The parrots were allowed to make up to two calls per session, and the researchers found that those chatting via Messenger reached this limit 46% of the time.
Parrots are social creatures by nature, and a lack of social interaction can have serious consequences for their health. A new study shows that modern technology can solve the problem. Science writes about it.
“In captivity, where parrots don’t usually form flocks where they can socialize, these birds may not be happy enough and may be prone to disease. Real-time interaction with other parrots can be beneficial for them, a small study found, conducted by researchers from the University of Glasgow (Scotland) and Northeastern University (Massachusetts, USA),” said the report.
It was found that during the experiment, nine parrot owners were given tablets for their pets to use. This interaction was monitored for six months. The parrots, who were first introduced to each other via video chat, were able to communicate with each other for up to three hours over 12 sessions. Half of these sessions included prerecorded videos, and the other half involved video chats on Messenger.
Owners who recorded interactions reported that the birds seemed more engaged in interactions that occurred in real time. In this situation, the parrots initiated more calls and, on average, spent more time talking with their relatives.
The parrots were allowed to make up to two calls per session, and the researchers found that those chatting via Messenger reached this limit 46% of the time. In total, the parrots spent 561 minutes video chatting on Messenger and only 142 minutes watching recorded videos.
“Seeing ‘live’ influenced the parrots’ interactions with the screens they were given. Their behavior when interacting with another live bird often mirrored behavior that could they show when interacting with other parrots in real life, which was not observed in the pre-recorded sessions. “The Internet has great potential for these animals to interact with each other in new ways way. Research like this could help lay the foundations for a truly animal-centered Internet,” said Dr. Ilena Gorski-Douglas from the School of Computer Science.
We remind you that a resident of the American state of Minnesota previously filmed a tipsy squirrel that ate a fermented pear.
Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.