Cockatoo Vocalizations Part 3:

Physical & Environmental Influences

by Sam Foster

This article is used with permission of the author, February 2008.

"Behavior problem" is a label often attached to unacceptable conduct or responses observed in our companion parrots when there is no obvious or readily understood reason for those courses of action. One definition of the word problem is "a misconception or misunderstanding". My feeling is that this particular terminology most accurately describes the origin of many human/avian conflicts, particularly persistent calling or screaming.

The assumption is often made that screaming and calling are solely related to a bird's disposition. In reality, the predominate reason may go far beyond personality, instincts or even basic communication. Numerous environmental, physical and nutritional components influence the overall psychological health and reactions of our companion parrots. When faced with the challenge of understanding or changing vocalization patterns we need to carefully analyze the overall profile of an individual bird, along with the surroundings in which it lives.

Following are some examples of how various influences may negatively impact the vocalization patterns of cockatoos. After in-depth research and discussions with the primary caregivers, these elements have been determined as the primary instigators of problematic screaming in each circumstance. The five individual cases are not anomalous and long-term documentation reveals a frequency of similar instances. However, we should remember that there are often multiple components, and the processes involved in accurate identification can at times be lengthy and convoluted.

Lack of Activity...Rose-breasted Cockatoo

"My Rose-breasted gets lots of attention and is out of the cage with me for 4-5 hours every day. She not only screams continuously inside her cage, but often when she's out on her playgym".

In all the consultations I have done concerning Rose-breasted Cockatoos, the percentage of those related to incessant screaming is negligible. When this situation does present itself, one area that I immediately want to explore is daily routine. It has become clear to me that the minimal activity level of many companion galahs, as well as other cockatoos, can play a significant role in vocalization patterns.

This 3-year old female Rose-breasted lives in a suburban apartment with her human caregiver. A major portion of her day is spent inside a cockatoo dome-top cage filled with toys and positioned in front of a large picture window overlooking a balcony and neighboring buildings. Nearly nine months ago when the screaming became more than her owner considered 'normal', adjustments were made in the size and location of her cage and her sleep time was lengthened. For the next two months no significant improvement could be noticed and another behavior emerged, promenading back and forth on the perch for extended periods of time. This is when I received the first call asking for some clarification of these behaviors.

Together, we objectively analyzed Rosie's personality, physical health, diet and quality of life. While many elements of this formula were positive, a noticeably missing link was regularly scheduled physical activity. Rosie had not been allowed to play on the floor for over a year, after several incidents of 'heel and toe biting'. Since that time the 4-5 hours a day she spent outside the cage were limited to a playgym, the top of the cage, to designated pieces of furniture or riding on the shoulder.

So, over the course of several weeks Rosie was introduced to new indoor and outdoor activities. Some of these were periods of interactive play to exhaust calories and surplus energy, while others were lessons encouraging natural behaviors such as grazing, chewing and exploring. When conversations disclosed that the beach was only a short 20 minute drive from their home, we agreed to make weekly picnics a part of Rosie's social calendar, weather permitting. There, Rosie's travel cage (an 18X18 cockatiel cage with a wire bottom) is placed on the beach safely next to her flock member. She busily makes patterns in the sand with her beak while lunch is prepared, extending greetings to passersby and to the sea gulls flying overhead, lifting her delicate pink face to feel the wind. With a full tummy, exhilarated by fresh air, sunshine and nature's stimulants, "Rosie's":45-:60 minute outing has been a positive experience encompassing physical, mental and visual activity.

To the delight of both this little galah and her owner, these walkabouts have become as much a part of their routine as playing hide and seek under the throw rugs in the kitchen, investigating the abundance of toy filled wicker baskets that now line the living room floor and tables, and going for regular drive-thrus to the cleaners, the bank and of course, Dairy Queen.

A common denominator among parrot owners can be the guilt factor.... "After I've been away at work all day, I want the birds to be out of their cages until bedtime. Otherwise, we don't get to spend any time together during the week." This is a valid sentiment. Yet, human feelings of 'guilt' may lead us to create circumstances that are potentially monotonous for our feathered friends.

When physical, mental or visual exercise is denied or limited, parrots may display their frustration and energy in other ways. Screaming is a release mechanism used by some cockatoos, and was the determined to be the underlying cause in this instance.

Inappropriate Housing...Eleonora's Cockatoo

"We adopted an Eleonora's nearly six months ago, and she was great for the first week or two we had her in our home. She then began screaming while in her cage. It has gotten worse and worse and she won't even eat unless she's out with us. We've increased her sleeping time; we talk to her almost constantly, play games and give her lots of personal attention. In the past couple of weeks, we've even started leaving the room and ignoring her as some people suggested, and still she hates to go back in her cage and screams almost constantly."

