Video chat for parrots

[Birdiechat]

Hello parrot lovers!
Do you think your buddy would be interested to talk with other parrots via internet? Well, British scientists discovered they could!

"We saw some really encouraging results from the study. The parrots seemed to grasp that they were truly engaging with other birds onscreen and their behaviour often mirrored what we would expect from real-life interactions between these types of birds. We saw birds learn to forage for the first time, and one caregiver reported that their bird flew for the first time after making a call."

The study cought my eye in 2023 and some time later I saw a lonely Zhako parrot in a hotel, where nobody played with him. I felt his pain and wrote a web application that connects visitors in pairs. Just a video stream and a 'change partner' button.

The app needs beta tester parrots and I don't have any (my cat won't let me). So I found your community!

CAREFUL! Check if your parrot likes the idea. He may be an introvert!
Supervise the bird until it gets used talking to others! If it doesn't or is stressed - do not use the app!

The chat is here: https://birdiechat.com/
There are no birds yet, so you may need to wait another bird connects. Meanwhile the screen will reflect your buddy from the camera.

Links to the study:
- video:

- news: https://conservationmag.org/en/video/lonely-parrots-flock-together-with-video-calling-technology
- paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581166

I welcome any feedback!

 

[kme3388]

Hello parrot lovers!
Do you think your buddy would be interested to talk with other parrots via internet? Well, British scientists discovered they could!

"We saw some really encouraging results from the study. The parrots seemed to grasp that they were truly engaging with other birds onscreen and their behaviour often mirrored what we would expect from real-life interactions between these types of birds. We saw birds learn to forage for the first time, and one caregiver reported that their bird flew for the first time after making a call."

The study cought my eye in 2023 and some time later I saw a lonely Zhako parrot in a hotel, where nobody played with him. I felt his pain and wrote a web application that connects visitors in pairs. Just a video stream and a 'change partner' button.

The app needs beta tester parrots and I don't have any (my cat won't let me). So I found your community!

CAREFUL! Check if your parrot likes the idea. He may be an introvert!
Supervise the bird until it gets used talking to others! If it doesn't or is stressed - do not use the app!

The chat is here: https://birdiechat.com/
There are no birds yet, so you may need to wait another bird connects. Meanwhile the screen will reflect your buddy from the camera.

Links to the study:
- video:

- news: https://conservationmag.org/en/video/lonely-parrots-flock-together-with-video-calling-technology
- paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581166

I welcome any feedback!

I am interested in this especially for my macaw. My Ekkie probably wouldn’t participate. I’ve tried to play him YouTube videos of other Ekkie’s, and he shows no interest. My conures have each other. When I play videos of macaws for mine he really reacts. I think he could potentially benefit.

May I ask if a macaw does a warning call, or is upset would that set off another one? I have yet to be bit by a macaw I can’t imagine it feels good. I’d prefer to avoid that. In my experience with parrots they seem emotionally reactive.

 

[Birdiechat]

There is a big "next" button on the screen, that disconnect the current peer and then the page goes back on the server to find a new peer.

I believe the clever bird can learn to press a button, it is only one there.

The problem at the moment is nobody connected, so if there are only two peers, they'll end up with reconnecting each other again.

When more people will come, this won't be a problem anymore.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

My macaw is very loving with his chosen humans, but pecks angrily at other macaws when he sees them on screen. He also pecks the eyes and beak of the Squawker Macaw toy that I bought many years ago. He is an only bird now who grew up with an eclectus many years ago. They were not friends. I suspect my bird does not enjoy the company of other birds.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

I am interested in this especially for my macaw. My Ekkie probably wouldn’t participate. I’ve tried to play him YouTube videos of other Ekkie’s, and he shows no interest. My conures have each other. When I play videos of macaws for mine he really reacts. I think he could potentially benefit.

May I ask if a macaw does a warning call, or is upset would that set off another one? I have yet to be bit by a macaw I can’t imagine it feels good. I’d prefer to avoid that. In my experience with parrots they seem emotionally reactive.

Once upon a time I bought a CD of sounds of the rainforest. When it got to the part with macaws squawking, my normally silent macaw joined in with ear splitting screams. This happened each time, so it clearly was triggering. I promptly donated the CD to Goodwill.

 

[kme3388]

Once upon a time I bought a CD of sounds of the rainforest. When it got to the part with macaws squawking, my normally silent macaw joined in with ear splitting screams. This happened each time, so it clearly was triggering. I promptly donated the CD to Goodwill.

