By: Roya Li

Parrots are highly social animals. They need the company of other birds to be happy. This is easy in the wild because they live in large groups. However, parrots kept in captivity as pets often feel bored and isolated. But a new study finds that modern technology may help alleviate loneliness in birds.

The Northeastern University-led study involved 18 pet parrots across a range of species. Scientists first taught the clever birds how to make video calls on Facebook Messenger. They then spent two weeks introducing each parrot to two or three potential “friends,” chosen based on the parrot’s size and time zone.

After training, the scientists let the birds decide when to call.

If they want to call their friend, the parrot first rings a bell. This reminds their owners that they want a smartphone or tablet. The pets then tap a photo of the bird they want to bond with using their beaks. Each parrot can call up to two friends a day and “talk” to them for up to five minutes.

The three-month study was a huge success, the researchers said. The clever bird called several times and was very excited to meet his new partner.

“Some sing, some play around and upside down, and others want to show another bird their toy,” said study coauthor Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas.

A few parrots even learned new skills, like foraging and flying, from their online friends. Even more interestingly, many parrots chose to call the same birds repeatedly. This suggested they were forming long-lasting friendships.

Jennifer Cunha, a parrot behaviorist at Northeastern, says that her cockatoo, Ellie, is still friends with Cookie, a California-based African gray. “It’s been over a year, and they still talk,” she says.

Scientists believe that video chatting could provide parrots with companionship and stimulation, recreating some of the social benefits of living in groups. However, they caution that not all pet parrots participate in online socializing. Some birds can become aggressive and even violent. As such, they urge pet owners to be careful when introducing the technology to birds and to closely monitor all video chats.