This couple was repeatedly told that they had "spoiled" their cockatoo and that the best way to stop the screaming was to just ignore it, or if it continued for any length of time, cover the cage. Although they did try that for a short period of time, without success, they both felt that this was the wrong approach. Their determination to help improve the quality of life for their new companion led us to a number of discussions concerning the Eleonora's history and behavior.

The most helpful information to surface was that the bird had lived in a 24"x24" cage for nine years with the original owner. Feeling that the cockatoo deserved more and would be happier and healthier with more spacious housing, her new family special ordered a large 48" x 36" cage. They filled it with a wonderful assortment of toys and perches and positioned it along a glass wall in their family room overlooking a densely forested area. A perfect environment....right? In a majority of cases, this would be a positive and welcome improvement to a bird's physical surroundings.

Even though a certain amount of transitional stress was expected, the cage itself had never been considered as the instigator. Yet, looking back, this Eleonora's persistent calling began within a week of being introduced to her new cage.

After careful consideration and making some additional adjustments in other areas including the diet, daily routine and personal interactions, it became obvious that the only time this bird seemed unduly apprehensive was inside the primary cage, or when being placed inside. After discussing alternatives, the 'new' cage was moved to another room and her 'old' cage was set up in the same family room location. The change in behavior was almost immediate. She now sits happily inside the cage and eats well, vocalizing much less frequently, and much more pleasantly.

Researching and determining the proper housing for our captive parrots should be a top priority when we are considering a purchase or adoption. Somehow over the years acceptable size guidelines have been set for small cockatoos, large cockatoos, amazons, conures, etc. and these specifications are seldom questioned. When pet shops, breeders and even manufacturers comment that a certain cage size and configuration is "adequate" for a bird, we should ask ourselves if "adequate" is good enough for a creature who will likely spend 60%, 80% or even 100% of it's entire life inside that enclosure.

Although my general belief is that an aviary or cage can never be too large, the study of this Eleonora's Cockatoo demonstrates the importance of also identifying and addressing the needs of each individual bird. Once she felt secure inside the cage and could sleep, play and eat without trepidation, her anxiety level decreased dramatically, which gradually led to more self-confidence and fewer fear vocalizations. Perhaps one day she can be successfully introduced to more diverse and stimulating surroundings.

Sleep Deprivation...Bare-eyed Cockatoo (Little Corella)

"Harry is always loud and cranky in the afternoon. I get home from work about 4:00pm and no matter how much attention I give him, he screams or calls, sometimes becoming aggressive, until I turn the lights out and put him to bed about 9:00."

Although this scenario might relate to several issues, it always raises the question of adequate sleep. People often express confusion about "cranky" behavior as evening wears on, assuming that because the bird spent a quiet day at home without being disturbed, it is well rested and ready to play happily with them until bedtime. Certainly our birds do relax at intervals throughout the day, and often nap for short periods of time. However, these siestas are easily disturbed and eyes instinctively fly open when the silence is broken. Sleeping too soundly during the day could be a death sentence for a bird in the wild.

Keeping our avian friends in a location where they are exposed to, and part of, our daily routine and activities has abundant advantages. More often than not, this means the cage is located in a central living area, which may also present the risk of inadequate sleep.

Even when the cage is covered, lighting, television or radio noise, conversation, doors opening and closing, the telephone, etc. can be constant interruptions to our birds, potentially leading to sleep deprivation. This is when utilizing a nighttime cage in a separate room, such as a spare bedroom, might be the ideal solution.

We regularly face the challenge of deciding what is truly best for our birds. In this instance a quiet and peaceful sleeping environment and a regular, lengthened period of slumber provided the foundation for a happier, more playful, more relaxed Harry, and substantially improved the quality of this human/avian relationship.

Hormonal influences...Major Mitchell's Cockatoo

"Zeus is driving me crazy. For the last month (since the first part of January) he has been screaming every time he sees my husband and will not shut up as long as he (my husband) is in sight. If he's out of the cage playing or cuddling with my husband and I walk into the room, or if one of the other birds gets too close, he starts that piercing Major Mitchell's scream and will not stop until I leave or the other bird is removed. He's 4 years old and has never been a screamer before, so why now?"

The additional information this family provided to me upon request indicated that Zeus' reactions were based upon a strong bond to the husband combined with hormonal influences. The fairly sudden and otherwise inexplicable onset of persistent calling; protective behavior toward the husband (using vocalizations to warn the wife and other birds to stay away); body postures such as sitting low on the perch and quivering the wings when the husband walked into the room; occasional dominant behavior toward the wife; and wanting to "nest" behind the husband's back when sitting on the couch.

In some maturing cockatoos, these or other behaviors might develop subtly over a period of time. Zeus had always enjoyed a close bond with the husband, but his new conduct, specifically the vocalizations, erupted so suddenly that his owners were alarmed. Ironically, they had been warned by friends and other cockatoo owners about sexual maturity and "aggressive male cockatoos", and felt prepared to handle that behavior. However, they were unable to anticipate what had actually come to pass.

