Let parrots be parrots

Winner, Op-Ed
Athena Gianopoulos, UC Davis

It makes me uncomfortable to discuss the ethics of owning parrots, and that is exactly why I must start the conversation. I accept my own cognitive dissonance, as I am and have been for many years, a parrot owner. Luckily for me (and my Jenday conure, Moxie), my guilty conscience can rest a little easier because I acquired Moxie from a family who was no longer able to keep her. Still, almost everyday I look at her and think that this is not her place. As much as I attend to her needs, encourage natural behavior, and give her the most liberated captive life possible, it still isn’t good enough.

After spending a week at a macaw sanctuary in Costa Rica and over a month in Australia where there are dozens of native parrot species flying free in their natural habitats, I cannot imagine any captive life equivalent. There is nothing comparable to the wonderfully complex social networks established in a flock environment, or the level of engagement and stimulation that only natural foraging can offer; the freedom and autonomy of being able to choose their playground, their mates, their lives. Some would argue that keeping parrots as pets benefits them by sheltering them from predators and natural threats, and it provides them with an abundance of food. But the reality is that we are doing parrots no favors by keeping them confined to a home. The captive life presents an infinite amount of novel dangers that serve as etiologies for mortalities and illness. Where these parrots have evolved and adapted to in the wild is where they are meant to be.

Thinking of parrots as companion pets is really more of a convenient way to justify their current state of ownership than recognizing what is in their best interest. If we are authentically honest with ourselves, then we must acknowledge two things about ownership of parrots as a companion species; first, that they are wild animals, and secondly, they can (and often will) outlive their owners. These are two unique features of owning parrots that are distinct from owning other small animals, and serve as additional challenges that parrot owners and caretakers must seriously consider before deciding to acquire (hopefully by adopting) a bird.

As wild animals, parrots are inherently inappropriate for a captive companion-animal life. They do not adjust well to being caged, solitary creatures. Birds bred in captivity are only a few generations at most removed from the wild. Their behaviors, instincts, and motivations are still suited for the wild and not as someone’s pet. We can tame parrots to our hearts’ content, but they will never be domesticated animals. As beings that can live up to 80 years, they are a responsibility beyond an individual’s means, no matter how well intentioned a parrot owner may be. It’s not uncommon to see parrots end up in sanctuaries and rescue organizations after being handed off or given away numerous times. This is no way for a parrot to live.

Moreover, we must acknowledge that parrots are exquisitely intelligent creatures. Cognitively speaking, parrots’ numerical and conceptual processing is similar to that of a human toddler. Their abilities are both their blessing and their curse. It is what attracts and appeals to most owners, but also leads to their downfall as owned pets. Would you own a perpetual four-year-old child, cage them for most (if not all) of the day, and expect them to be happy? As sentient, perceptive, and sensitive creatures, parrots know enough to rebel and resist their captive lives, unfortunately oftentimes taking it out on themselves in the form of self-mutilation. Not every parrot is a self-mutilator, and not every parrot owner is oblivious to the demanding nature of these animals. But despite even the most elaborate cages, enrichment, and lifestyle, at the end of the day the bird is still living in captivity, living unnaturally. The fact that self-mutilation runs rampant among captive parrots should not only tell us something about their incredibly complex psyche, but it should serve as a wake-up call for us to acknowledge that parrots are not suited for captive life. The environmental, social, cognitive, and emotional requirements of parrots simply cannot be met as a companion pet.

Clinically speaking, the majority of the problems that parrots present for are mostly or entirely related to fact that they are owned as pets. Their unnatural, human environment-related problems are blatantly apparent even from my pathetically novice experience with avian medicine. Whether it be behavioral issues (read: aggression) from inadequate socialization, hepatic lipidosis from overnutrition, self-mutilation from psychological stress (technically “feather-damaging behavior”), or inappropriate encouragement of reproductive and nesting behaviors leading to severe medical issues, the list goes on. When I see these cases in the clinic, the clinician in me wants to advance avian medicine and be able to do more for these birds. The conservationist in me thinks these birds should have never been born in captivity in the first place.

It would be foolish of me make a blanket statement that absolutely no parrots should be in captivity, especially given the threatened or endangered status of many avian species. I fully support conservation efforts, especially well-maintained breeding programs in native habitats. However, I fear that no matter how much avian conservation is bolstered, there is not enough stable environment to sustain these populations—but this is a discussion for another day.

We as future veterinarians must critically reevaluate what quality of life is possible for parrots as companions. We have the opportunity and privilege to influence the attitudes and regard to which our society views these incredible creatures. Although I do not believe a captive life is the best life for a parrot, I acknowledge the current existence of parrots as pets and their need for high-quality husbandry and veterinary attention so they may live the best life possible. However, owning a parrot should be a commitment taken as seriously as deciding to have a child. I don’t advocate owning birds, but should that decision be made, the thoughtful deliberation and long-term best interests of the bird should be paramount.

While I have made a commitment to give Moxie the best life possible for the rest of her years and study avian medicine so I may be the best clinician possible, I have also made the commitment to promote the adoption of homeless parrots and discourage non-conservationist captive breeding, which only adds parrots to the captive market and adds to the problem. Let us take care of the parrots who already exist as pets, treat their ailments, encourage better caretaking and husbandry, and let us remember that these are sentient, wild animals who are better off in the wild than in our homes.