Tails of Marin: Understanding parrot's agressive behavior

A Green-winged and Blue and Gold macaw demanding better treetment for their kindPARROTS ARE likely the most misunderstood of all companion animals. This is partly because they are genetically wild even if domestically bred, and handfed when young.

Parrots are adventurous and monogamous (meaning, a companion parrot may form an attachment to one person and it may distrust and fear everyone else), and they will chew almost anything. They also require a vast amount of their caretaker's time to provide enrichment activities, healthy meals, companionship and nonstop maintenance.

Additionally, whereas Fido is generally happy to share a late Sunday morning snooze with you, Polly, on the other hand, exuberantly greets the slightest hint of daylight with loud vocalizations. In their natural habitat, parrots communicate with flock members (who may be miles away) consistently at sunrise and sunset.

In spite of pet stores' "handfed baby guarantee," biting and aggressive behavior are often exhibited by those same baby parrots once they've matured. Hormonal changes provide partial explanation for this. As with other wild species, baby parrots tolerate a great deal of manhandling when they are young; however, an adult parrot is not as malleable and will eventually object to improper handling. Biting is a parrot's only defense when faced with their definition of unpleasant interaction. A caregiver's early handling mistakes can produce serious behavior problems down the road.

Understandably,

parrot guardians often feel hurt and rejected when their once lovable and cuddly companion morphs into the chomping terminator. When parrots learn to bite, their caregivers may inadvertently use force to establish dominance over the bird, which in turn creates a vicious cycle, causing the parrot to become more fearful and to bite more often. Or, a parrot may be permanently relegated to its cage because the caregiver fears being bitten and believes there are no other options.

Both of those "solutions" launch a spiraling disaster for parrots. When all of the challenges and responsibilities of caring for a parrot outweigh the joy of having a parrot as a pet, a parrot's rehoming cycle begins. Most parrots are rehomed at least five times before reaching a permanent home. Some are surrendered to shelters, become victims of abuse and neglect, and/or die prematurely.

If you're a parrot guardian who is disenchanted and frustrated but haven't given up, there is good news for you and your parrot. The scientific community has documented the advantages and success of positive reinforcement training methods. With properly implemented positive reinforcement techniques and patience, you can potentially repair the relationship between you and your parrot in spite of a problematic history.

However, parrot guardians should be willing to accept a parrot's natural tendencies. For example, although it is acceptable to modify unhealthy screaming patterns, parrots naturally like to scream — some of the time. They also love to explore and chew. If they were in their natural habitat, they would be flying, calling to each other, chewing, making nests and foraging for food all day. Enrichment foraging toys stimulate the companion parrot's intelligent mind and provide a few of the essentials that promote emotional and physical well-being.

Granted, parrots don't make good pets for most people. However, if you believe you have what it takes to be a parrot guardian and you're willing to heavily invest in the relationship, the human-avian bond can be very special and rewarding. Thousands of parrots are homeless and in need of loving homes, so please adopt rather than buy. You will not only save a life, you will probably fall in love.