The Psychobabble of Budgerigars
Barriers in Communication
25 August, 2002
For this information to make sense, you have to believe that parrots are highly intelligent and capable of learning our language very quickly. What I claim is not just speculation. Victor was the first parrot to come out of the closet and prove parrots can understand what they are saying. However, understanding parrots is not easy unless we can understand their way of thinking. Here are some of the physiological and psychological phenomena in budgerigars which most people have trouble understanding. This misunderstanding on our part prevents a large percentage of budgies from developing their communication abilities to the fullest.
1. (PTD) Parakeet Time Differential
A parakeet's metabolism is much faster than ours. Because of this, their thinking process is faster as well. This is not a proven fact, but let us assume brain waves travel at the speed of light. In comparison to a budgie, our thought patterns would have to travel many more times the distance. Therefore, a parakeet may think several thoughts during the time we have one. When they talk, it may often seem as if it is unintelligent babbling, when in actuality, their thinking process is too fast for us to understand. Additionally, their shorter life spans (10-15 years) may contribute to an accelerated experience of life. For example, one hour of our time may be equal to 10 hours of parakeet time. During that time they would experience 10 hours of thoughts, emotions, and experiences as well.
It is important that we know about this time differential when we are relating to them on a daily basis. This means we should also be sensitive to the effects of leaving them in a cage for extended periods of time. Unless they have some kind of mental stimulation when they are alone or otherwise, they may become withdrawn and uncommunicative very quickly. This negative environment of no stimulation can cause them to have a number of psychological problems much like humans would experience in extended periods of isolation.
2. (PES) Parakeet Emotional Syndrome
Similar to the acceleration of their time, their emotions are also intensified many more times compared to ours. Because these emotions are so powerful, they are often unable to control them. A comparable experience in humans might be that of emotions in our dreams. In dreams our emotions are often magnified many more times than what they would be in real life. This analogy also fits in with (PTD). Often when we dream, it may seem very long, but it only lasts seconds in real time.
Some examples of PES arise when parakeets are afraid. One may flop uncontrollably in its cage to a point where it can hurt itself or cause itself a heart attack. Parakeets can also die of a broken heart or become very attached to people and show fits of jealousy.
3. (PAS) Parakeet Autism Syndrome
What Is Autism In Humans? Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may exhibit repetitive body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects, and resistance to changes in routines.
I also believe that many, though not all, parakeets develop a form of autism. This, coupled with the boredom of captivity, PTD, and PES, averts them from developing their communications skills to their fullest. I believe this because of the way Victor progressed as he developed his communication abilities. It was not until he was almost three years old that he started showing me that he understood what he was saying. Once I started to record him, his communication abilities improved at an amazing rate. It seemed like he had a natural talent just waiting to come out.
To get him to come out of his shell, I spent several hours a day recording him, playing back the recordings, and telling him what I did and did not understand. Prior to this process, it seemed he had all the symptoms of autism, e.g. excessive repetition, bobbing of the head, babbling for hours at a time, attachment to inanimate objects. Most of all, PAS inhibited his development of social interaction and communication skills. Currently, I am experiencing similar problems with four of my other budgies who show the same type of symptoms. REMEMBER: Victor and Betty proved budgies can learn to talk in context many more times faster than humans. Maintaining that communication ability in more than one budgie is very difficult because of the amount of attention one has to give each one, and the closeness of bonding one needs to achieve to maintain it. Currently, I have four budgies and am finding it very difficult. Although I have made some progress with them, I will never achieve the same results as I did with just one. You can see some of my progress on Betty's Site at http://www.talkingbudgie.homestead.com
4. PRS (Parakeet Response Syndrome)
Have you ever listened to the way birds communicate? When a flock gets going it seems like they are all start talking at once. How does one figure out what is being said? Believe me, though; they can understand every word that all of the birds in the flock say.
Sometimes my budgies get talking all at the same time too. Because they are able to process the information much faster than us, and they have trained themselves to do it, they can all listen and talk almost simultaneously. Although most people find it very difficult to do, it is a proven fact that people can be taught to listen and talk at the same time as well. I believe budgies go one step further and are able to understand and talk to more than one budgie at a time.
There is a second part to PRS that is also important. I think we have to realize when a living creature tries to communicate with us they usually expect to be understood. If budgies talk to us and send us information time after time, and we do not respond or try to understand them, they will normally give up. They don't necessarily give up talking or babbling, but they will give up trying to be understood. I believe a majority of budgies give up trying to communicate with people because they think people are just not smart enough to understand them. Even though they give up, this lack of communication in any sentient being can cause additional emotional stress and can contribute to PAS and PES if they have no one else to communicate with.
Ryan Reynolds
copyright 2002
