{"id":42482,"date":"2025-02-20T16:10:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/?p=42482"},"modified":"2026-01-19T14:28:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:28:33","slug":"parrot-kindergarten-documentary-explores-pet-birds-avian-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/parrot-kindergarten-documentary-explores-pet-birds-avian-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"“Parrot Kindergarten” Documentary Explores Pet Birds And Avian Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"cockatoo\"
\u201cParrot Kindergarten\u201d documents the intensive training that Jennifer provided her cockatoo, Ellie. She trained Ellie with flashcards and a host of other teaching materials. Image courtesy of Jennifer Taylor O\u2019Connor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For many, parrots have become a source of healing. With their ability to use speech and their seemingly empathetic behaviors, parrots have long proved to be an answer to someone needing a live and feeling pet companion to align with, someone to have as part of a small family. A parrot of many colors and speech often fits this bill.<\/p>\n

For Jennifer Taylor O\u2019Connor, an attorney, avian cognition researcher, and international speaker, it was her attentive caring for her parrots that helped lead her out of a long path of disillusionment and onto the path of brighter lights. After a series of personal tragedies that included a miscarriage and a childhood spent in a cult, her interaction with birds came with personal healing. Currently, Jennifer is an assistant professor at Texas A&M University.<\/p>\n

“Parrot Kindergarten” Documentary<\/h3>\n

Recently, an Amy Herdy-directed documentary was completed that explored the story of Jennifer and her pet cockatoo named Ellie. The documentary premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and is called \u201cParrot Kindergarten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParrot Kindergarten\u201d documents the intensive training that Jennifer provided Ellie. She trained Ellie with flashcards and a host of other teaching materials. This intense involvement brought Ellie to the point that, along with Jennifer\u2019s other bird, Isabelle, she was able to pass specific university-created tests that check for cognitive skills. This gives Ellie a strong distinction of being one of the few animals who have learned to read and to respond appropriately.<\/p>\n

The film also tells the tale of Jennifer, as she was raised in a cult. It explores the loving nature of the birds that helped her get past painful experiences and to move forward with momentum to help in the science of interspecies communications.<\/p>\n

On the first day of screening at the festival, the 79-minute documentary was sold out. With interest in Ellie as a bird of unusual capability, the movie also wants to explore how we can communicate with animals. In essence, the need and the long trek to bridge that gap in communication can go a long way in helping us better understand the world around us.<\/p>\n

When the opportunity arises to view the film, whether in theaters at the festival or through a streaming service, it offers a chance to gain deeper insight into Jennifer\u2019s work and its potential impact.<\/p>\n

Lights, Camera, Action!<\/h3>\n
\"old
Photo by geralt\/Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lafeber Company is proud to support “Parrot Kindergarten” in two meaningful ways \u2014 earning a Contributing Producer Credit and making a donation to its fiscal non-profit partner, Utah Film Center, to help cover essential filming equipment costs. We\u2019re honored to contribute to this one-of-a-kind documentary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new documentary on pet birds, “Parrot Kindergarten,” highlights avian learning and human-animal bonds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8046,"featured_media":42487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,211,171,169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behavior","category-editor-choice","category-everyday","category-new"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n"Parrot Kindergarten" Documentary Explores Pet Birds And Avian Learning – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A new documentary on pet birds, "Parrot Kindergarten," highlights avian learning and human-animal bonds.\" \/>\n<meta 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