I definitely have some concerns about macaw videos, and chats. I adopted an alpha male macaw. I wonder sometimes how he isn’t considered a bird of prey. He can be aggressive in comparison to other parrots I’ve encountered. He’s also very alert, and is almost like a German shepherd that guards the house. I’ve seen how he can be towards something that is considered a threat. He’s very sweet, and even snuggles with me.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

I definitely have some concerns about macaw videos, and chats. I adopted an alpha male macaw. I wonder sometimes how he isn’t considered a bird of prey. He can be aggressive in comparison to other parrots I’ve encountered. He’s also very alert, and is almost like a German shepherd that guards the house. I’ve seen how he can be towards something that is considered a threat. He’s very sweet, and even snuggles with me.

I am on the patio with my macaw now. Are you free to try birdie chat? Let’s see if they get aggressive or are loving toward each other!

 

[kme3388]

I am on the patio with my macaw now. Are you free to try birdie chat? Let’s see if they get aggressive or are loving toward each other!

I’m going to go buy an iPad. I’ll have my macaw try video chat. Maybe it’ll be good for him?!? I hope. I just don’t want him aggressive towards me. I had him at a parrot boarding place this past week. The owner of the parrot boarding place was just bit by a scarlet macaw. Her entire hand was swollen. She for sure had soft tissue damage. It looked extremely painful. I’ve been bit by an Amazon pretty good, and that’s the largest parrot that has gotten ahold of me. I didn’t swell up like that. I’m a little intimidated.

 

[rheashard2]

Did a little reading about this today. I want to give it a try. But, my CAG goes into attack mode seeing other parrot pictures or on TV. May give it a trial anyway.

 

[Birdiechat]

Good morning. Few people had connected during the night (I could see in the server logs) but then disconnected as (I suppose) they didn't find a match.
I suggest (until there are enough people) to leave the device on and directed on a parrot. Until another bird will connect, your pal will see himself on the screen.

 

[Birdiechat]

I’m going to go buy an iPad.

an iPad would be an overkill for the task. All you need is any old tablet you have or, if you buy any, buy the cheap device for kids, e.g. amazon fire with a plastic case.
It will be easier to hang on something.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

This is a nice idea for parrots that are lonely for avian company. I hope you're successful in recruiting some parrots to try it. I have 19 budgies and they have each other so they aren't really candidates.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I’m going to go buy an iPad. I’ll have my macaw try video chat. Maybe it’ll be good for him?!? I hope. I just don’t want him aggressive towards me. I had him at a parrot boarding place this past week. The owner of the parrot boarding place was just bit by a scarlet macaw. Her entire hand was swollen. She for sure had soft tissue damage. It looked extremely painful. I’ve been bit by an Amazon pretty good, and that’s the largest parrot that has gotten ahold of me. I didn’t swell up like that. I’m a little intimidated.

I hope the person bitten with the swollen hand got quick medical treatment. It's a bad sign if a parrot bite (any penetrating wound) swells up. It could be badly infected!

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

Good morning. Few people had connected during the night (I could see in the server logs) but then disconnected as (I suppose) they didn't find a match.
I suggest (until there are enough people) to leave the device on and directed on a parrot. Until another bird will connect, your pal will see himself on the screen.

That was us! My bird sat on my lap and patiently waited to see if a birdie friend might appear. No success, but he did enjoy seeing himself in the screen. We’ll try again sometime today.

 

[Birdiechat]

Should we try to set some time for parrot meeting, say at 8 o'clock this evening (London time zone)?

 

[kme3388]

Should we try to set some time for parrot meeting, say at 8 o'clock this evening (London time zone)?

We will be on at 2pm central standard time. I’ll leave Blue (B&G macaw) on there this time to see if anyone else logs on.

 

[rheashard2]

Well after reading this goibg to get a cheap children's tablet. My CAG watches YouTube video so this is next step.

 

[Birdiechat]

I've just got a first call with a green and red pal from Florida!
Video quality was great, but the sound not so clear.
The owner woman will try to join in 2 pm central standard time (in 40 minutes).
Everybody is very welcomed!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

This is so cool! Parrots video visiting each other! Social media for parrots! Online dating for lonely parrots! Do they swipe left or right with wings or feet?

 

[Birdiechat]

there is a big blue button to get back into the queue.
One little green pal already overuse it