Dietary Influences... Moluccan Cockatoo

"Tico has always been vocal at night, and I felt that my erratic work schedule, often leaving the house in the middle of the night, was the primary cause. I've changed jobs and now work only during the day, yet his night calling is even worse this year. When he is up all night screaming he is tired the next day, which makes him harder to handle."

Debbie originally contacted me with questions concerning Tico and sentinel behavior. His keen sensitivity to possible threats, his vocal reaction to certain sounds and individuals, and his obvious intelligence and self-confidence seemed to fit the profile of many sentinel birds. However, there seemed to be more to his behavior than pure instinct.

An eight year-old mature male who periodically exhibits dominant behavior, one of the topics we discussed was the possibility of hormonal influences. Yet, after weeks of careful documentation to study behavioral and screaming patterns, night vocalizations, food and exercise, we decided to target nutritional changes.

Due to Debbie's work schedule, Tico's primary meal was prepared in the evening fairly close to bedtime. He usually received a snack of fresh or cooked foods in the morning and was supplied with a variety of dried foods including pellets, nuts and cereals to nibble on throughout the day. Some of his favorite dinner foods included various pasta's, rice, naturally 'sweet' fruit and corn.

Our goal became to work toward a broader healthier diet, introducing more fresh vegetables, experimenting with a different type of pelleted food, and reducing the amount of empty calories he was consuming. Since Tico also had somewhat limited opportunities for physical exercise, monitoring the intake of fat, sugars and carbohydrates was pertinent to his overall health and behavior.

The report from Debbie has been: "Over a period of time I've worked to lower Tico's intake of natural and refined sugar and simple carbohydrates, especially at night. This has helped to greatly reduce his night screaming...although he still occasionally sounds a sentinel warning."

Identifying any type of food as a behavioral influence can be a time consuming and methodical process. Changes are seldom seen immediately, and trying to determine the precise effect of a specific item can be difficult if there are concurrent changes within the environment, the overall physical health of the bird is in some way concerned, or the human element is inconstant.

Identifying the "reason"

It is important for us to remember that in a majority of instances where we are searching for the reason behind repeated screaming or calling, our initial quest must cover an extensive realm of possibilities. We should not presume that it is always related to the emotional condition of a bird, or that there is only one source to address. At the same time, accurate identification will not in itself transform the behavior.

Nearly a year ago, I had a phone consultation with a couple in Texas to discuss their female Umbrella Cockatoo, Sugarbird. This couple was very 'bird wise'. They regularly attend avian seminars, read the Pet Bird Report, and did a good bit of research prior to purchasing their companion cockatoo. Even so, they were unsure how to resolve Sugarbird's persistent screaming.

This update, which I received from them approximately six months after our initial consultation, validates that a well-planned comprehensive approach combined with conscientious monitoring can produce successful long-term results.

"Hi Sam. We have been gradually implementing changes you suggested and have had substantial successes, and not only with the screaming!! Here is an interim status report on Sugarbird and the results so far. 1) We always answer her contact calls; 2) Her daily diet is now Scenic Jungle Mix, only a few nutiberries (instead of 10-12), fruits, veggies and various cooked mixes; 3) We take here outside at least once a day...She likes to walk with us around the perimeter of the house and enjoys calling to the crows; 4) She sleeps in a sleeping cage (a cube, about 28" on all sides, with a manzanita perch) in the guest bedroom, where it is totally dark and quiet; 5) We let her sleep about 13 hours which she seems to prefer; 6) We try out lots of new toys and rotate them regularly; 7) We have included her more in the daily routine, i.e. eating with us at meals and the daily 'outings'; 8) We continue to give her regular baths; 9) No more coffee at all.

Our results so far: 1) Much, much less out-of-the-ordinary vocalizations; 2) Lots of interesting vocalizations and more "conversation"; 3) No biting at all; 4) She is very sweet and cuddly to us both. When we are outside, she leans next to me on the deck handrail and grooms while I scritch her neck; 5) She has recently done some new things which amaze us. For example, when music is playing, she will "dance" (jump up and down in time to the music) or sway back in forth. When I have her on my hands and "dance" around the room, she loves it; 6) She has a large rawhide "monkeys paw" in her cage. Now, when I give her short sections of shoelace, she actually weaves the shoelace in and out of the crosshatch design on the toy! I may start her on potholders next!

Overall we are thrilled with her progress and behavior. Now, we can't wait to finish building our new house on 20 acres where she will also have a large outdoor flight." A. H. & C. W., Texas

Conclusion

An alternative definition of problem is "a puzzle, a question or uncertainty". Perhaps it is time to cast aside the totally negative perception of the word problem. Instead, when exploring questionable or uncertain issues such as persistent screaming, let us proceed with the objective of understanding and a positive resolution rather than approaching the situation with exasperation, despondency or a sense of defeat. If we do not, our mission to discover a magical "cure" will surely fail, and the long-term quality of life for our avian charges will be forever compromised.