Live interactions led to more engagement and behaviors reflective of real life socialization for parrots
Parrots made up to two calls per session during live chats
Parrots prefer live video chats over pre-recorded videos
Parrots spent 561 minutes video-chatting and 142 minutes watching pre-recorded videos over a six-month period
Parrots, known for their social nature and intelligence, have shown a preference for live video chats over pre-recorded videos in recent studies. According to researchers from the University of Glasgow and Northeastern University, parrots engage more during live interactions and make more calls when given the option. In one study, parrots made up to two calls per session on Meta's Messenger platform, with 46% of these sessions featuring live chats compared to only about half that for pre-recorded videos. Over a six-month period, parrots spent a combined total of 561 minutes video-chatting and 142 minutes watching pre-recorded videos. These findings suggest that technology may help meet some of the social needs of captive parrots.
The researchers noted that the birds seemed more engaged during live interactions, initiating more calls and spending more time on average engaging with their counterparts on the other end. The study builds upon previous research where parrots were trained to make video calls to each other and play tablet games. In this latest study, nine parrot owners were given tablets for their pets, who had previously been introduced to each other over video chat. During 12 sessions, the birds engaged in live calls with their friends for up to three hours at a time.
The benefits of live video chats extend beyond just social interaction. Parrots' behavior during these interactions often reflected behaviors they would engage in with other parrots in real life, which was not the case during pre-recorded sessions. The researchers believe that further study is needed to fully understand the impact of technology on parrot welfare and behavior.
The potential for an animal-centered internet, where pets can interact with each other and humans online, is a promising area for future research. As Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas from the University of Glasgow notes, “Studies like this could help to lay the foundations of a truly animal-centered internet.”
Parrots prefer real-time video chats over pre-recorded videos based on a study.
Parrots engaged more and spent more time during live interactions.
During each session, parrots made up to two calls and hit the limit of two in 46% of Messenger sessions compared to almost half that for pre-recorded videos.
Overall, parrots spent 561 minutes video-chatting on Messenger and 142 minutes watching pre-recorded videos.
Accuracy
Parrots spent 561 minutes video-chatting on Messenger and 142 minutes watching pre-recorded videos.
Parrots prefer live video calls to other parrots over prerecorded videos, spending more time engaging in behaviors like mirroring.
Newly identified brainstem connections between the brainstem, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal forebrain and cerebral cortex form a ‘default ascending arousal network’ that sustains wakefulness in human consciousness.
Accuracy
]Parrots prefer live video calls to other parrots over prerecorded videos, spending more time engaging in behaviors like mirroring.[
Parrots have been found to enjoy video calling other parrots as a way to beat loneliness.
Parrots may be able to tell the difference between live chats and pre-recorded messages.
Parrots have been found to enjoy video calling other parrots as a way to beat loneliness.
Parrots seemed to enjoy live calls more, were more engaged in the live chats, and spent longer using digital devices during live calls.
Around half of the bird owners suggested that the birds could differentiate between sessions, with birds losing interest in pre-recorded videos when there was no response to their calls.
Parrots made up to two calls and hit the limit of two in 46% of Messenger sessions compared to almost half that for pre-recorded videos.
Accuracy
]Parrots spent 561 minutes on live calls and only 142 minutes on pre-recorded videos. They also triggered live calls more often.[
Deception
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None Found At Time Of
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Fallacies
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The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas from the University of Glasgow. There is also a potential dichotomous depiction in the statement 'One told us that their bird enjoyed vocalising with another live bird but quickly lost interest when there was no response to their calls during pre-recorded videos.' This could be interpreted as suggesting that parrots prefer live calls because they can respond to each other, while pre-recorded videos lack this interaction. However, the author does not explicitly state this preference as a fact.
One told us that their bird enjoyed vocalising with another live bird but quickly lost interest when there was no response to their calls during pre-recorded videos.
