Which Domesticated Animals Are Big Fans of Video Chatting?

In the wild, you’ll typically see parrots living in large flocks. They’re social birds, after all. Yet as pets, parrots are often kept individually, so it’s not surprising that they can experience feelings of boredom and loneliness.

And it would appear that, just like humans, parrots can ease those feelings of isolation by connecting with other birds over video chat. A recent study found that, with proper training, parrots can benefit from these calls, even learning new skills and forming friendships.

Researchers from Northeastern University, MIT, and the University of Glasgow recruited volunteers from an online program known as Parrot Kindergarten. Participating pet owners trained their birds to initiate a call with another parrot by touching an image on the tablet screen. Fifteen parrots were included in the second phase of the experiment, which allowed the birds to make as many calls as they wanted and choose which feathered friends to call. During the two months of the study, the birds placed 147 calls amounting to over 1,000 hours of video footage.

After analyzing the footage, the researchers noted a wide range of positive behaviors, indicating that the birds were enjoying their virtual playdates. They frequently stayed on the call for the maximum time allowed, sometimes singing, showing off toys, going upside down, or even exchanging a few words with each other. Some of the parrots appeared to learn new skills over video chat, including making new sounds and foraging.

Something to squawk about: