Science, bless its relentlessly curious little heart, has done it again. Researchers have successfully taught parrots to make video calls to one another — and the birds, it turns out, have taken to it with considerably more enthusiasm than most humans manage on a dreary Tuesday morning Teams meeting. Armed with nothing but a bell, a tablet, and what one can only assume is an insatiable desire to gossip, eighteen pet parrots have been merrily ringing up their feathered acquaintances and having what can only be described as a lovely time.
How the Parrots Making Video Calls Actually Worked
The study, conducted by researchers from Nottingham Trent University and Northeastern University, was elegantly simple in concept if slightly bonkers in execution. Each parrot was trained to ring a bell when it fancied a natter. Upon doing so, it was presented with a tablet screen showing photographs of other participating parrots — essentially a sort of Tinder for tropical birds, but with marginally better outcomes. The parrot would then tap on the photo of whichever bird it wished to call. Technology duly obliged. Conversation ensued.
Furthermore, the calls were not just awkward silences and mutual staring, which is more than can be said for most human video conferences. The parrots sang to each other, demonstrated tricks, copied sounds, and in several cases appeared to form genuine friendships. One parrot reportedly learned to forage by watching another through the screen. This is, it should be noted, more transferable skill development than most people achieve on LinkedIn.
The Birds Are More Sociable Than You, Apparently
Parrots are, of course, extraordinarily intelligent creatures. They are known to have the cognitive abilities of a young child, which means they are simultaneously capable of impressive problem-solving and absolutely insufferable behaviour at mealtimes. Consequently, it probably should not surprise anyone that given access to a device and a contact list, they immediately set about building a social life.
However, what did surprise the researchers was the sheer willingness of the birds to engage. Many parrots kept as pets suffer from loneliness and boredom — conditions that can lead to feather-plucking and other distressing behaviours. The RSPCA has long warned about the welfare challenges of keeping highly social birds in isolation. These video calls, it seems, offered genuine enrichment. The parrots were not just tolerating the calls. They were initiating them, choosing who to ring, and clearly enjoying themselves enormously.
Meanwhile, Humans Everywhere Feel Slightly Shown Up
Meanwhile, the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to unmute ourselves on Zoom. There is something deeply humbling about the fact that an African Grey can independently navigate a video calling interface, select a contact, and hold what amounts to a meaningful social interaction — all without once accidentally sharing their screen during an inappropriate moment.
The researchers were careful to note that the calls were always parrot-initiated, never forced. This is important. Nobody wants an involuntary video call, whether you are a middle-aged human dreading a performance review or a Senegal parrot who simply is not in the mood. Autonomy, it turns out, matters to parrots as much as it does to us.
What This Means for Parrots Making Video Calls in Future
The implications are rather wonderful. If parrots making video calls can meaningfully improve their wellbeing, owners of pet birds may one day be encouraged by vets to set up regular digital playdates for their companions. Blue Cross and similar animal welfare organisations already advocate strongly for environmental enrichment. Adding a tablet to a parrot routine might soon be as standard as providing a perch or a mirror.
It also raises a slightly terrifying question: if parrots can manage a social media-style contact network, how long before they want their own accounts? We suggest keeping them away from X. Nobody needs that particular hellscape made worse by opinionated macaws. In conclusion, parrots making video calls is possibly the finest use of modern technology since the invention of the online cheese delivery service. Well done, birds. Well done, science. Carry on.
Read the original story at Unbelievable Facts.
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