Parrots and Technology: A New Way to Keep Your Feathered Friend Entertained
Parrots have long been known for their intelligence and ability to learn, much like toddlers. These brainy birds can recognize colors and shapes, manipulate objects, build large vocabularies, and make their needs known at high volumes. Without proper cognitive enrichment, they can quickly become bored. To combat this, some pet parrot owners have turned to a familiar strategy: reaching for the closest available screen.
Researchers at Northeastern University and the University of Glasgow have been studying how parrots interact with technology, specifically mobile apps designed for young children. While these apps can keep parrots occupied, they may not be ideal for the birds’ unique biology. Parrots tend to use their tongues to interact with touch screens, resulting in different touch behaviors compared to humans.
To better understand how parrots interact with touch screens, the researchers created a customized mobile app for the birds. The app displayed red circles that the parrots had to tap as quickly and accurately as possible. The birds were rewarded with treats for their efforts, and the researchers collected data on their performance and touch behaviors.
The study found that parrots were less accurate than humans but still showed intentionality in their interactions with the screen. They tended to use their tongues to hit the same target repeatedly, possibly a behavior learned from manipulating seeds. Parrots also used lighter pressure and more dragging motions than human users, leading to frustration when the software did not register their taps.
Despite these challenges, many parrot owners reported that their birds enjoyed using the app. Dr. Rébecca Kleinberger, the lead researcher, hopes that designing software specifically for parrots could enhance their engagement and enjoyment. By understanding the birds’ unique behaviors and needs, researchers can create games that are tailored to their biology.
Overall, the study highlights the potential for mobile apps to serve as enrichment tools for parrots, as long as they are designed with the birds’ specific abilities in mind. As Dr. Kleinberger puts it, “What can we do for them?” With the right technology, parrot owners may have a new way to keep their feathered friends entertained and mentally stimulated.
