Axel Beltran

Professor Hughes
English
6 October 2015
Observation
It may seem unclear at first, but the more you patiently take the moment to watch, you
understand how spontaneous and intelligent this colorful gradient, smooth silky feathered
miniscule animal can be. How it cares for itself hygienically, gently plunging its pea sized snake
like feel feet into the water to measure how cold it is. Perhaps how it feeds, perfectly calculating
its firm stance then delicately, and at times frenzied, poking its tough shelled light orange beak
picking one seed at a time. It is not random at all, like some selective eaters, it is picky with the
seeds it consumes. With their modest luminous pebbled eyes, they investigate their surroundings
even when it may appear they are frozen in place. I own a sun colored lovebird named Sunny
who always has the happiest expression with a slight smile shaped beak.
Like any human, a lovebird seeks a form of entertainment in order to discharge its stress
and maintain a positive behavior. Avian veterinarian, Greg Glendell in the article, WHO'S A
NAUGHTY PARROT, THEN? makes it clear here, Where the bird's keeper can be persuaded
to provide it with a more stimulating general environment - which includes several hours out of
the cage each day, facilities for foraging for some food and flying opportunities - the bird's
general behavioural frustrations will be reduced. Examining this further, Sunny has a polished

mirror in appearance violet bell, but lacking the miniature metal piece that smacks within the
bell, which hangs at the roof above a maze of brown discolored stiff wooden branches laid out
from one side to the other. Seems to be a form of entertainment while she lets out powerful
piercing chirps amplified with the echo of the glossy bell. Theres times when we cannot reach
annoying itch spots around our bodies. She tends to use her puny scaled feet to use the violet bell
as a scratcher. You can almost see pleasure with the way she calmly closes her shadowy beaded
eyes, with a faint touch of white trim all around like eyeliner. Sunny also puffs up into a feathery
cloud globe, each individual feather sticking out perfectly spaced apart, and exhales smoothly
producing the softest chirp like a subtle whisper. Sort of how we reduce some stress by sighing
or maybe stretching a bit.
At first it may seem unclear why they create such a grand wreck but it is all for a reason.
It may appear that they are simply tearing up aged undesirable newspaper into vertical strips of
paper all over just for fun; kind of to mock you and make you clean up the gigantic pile of thinly
cut strips. Usually these are signs that a parrot is developing a nest or maybe a home. In my case,
Sunny was preparing herself a cozy newspaper hut for her upcoming white gleaming domed
eggs. Once she found the precise scattered newspaper strips; she attentively gathers them with
her tiny curved beak and discreetly stuffs them underneath her heated soft flight feathers. She
would then slowly penguin step her way to her paper infused nest and placed them accordingly.
Lovebirds demonstrate intelligent qualities in which they interact with their environment,
but like any learning mind, must be conditioned for desired behavior. Certified parrot behavior

consultant Pamela Clark, CVT in the article, The Optimal Social Environment for Your Parrot,
explains

mentions Any desirable behavior including eating, bathing, playing with toys, vocalizing in
pleasant ways should be noticed and rewarded with effusive praise and attention. Thus, the
parrot will have clear guidance as to how it can be successful in its life with us. A parrot has
learning capabilities just like other species, and providing positive reinforcement such as, a
dripping juicy mango or a miniscule grape are appropriate reinforcers. Clark continues, When
negative behaviors manifest, it is often best to simply ignore these as a first reaction.
Furthermore, when a child becomes impatient or troublesome you can put them in time out;
when negative behavior is present, Sunny rushes up my arm rapidly flapping her wings, slipping
at times, and attempts to hide behind my back when I go to place her in her spacious black metal
cage.
Regardless of the countless stinging pain chomps embedded into my skin or repetitive
sneezing across my house due to allergies, this yellow and white feathered peached masked
lovebird remains a caring companion full of unpredictable actions. Whether it may be carefully
mapping her escape from the mansion of a cage she lives in consisting of two gigantic metal
lever windows and castle like doors, or the sounds she mimics that she comes across like
drumming with pencils on my desk, or my screechy buzzing vibrating alarm that aches my ears
to even the rattling noise change makes as they settle when dropped onto a surface. Teaching
Sunny tricks and perhaps even speech are some of the neat things parrots are able to learn over

time. Parrots are curious animals and require a lot of attention to provide a fun environment and
stress free life and in return you have someone who will always stand by your side.

Work Cited
Glendell, Greg, "WHO'S A NAUGHTY PARROT, THEN?" Vetsonline. n.p. n.d. Web. 6
Oct. 2015. <http://www.vetsonline.com/publications/veterinary-times/archives/n-38-05/who-s-anaughty-parrot-then.html>.

Clark, Pamela, "The Optimal Social Environment for Your Parrot." Lafeber. n.p, 29 Sept.
2013. Web. 6 Oct. 2015. <http://lafeber.com/pet-birds/the-optimal-social-environment-for-yourparrot/>.