Post #15045

Why do small parrots go crazy over a mirror in a cage? Imagine the situation: you are sitting calmly at home, drinking tea, not bothering anyone. And then, out of nowhere, your complete copy appears in front of you. He does the same thing as you. Says the same thing as you. And looks just like you. This alien does not answer questions, only mockingly copies behavior, gestures, and phrases. Sounds like the beginning of a psychological horror film. But in fact, we described the typical everyday life of a parrot, which sweetly “plays” with the mirror. Mirrors are recommended in almost all pet stores. They say that birds really like them. And this is true. But there is one big “but”. Wavys, cockatiels, lovebirds and other small and medium-sized species in the mirror do not see a reflection, but another parrot. Only very strange. He does not respond to signs of attention, does not try to get to know each other. He completely copies the movements and sits in the same place. In short - a shady guy. If a bird lives in a flock, it is unlikely to pay attention to such a repulsed relative. You can't play or chat with him. It's another matter when the bird lives alone in a cage. Communication is a vital necessity for parrots, just like it is for you and me. In the wild, cockatiels fly in groups of 50 birds, and flocks of corellas can contain several thousand individuals. And if a lonely parrot is faced with a choice: to communicate with a strange neighbor or not to communicate at all, he will choose the first option. The parrot coos at the mirror, cleans it, and sometimes even feeds it. It is these actions that we perceive as play. But the bird will receive neither an answer nor a greeting from its strange relative. This is where the pet's roof begins to leak. The parrot loses interest in the world around it and its owner. Now his only goal is to win the attention of his fellow man from the looking glass. He will constantly spin around the toy and scream at it. The bird can range from rage to complete apathy. Slowly and surely he is losing his mind. If things get really bad, in addition to mental health, physical health also suffers. They describe cases when the unfortunate person fed the reflection to the point of complete exhaustion, trying to please a “friend” who never existed. Is such a terrible scenario really awaiting any parrot who even once looks in the mirror? Of course not. Troubles with the head happen to those birds who spend too much time tete-a-tete with the mirror. What to do to keep the animal sane? Firstly, a parrot should not live alone. If the parrot lives in a pair or group with other birds, the mirror usually does not cause any problems - the bird simply does not take it as seriously because it has real companions. Secondly, remove the mirror from the cage if he still lives alone. Third, communicate more. If you devote enough time to your pet, even if you have a mirror, you will completely replace his non-existent f