Category: New

head shot of Lisa Bono with African grey parrot on either shoulder

Webinar: Ask Lisa Anything — About Parrots!

Lisa Bono, CPBC, returns for a lively Ask Lisa Anything (Almost!) webinar—bring your parrot-care questions, from picky eating to screaming and everything in between…join us Friday, April 24th!

African grey parrot sitting in cage

The Other AI: Avian Intelligence

Dr. Pepperberg’s latest blo challenges the derogatory use of “stochastic parrot” in AI discourse and defends the intelligence of real parrots as worthy of respect.

blue and white budgie perched indoors on a white bar

How Budgies Model Human Speech

In her latest blog, Dr. Pepperberg talks about a new study that reveals how the brains of budgerigars may hold clues to how we humans learn to speak.

African grey parrot

Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Reading To Parrots

Inspired by her student who decided to see what happened when reading to parrots, Dr. Irene Pepperberg explores how reading might stimulate cognition and shares the surprising preferences of African greys Griffin and Athena.

African grey parrot, grey parrot, grey, gray parrot

Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Parrot Speech Is Not Just Mimicry

Ever wondered if parrots really understand what they’re saying? Dr. Irene Pepperberg takes us back to her studies with African grey parrot Alex and his ability to use appropriate labels in appropriate contexts, as well as Griffin and Athena’s amusing ways of expressing their opinions.

hawk, red-tailed hawk

Rochelle The Hawk: A Decade On Traffic Camera

For the past decade, a red-tailed Hawk named Rochelle has captivated the hearts of Texas Department of Transportation employees with her annual nesting ritual on a highway camera pole.

Pacific black duck standing on concrete in urban area

Avian Thermometers — How Birds Regulate Body Heat Through Legs And Beaks

As climate changes, research unveils birds’ remarkable ability to regulate body temperature through their beaks and legs. A study on 14 Australian species using thermal imaging found birds actively adjust blood flow to dissipate or conserve heat, with larger appendages providing greater heat exchange. This adaptation could aid their survival amid rising temperatures.

head and shoulders of a Goffin's cockatoo indoors

New Study Dives Into The Reasons Why Parrots Dunk Their Food

Why do birds dunk their food? It’s a behavior many owners witness daily. In a recent study with cockatoos, researchers tested foods of differing types and consistencies to see which ones the parrots tended to dunk and to theorize what drives this texture preference.

African grey parrot; African grey, grey parrot

Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Always Have A Back-Up Plan For Cold Weather!

In her latest blog, Dr. Irene Pepperberg speaks to the importance of having a plan, and possibly multiple backup plans, in place to protect our pet birds’ well-being during harsh weather and natural disasters. She cites challenges she and her African grey flock faced during a power outage and how that underscores the critical need to prepare. See how her parrots weathered a recent storm and what she and her colleagues in her cognitive behavior research lab are doing to stay proactive in planning for the unexpected.

sun conure, sun parakeet

Lafeber’s Global Parrot Conservation Spotlight January 2024: The Sun Conures Of Guyana

This month’s Lafeber Global Spotlight takes us to the village of Karasabai in Guyana, which is the only place wild sun conures (Aratinga solstitialis) can be studied in their natural habitat. Local rangers, with support through One Earth Conservation, are braving towering heights to study these raucous parakeets to document behaviors that can help shape conservation efforts for these eye-catching birds.

Amazon parrot perched on person's hand inside a store

Study Explores The Brain Pathways Of Parrots’ Vocal Abilities

As science continues to evolve, we are learning more and more about the brain’s amazing capabilities. One area of particular interest is how the brain allows animals to learn and communicate. In a recent study, Zhilei Zhao, a Klarman Fellow in neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, investigated parrots’ vocal learning abilities.

black and white image of a dinosaur skeleton of a "terror bird"

Unearthing A Dinosaur Bird’s Tracks

Paleontologists in Argentina recently uncovered an unprecedented trove – 17 fossilized “terror bird” footprints. Journey back in time to glimpse the terror bird’s world through its 85 prehistoric footsteps preserved in stone, and see what made these ostrich-like dinosaurs such successful hunters.

African grey parrot named Athena

Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Athena’s Shock Over Her First Egg!

When Athena the African grey parrot laid her very first egg, it took everyone by surprise – including Athena herself! As her caretaker and renowned animal cognition scientist Dr. Irene Pepperberg shares, Athena reacted with apparent shock. Athena’s curious response to suddenly producing her inaugural egg after seeming oblivious beforehand reveals the cognitive complexity of parrots.

Webinar: Ask The Vet With Dr. Tom Tully

Have a question about your bird’s health?! Don’t miss your chance to ask Dr. Tully a question about your bird’s nutrition, care, and well-being, or simply tune in to learn more about maintaining good health in our avian companions in this interactive webinar on September 29!

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