Liz Wilson, CVT

• Parrot Behavior Consultant
• Further Information
• Lecture Summary:
  • Biting the Hand That Feeds Them: Aggression & The Companion Parrot:  A common complaint from parrot owners is biting, and depending on circumstances, this is relatively easy to resolve. Unlike excessive screaming, biting may not be grounded in instinct. Observations of wild parrots indicate that beaks are for eating, preening, and social interaction, but not weapons against other flock members. Rather than using physical violence, parrots communicate with complicated body language, feather position, and voice to express themselves in conflict with others. When differences are not easily resolved, parrots fly away rather than engage in battle. In captivity, however, parrots usually have clipped wings, so flight is not an option. Hence, biting results. When dealing with complaints about aggression, one must ascertain if a bite actually happened. Naïve owners often think they are “bitten” whenever touched by a parrot’s beak. The severity of the bite can be judged through questions like, "Did you bleed?" or “How bad was the bruise?”
  • A Non-Medical Approach to Feather Destructive Behavior [FDB]: Undoubtedly one of the most exasperating situations that confront avian veterinarians is the feather-destructive parrot. It is one of those little ironies that inexperienced parrot owners often completely miss life-threatening medical problems developing in their pet, but they rarely miss the existence of feather destruction. Feather Destructive Behaviors appear to be what Cooper & Harrison call "a condition of captivity," since an undamaged feather coat is compulsory for survival in the wild. There are species predilections to this condition, with African grays and cockatoos first on the list. Old wives’ tales state that feather destructive parrots are neurotic or sexually frustrated, but avian medicine has discovered otherwise. Indeed, it may be that all cases of FDB have a medical etiology. However, this author has found that these cases often have behavioral components layered on top of medical problems, creating complex situations. Many cases of FDB begin with a physical problem, but continue due to lavish secondary reinforcement provided by owners.
  • Handling Restraint and Practical Behavioral Applications in the Exam Room: According to veterinary ethologists, behavior problems are the number one cause of death in dogs and cats in this country, as errant behaviors precipitate these animals being dumped into shelters for euthanasia. While euthanasia is not yet common with parrots, problem behaviors and behavioral disease are leading causes of psittacines being donated to rescue organizations or abandoned on consignment in pet stores. Avian medicine has increased awareness of psittacine behavior issues in the last few years, which is immensely gratifying to those of us who work with companion parrot behavior. However, there is still room for improvement. Behavioral awareness needs in be incorporated into the exam room on a routine basis. “Behavior” should be listed as a system on physical exam sheets, and evaluated like a system (Speer B, personal communications, 8/04). It is, after all, equally important to a parrot’s health and long-term happiness as the musculoskeletal system or the integument.