African Greys make challenging pets. Rosemary Low, who probably knows as much about parrots as anyone in the UK, has written, “greys are among the most sensitive of parrots and need to be with people who understand their emotional requirements and need for mental stimulation.”
Kaye de Ville in UK and Raz Razmussen in USA both have met the challenge to produce well socialised companion parrots.
A recent TV series about Animal Intelligence devoted one episode to parrots. At the start of the film we see Gracie on the terrace garden of Kaye de Ville’s Soho flat. She cannot fly away from the rail because she is wearing a harness. With plenty of exposure to the outdoors, Gracie can imitate bird calls so you never know whether you’re hearing Colin the crow, the pigeons or Gracie talking to herself. If she sees a dog she barks, if she sees a cat she meows. Kaye’s boyfriend is American so most of Gracie’s songs are American folk tunes. She’ll sing Yankee Doodle Dandy in tune. Gracie can watch the children playing in the Primary school yard down below. She does an perfect imitation of the teacher yelling ‘QUIET!’
Kaye, who works as a physical therapist, takes Gracie almost everywhere with her, either on her shoulder or perched on the handle of a wicker shopping basket. Gracie has her particular friends among shop keepers and stall holders who will give her a treat. Gracie is just seven years old. Kaye initially had some problems training her to wear a harness but she persevered. “If I hadn’t,” she says, “Gracie would have spent long hours alone.”
When Kaye is at home Gracie lives uncaged in the small flat they share, she is caged only when Kaye receives visitors who cannot tolerate parrots. Kaye’s constantly adjusting to Gracie’s needs and behaviour. “For instance,” she says, “Gracie would rather come for a 'walk- walk' than stay at home but she doesn't like crowded places like Oxford or Regent Street. She loves parks and beaches. Seeing a vista is very important to her and her routine in the morning is important. She sleeps in the bathroom at night on the shower rail and takes herself there to bed when she feels ready. She likes me to pull down the blind so it is very dark. She asks for what she wants such as a biscuit or a drink, an egg or some toast.”
Gracie has adapted to Kaye’s way of life. When Kaye goes out, she spends time in the open-topped cage, probably because she feels safe. Kaye says, “She seems to poop in the cage or over the sink tap.” And Kaye in turn adapts to Gracie. She has no time for the “dominance” theory that if a bird is higher than its owner it will think it is the flock leader. “Out of doors, I’ll allow her to perch on my shoulder or even my head.” Since Kaye often wears hats, and a live bird on a hat can be quite a sight.
At the cutting edge of bird keeping is Raz Rasmussen, an oceanographer who lives in California. Carly has lived with Raz since May 2005 when she was 5 months old. This pretty Grey, clipped as a baby, was allowed to regrow her flight feathers. For 10 months Raz trained her extensively, using Positive Reinforcement methods. She taught her to fly on command indoors. On every possible opportunity, she took Carly to the park wearing a homemade harness. The great moment arrived in December 2007 when Raz finally encouraged Carly to fly to her outdoors without the harness. Today, Carly flies regularly along San Diego beaches where her propensity to fly down to red-haired men has to be actively discouraged. Carly has now been joined in Raz’s home by young Piper, a male African Grey who is following a similar course of instruction.
Free flight is still an extremely rare behaviour for companion birds. Kaye would not consider the practice. “The risks in an urban setting are too high,” she says. Raz, in common with the tiny number of companion parrot flight trainers, warns that free flying is not suited for all birds and even fewer owners because of the time, skill and dedication needed to free fly birds without undue risk.
In spite of their different life styles, there is a common factor in Carly and Gracies’ lives. What these two Greys share in common is their owners’ determination to give them the best life possible. Both are trained using the principles of behaviour science. Gracie will allow Kaye to file her nails while she stands on a table. Carly has accepted Piper with the minimum of fuss.