The Gift of Song

Parrots make a great audience for wanna-be rock stars. Whether belting out the lyrics to the Police, Brittany Spears, or the Beatles, parrots enjoy the show. Why? Not because our parrots are tone deaf (unlike many of their owners), but because parrots love drama, and the sight of mommy (or daddy) acting like a fool is absolute fun.

Music can do more than entertain your small hookbill; it also can enrich the parrot-owner bond. Birds instinctively use sounds to communicate, and some of the more talkative ones even pick up their owner's use of sounds and words. Music thus becomes a universal language.

All birds enjoy music. Tiny finches chorus in with the radio turned up loud during a Saturday morning cleaning binge, and I have to be careful what music I play in the den while I'm writing. Some music my birds blithely ignore, while others set them screaming and screeching (usually the Celtic music I love). Of course, the biggest treat is when mommy stands close to the cage and sings along.

If you've never shared the joy of song with your parrot start small. If you're trying to teach your bird to talk, then tapes of children's songs make a fun addition to the parrot's routine. Children's songs tend to be short, to be easy to remember, and to repeat lyrics often, all attributes which are good tools in helping parrots to learn the words. In addition, they are devoid of lyrics you'd rather not have your parrot repeat in company. (See next week's article, "Braynon's Bad Words") Another way to check your parrot's preferences is with the radio. While sitting in the same room, or even out of it, turn on the radio to your favorite radio station. Watch the bird's response. Then try a classical station or a country one. Run through the dial (which may take a while, or not that long depending on where you live) and record your bird's behavior over the course of a week or two. Don't just judge one listening session. Your bird could be in a bad mood, or perhaps just not want to listen to Top 40 that day.

Once you've discovered your bird's favorite radio station, spend some time with him or her listening to it. Talk to your bird. Sing softly, even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket. Sing louder if the music warrants it and enjoy your bird's delight at the gift of song.

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