A recent investigation examined the fascinating idea of utilizing video calls amongst parrots to determine if they could interact with an animal-controlled interface without the use of food incentives. Conducted by Rébecca Kleinberger, Jennifer Cunha, Megha Vemuri, and Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, this research was showcased at the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. The goal was to explore if pet parrots could master a two-step request protocol to start live calls with other birds.
The experimental framework included 18 parrots from diverse species residing in family households. Caregivers trained the birds to connect the act of ringing a bell with selecting an image of another bird to commence a video call, initially employing food rewards solely to set up the sequence. Out of the 18 parrots, 15 progressed into the open-calling stage, culminating in 147 calls initiated. This indicated that well-trained parrots could voluntarily interact with the system, though it did not validate improvements in loneliness or serve as a substitute for direct interaction with other birds.
The arrangement involved human caregivers who facilitated the initiation of calls, ensuring that the process was not entirely automated. Calls were restricted to five minutes, providing a regulated setting where the birds could interact with one or two pre-chosen partners, depending on group dynamics. The study noted that birds frequently mirrored one another’s actions, and some were reported to have acquired new behaviors, although it remained uncertain if this was solely attributable to the video calls.
Although the findings of the study are encouraging, they emphasize the necessity for additional research to evaluate live calls compared to recordings, the sensory constraints of screens, and the significance of safeguarding the welfare of each bird. Ultimately, the research highlights the promise of such systems to act as enrichment tools for parrots, without substituting conventional face-to-face interactions.