 oz) timneh 320g (11.2 oz)
Races including nominate:
two: P.e. erithacus, P.e. timneh
Call: Variety of whistles, squawks, shrieks, and screams given at rest and in flight; mimics other birds, and mammals.
Colourization Adult:
P.e. erithacus: both adults grey in colour with grey/white scalloping to feathers; flight feathers darker grey; red tail and lower undertail coverts. Bill black. Eye grey. P.e. timneh: both adults dark grey in colour, paler on rump and abdomen; dark grey lower undertail coverts tinged with dark red; dark burgundy tail, the feathers edged with brown. Upper mandible dark red tipped with black, lower mandible black; smaller in size.
Colourization Juvenile: As in adults but with grey tinged lower undertail coverts; tail tipped with red. Eye dark grey to black.
Call: Variety of whistles, squawks, shrieks, and screams given at rest and in flight; mimics other birds, and mammals.
Source: World Parrot Trust
Feather Destructive Behaviour
Commonly known as feather picking, feather destructive behaviour (FDB) includes a suite of parrot behaviours that result when the companion bird plucks out, destroys, or barbers her/his own feathers. Self-mutilation occurs when there is damage beyond the feathers to include skin and even deeper tissues.
While exact aetiology of FDB is debated and considered to have multiple possible causes (e.g., nutritional deficits, exposure to toxins, allergies, thyroid imbalance, genetic predisposition), it is generally agreed that stress and trauma underlie both psychological and physical explanations. One factor in particular seems to be highly correlated: what, who, and how an individual is raised.
Naturally in the wild, parrots live with other parrots from hatching and all throughout adulthood. As soon as an infant parrot is hatched they interact constantly with their parents and in a few weeks, with other flock members. Parrot life is community life. Notably, parrots who are hand-raised, reared by human hand rather than parrot parents, seem to be most susceptible to acquiring FDB as are those parrots who live a solo, caged life with little opportunities to exercises their parrotness interacting and bonding with others, foraging for a diversity of foods, flying, bathing, breathing clean fresh air full of sounds, and freedom of choice to do all these things.
What is known ethologically about parrots is mirrored in what is now known about the brain: what a parrot experiences registers and shapes their neurobiological and hormonal pathways in the brain. The brains and parrots and people alike reflect the environment in which we were raised and live. Subsequently, it is not unexpected that the radical changes that a caged bird experiences relative to what they are ecologically, emotionally, and evolutionarily adapted manifest in unhealthful behaviour and psychological states.
The parallels between parrots and humans suggest that FDB is related to self-injurious behavior seen in mammals who experience stressful compromise in early childhood and as they mature. Avian clinicians understand FDB as a physical manifestations of psychophysiological distress and a way to cope with difficult and traumatic environmental conditions. European Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote that when we are unable to change the environment, we change ourselves. When we see a bird who damages their feathers and body, we are hearing someone who is, or was, subjected to unbearable stress and trauma.
.
