Such birds as the canary and the singing greenfinch have long been prized for their song, and the members of the Psittaciformes order — otherwise known as parrots — are so well known for their vocal talents that they’ve inspired a figure of speech. (To parrot something means to repeat it, whether you’re a bird or a human being.) Even finches such as the ones shown in Figure 1-1 keep up a companionable twittering.
Photograph courtesy of Claudia Hunka, Your Basic Bird (Berkeley, California)
FIGURE 1-1: The lively sounds and antics of little birds like this shaft-tail finch add to their wide appeal.
The breeding of canaries dates to the 16th century, and humans’ relationship with wild-caught parrots is traceable to even earlier times. Ancient Greeks and Romans fell in love with parrots, so much so that a trained one was considered more valuable than the slave who trained him. A favorite phrase to teach a Roman parrot? Why, “Hail the Emperor!,” of course.
Some 1,800 years later, companion birds were still found in the highest halls of government. Yes, the White House. James and Dolley Madison brought their “green parrot” with them to the Executive Mansion, Thomas Jefferson kept mockingbirds there, and Andrew Jackson had a parrot named Polly known for her (pardon the pun) “fowl” language. John Tyler had a pet canary he called Johnny Ty — nothing like naming a bird after yourself — and, of course, Abraham Lincoln is known for the earliest of the presidential turkey pardons. An admirer sent James Buchanan two bald eagles, whom he sent to live at his home in Pennsylvania. William McKinley had a parrot named Washington Post, known for whistling “Yankee Doodle.” Calvin Coolidge may well have had the greatest number of presidential pets, including four canaries, a thrush, a goose, a troupial (the national bird of Venezuela), a mockingbird, and a “yellow bird” named Goldy. Dwight Eisenhower’s parakeet, Gabby, died while he was in office and is buried on White House grounds, as is Caroline Kennedy’s pet canary.
Recent research strongly suggests that birds don’t, in fact, merely parrot, or repeat, what they hear — some understand the words they’re saying. The work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg and her African grey, Alex, changed everyone’s understanding of the intelligence of birds. Sadly, Alex passed away in his sleep at the young age of 31, as a result of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), but his legacy continues to be a guiding light for us all. Alex didn’t just talk — he had the ability to identify objects and colors and understand concepts such as “bigger” and “smaller.” You can learn more about him at the Alex Foundation (www.alexfoundation.org).
A charming companion
Although birds have lived as part of the human family for tens of thousands of years, the here and now may be the best time to enjoy an avian companion. Laws enacted to conserve birds in the wild and to stymie the worst sins of the importation trade (in which thousands upon thousands of birds died, either in transit or after entering the public realm as pet birds) have put the focus on breeding. The birds who come out of the best breeding programs make the very best quality pets, better than any Caesar could have known.
CLOUD: A THERAPY BIRD
Our flying friends can be much more than companions in our homes. Birds have made a place for themselves as our helpers as well. Pet birds help children with autism improve their social skills, gain self-confidence, and develop trust. Parrots have helped people with disabilities manage stress and anxiety. Some emotional support parrots have learned to recognize stress in their humans and to say calming phrases that help them to relax or overcome anger. And although they aren’t as common as therapy dogs or cats, therapy birds bring joy to patients in hospitals, residents of nursing homes, and children in schools.
Cloud, a ringneck dove (shown in the nearby photograph), was handled by humans — including kids — from the time he cracked out of his shell. He grew up to be a docile, friendly bird who was especially used to interacting with children. His owner, Daleen Comer, was involved in pet therapy visits, and she thought Cloud would be a natural for the children’s reading program. She trained him to wear a flight suit (think of it as a bird diaper) and created a special basket in which he could ride and be secure. To help prepare him for making visits, she began taking him places: the bank, the dry cleaner, the pet store, hobby shops. He wasn’t afraid of anything. When Cloud was 2 years old, she had him evaluated by Pet Partners to see if he was suited to the work, and he received a perfect score.
They started making visits to the library and then weekly visits to classrooms. Cloud, now 12 years old, sits on his blanket on a table at school. Kids take turns coming up to see him, give him a treat, and read to him to practice their skills with a noncritical listener. He attends programs where students learn about the differences between therapy animals and service animals and demonstrates how therapy animals can help people. College students at exam time also benefit from his stress-relieving presence. Comer says Cloud is an ideal partner for the communities in which they visit and hopes he has several more years of bringing happiness to people.
Photograph courtesy of Daleen Comer
Socialized since infancy to see humans as part of their “flock,” many of today’s pet birds have companionship potential that can amaze anyone who believes the old stereotypes about wild-caught birds. Every bit as beautiful as their wild relatives, breeder-raised babies are loving and intelligent, and improvements in what we know about their care keep them healthier than ever before. Our newfound knowledge, combined with centuries of experience and perspective, means that if you educate yourself to care for your pet, you can expect a phenomenal relationship — better than you may have imagined when you decided to become a bird owner. The depth of a healthy and interactive relationship with another living being is immense. Birds can certainly be a part of our lives and we a part of theirs.
Deciding If You’re Ready for a Bird
Pet birds bring so much to their owners’ lives — color, song, speech, and a relationship that, at its best, approaches what you would find with a mate or a child (and, at its worst, approaches what you would find with a mate or a child). And that, for some people, is the problem. Birds give as good as they get. Sometimes birds are a joy to live with, and other times, they’re a big pain in the tail feathers.
Having a bird in your home is different from having a dog or a cat (we have both). Birds are birds, unique and magical in their own right. To be ready for them, you have to be open to their own feathered flavor of magic.
Having a bird is more rewarding than you could ever imagine. We believe that learning to share life with a bird can make most of us better people. When you understand your bird’s wide range of nonverbal communication, your own communication skills are enhanced, making you more sensitive and better able to interact with others (of all species).
But living with a bird isn’t easy. For your own sanity, and for the health and happiness of the bird you hope to introduce to your world, you need to ask yourself whether you’re really up to the challenge. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.
Putting in the time
Forget any notion you ever had about birds being low-maintenance pets. Canaries and finches can fall loosely into that category, although even those species require more attention than you may
