{"id":43175,"date":"2025-06-17T13:53:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T18:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/?p=43175"},"modified":"2026-01-27T11:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:58:23","slug":"inside-dr-pepperbergs-lab-parrot-emotions-at-the-end-of-the-semester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/inside-dr-pepperbergs-lab-parrot-emotions-at-the-end-of-the-semester\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Parrot Emotions At The End Of The Semester"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"dr.
Dr. Pepperberg’s research assistant Lena says farewell to Griffin before she heads off to a summer internship in Nevada, followed by starting her Rhodes Scholarship in Oxford in the fall.
Image courtesy of Dr. Irene Pepperberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I\u2019ve previously mentioned, my parrots do not like change. They want to be able to predict what is going to happen, and when it will happen, and with whom it will happen. They sometimes will respond somewhat negatively to just a normal shift change in personnel, simply because it is a “change.” Griffin even seems to have some kind of internal clock, requesting specific actions at roughly the same time each day. Thus, the end of a semester is a difficult time for our birds.<\/p>\n

Our research assistants\u2019 (RA) schedules are pretty much upended thanks to final exams and then intersession breaks. People are coming and going at all sorts of unexpected times, and RAs are likely to exchange shifts to accommodate each other\u2019s changing schedules. Griffin and Athena inevitably respond by being a bit cranky and very needy and clingy toward those of us who remain. We try to be understanding, giving them extra attention and maybe even a few extra treats. One would think that our parrots would habituate to all these comings and goings over the years, but such is not the case. And they are not simply “playing us” for attention and treats, as their behavior is<\/em> closely associated with these changes.<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, the end of spring<\/em> semester is particularly problematic, as we usually have quite a number of graduating seniors, RAs who have been with us for long periods \u2014 often three or four years \u2014 during which time they and the parrots have become quite attached to one another. Of course, we are very proud of these students, but the goodbyes are not easy!<\/p>\n

Feathers, Feelings & Final Exams<\/h3>\n

This year, we had four graduating RAs, including our assistant lab manager. A few RAs who will be back in the fall are cutting their hours for the summer because of other internships. (Lena, pictured, saying farewell to Griffin, will be starting a Rhodes Scholarship in Oxford in the fall, after a summer internship in Nevada.) For the birds\u2019 sakes, we try not to make too big a production out of all these departures (e.g., we stopped having end-of-year pizza parties, as the birds clued in on that celebration as something that heralded upheaval), but the birds do pick up on all the emotions.<\/p>\n

And, of course, the departure of a number of RAs means that we have to hire replacements. We try to interview all the applicants in person to see how they will respond to and interact with the parrots. We sometimes joke that the parrots make the final decisions!<\/p>\n

So, another stress is that the birds have to deal with a string of newcomers, all within a short period of time, some of whom, although extremely interested in the research and eager to work, nevertheless often have little experience handling African grey parrot-sized birds. Many people don\u2019t expect how heavy the birds are (about a pound) and how loud they can be (particularly when Athena squawks right in one\u2019s ear). And we have to tell all potential RAs that, yes, you will<\/em> get bitten and it will<\/em> hurt, but that these birds can\u2019t remove a digit! And those bites need to be disinfected promptly with the materials we provide\u2026<\/p>\n

Thankfully, that information has never dissuaded a potential RA. However, there is quite a learning curve: New RAs need to learn how to clean cages and perches quickly and efficiently, how to prepare the birds\u2019 meals, make and replace toys, how to recognize problems (odd poop, other evidence of possible illness), what to do in case of emergencies \u2014 all while trying to gain the birds\u2019 trust, something not all that easy given that the birds were recently “abandoned” by those whom they had<\/em> trusted. And we also have to make it very clear to new RAs that until they have <\/em>gained that trust, the birds are unlikely to perform any experiments with them, which means that an RA who is in the lab for just the summer or one semester probably isn\u2019t to have their name on a publication.<\/p>\n

We do think that we are going about everything appropriately; however, most of our new RAs are folks who were recommended by those already working in the lab or are also graduating. Griffin and Athena settle down quite a bit as soon as we have a new schedule. And everyone realizes that something very special occurs when the birds finally do<\/em> give someone their trust and ask for \u201cTICKLE<\/em>!\u201d or look at them intently and state, \u201cWanna nut<\/em>\u201d (the cue to do an experimental trial).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When familiar faces leave at semester\u2019s end, Dr. Irene Pepperberg\u2019s parrots feel the shift, reminding us how strongly birds respond to changes in routine and relationships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":43176,"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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behavior","category-editor-choice","category-everyday"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInside Dr. Pepperberg's Lab: Parrot Emotions At The End Of The Semester – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When familiar faces leave at semester\u2019s end, Dr. Irene 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