Wild Parrots (When not reproducing/caring for young)

Wild Parrots

(When not reproducing/caring for young)

We cannot recreate a parrot’s natural environment in its entirety, but we look to it for inspiration and possible insight.

We cannot recreate a parrot’s natural environment in its entirety, but we look to it for inspiration and possible insight.

They awake from their roosts with the sun’s predawn ultraviolet rays . Depending on a bird’s species, continent and the time of the year, roosting for the night may have occurred in large, interspecies groups, or in small homogenous flocks of 1 – 4 birds.

They awake from their roosts with the sun’s predawn ultraviolet rays .

Depending on a bird’s species, continent and the time of the year, roosting for the night may have occurred in large, interspecies groups, or in small homogenous flocks of 1 – 4 birds.

*Some smaller parrot species, like the Brotogeris parakeets, are most active between 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m. Many parrot species* are most active around the hours of 6:30a.m. – 9:30a.m. During this time, they forage for food, fly, walk…

*Some smaller parrot species, like the Brotogeris parakeets, are most active between 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m.

Many parrot species* are most active around the hours of 6:30a.m. – 9:30a.m. During this time, they forage for food, fly, walk…

Parrots usually spend the hottest part of the day resting, grooming, and socializing.

Parrots usually spend the hottest part of the day resting, grooming, and socializing.

After the hottest part of the day, parrots have another burst of activity (foraging, flying, etc.) in the later part of the afternoon.

After the hottest part of the day, parrots have another burst of activity (foraging, flying, etc.) in the later part of the afternoon.

The birds return again to their evening roosts around sunset.

The birds return again to their evening roosts around sunset.

There are threats to a parrot’s day to day survival in the wild. Because birds are prey animals, they are hard wired to be aware of their surroundings and potential dangers throughout the day.

There are threats to a parrot’s day to day survival in the wild. Because birds are prey animals, they are hard wired to be aware of their surroundings and potential dangers throughout the day.

Parrots have evolved into great problem solvers. Foraging for food ~70% of their waking hours and always being alert to potential predators have made them highly intelligent animals.

Parrots have evolved into great problem solvers.

Foraging for food ~70% of their waking hours and always being alert to potential predators have made them highly intelligent animals.

Birds’ Senses Vision - Very important sense for birds acuity 2 – 8 times greater than mammals Clear lens permits them to see ultraviolet light (mammals have a yellow tinted lens that filters out these rays) Have tetrachromatic or pentatchromatic color vision, while humans have trichromatic color vision Hearing & Vocalization - Also very important Bird calls are complex auditory signals Able to differentiate between types of contact calls and calls of different individuals Non-predatory birds not believed to be good at localizing sound

Birds’ Senses

Vision - Very important sense for birds

acuity 2 – 8 times greater than mammals

Clear lens permits them to see ultraviolet light (mammals have a yellow tinted lens that filters out these rays)

Have tetrachromatic or pentatchromatic color vision, while humans have trichromatic color vision

Hearing & Vocalization - Also very important

Bird calls are complex auditory signals

Able to differentiate between types of contact calls and calls of different individuals

Non-predatory birds not believed to be good at localizing sound

Birds’ Senses (Continued) Taste & Smell Parrots have between 300-400 taste buds (humans have about 9,000) Response to different flavors varies Not much research has been done regarding smell, but it is believed it is used to locate food, navigate, return to nesting sites, reproduction, parenting and selecting nest material Touch Receptors for touch, heat and pain in skin and beak (including feet) Some receptors are vibration sensitive “ Sensory Capacities of Parrots.” Manual of Parrot Behavior. Blackwell Publishing, 2006.

Birds’ Senses (Continued)

Taste & Smell

Parrots have between 300-400 taste buds (humans have about 9,000)

Response to different flavors varies

Not much research has been done regarding smell, but it is believed it is used to locate food, navigate, return to nesting sites, reproduction, parenting and selecting nest material

Touch

Receptors for touch, heat and pain in skin and beak (including feet)

Some receptors are vibration sensitive

“ Sensory Capacities of Parrots.” Manual of Parrot Behavior. Blackwell Publishing, 2006.

What does this mean for us? In our homes, parrots need places to: Sleep & rest Forage/eat & drink Exercise Groom (preen, bathe) Socialize Escape to when feeling threatened.

What does this mean for us?

In our homes, parrots need places to:

Sleep & rest

Forage/eat & drink

Exercise

Groom (preen, bathe)

Socialize

Escape to when feeling threatened.

Additionally, parrots also need places that provide: Variety Intellectual & visual stimulation A safe (as possible) environment

Additionally, parrots also need places that provide:

Variety

Intellectual & visual stimulation

A safe (as possible) environment