Parrot's Bill of Rights: "Taken from:
A PARROT'S BILL OF RIGHTS
by Stewart A. Metz, M.D.
and
Ten Commandments of Parrot Ownership
- from a parrot's point of view! by Jane Hallander:
1. GET TO KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME - I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs which you may find it hard to fill. Please don't learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire on of my cousins wild from the jungle-it will jeopardize his survivial and well-being, and that won't be a party for you either!
2. GIVE ME THE LARGEST HOME POSSIBLE - I am used to flying through rainforests or savannas. I have given up this great gift for your pleasure. At the very least, give me enough room to flap my wings and exercise. And I need toys for my amusement and wood to chew-otherwise, I might confuse your Home with the forest and its trees.
3. GIVE ME A NUTRITIOUS DIET - I need a wide variety of fresh and nutritious foods, even if they take time to prepare. I cannot survive on seed alone. Take time to learn what my needs are.
4. LET ME HAVE A "SOCIAL LIFE" - I am a gregarious flock animal-but I am not one of you. I need lots of socialization to learn how to act with you, and with my siblings. I also need to have adequate quality time with you every day-no matter what your schedule or other needs are. I am a living, feeling creature. Above all, I need to be able to have complete trust in you, and count on your predictablity in looking after me-every day.
5. LET ME BE CLEAN - I may like to drop food or even throw it, but I need meticulous cleanliness to be healthy. My skin itches without frequent showers, the barbs of my feahters won't seal if they become oily and, worst of all, I may become ill if my food or water is not always sanitary.
6. I NEED MY OWN DOCTOR - You may not understand my physiology and therefore you may not recognize it early on when I get sick. And it may be too late when you do, because I hide my illnesses (remember what I said about my being an animal of the jungle, where there are lots of predators). And I need an avian vet-a specialist (no HMOs for me please). If you can't afford one, perhaps you shouldn't have taken me home.
7. PLEASE DON'T PUNISH ME - Just as I don't always understand your peculiarities, you may not understand mine. I don't TRY to get in trouble-remember, a house is not the jungle. If I do screw up, don't yell at me and never hit me. I have sensitive ears and I may never trust you again if you strike me. Hands are sometimes scary things to us (why in the world would you not be zygodactylous like us?) Even more importantly, we don't learn by punishment. We are gentle creatrues who only strike back to protect ourselves; we learn through patience and love.
8. SPEAK MY "LANGUAGE" - I know you get upset with me when I knock over my water bowl, throw food, scream or pluck my feathers. I don't do these to annoy you-I am probably trying to tell you something (perhaps that I am hurting, lonely, or sad.) Learn to speak MY (body) language. Remember that I, alone of all creatures on this planet, learn to speak yours!
9. SEE ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL - I am a unique and feeling being...No two of us are alike. Please don't be disappointed in me if I don't talk like you wanted, or can't do the tricks that your friend's parrot can do. But if you pay close attention to me (and I always empathize with you, whether you know it or not), I will show you a unique being who will give you so much more than talking and playing...Give me a chance to show you who I am; I think you'll find the effort with it. And remember-I am not an ornament; I do not enhance ANY living room decor. And I am not a status symbol-if you use me as such, I might nip at your up-turned nose!
10. SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME - Above all, please remember that you are my Special Person. I put all my trust and faith in you...We parrots are use to being monogamous. (no bar-hopping for us!). So please don't go away for long periods or give me away-that would be a sadness from which I may never recover. If that seems to be asking a lot, remember-you could have learned about my needs BEFORE bringing me home. Even having a baby or taking a new job isn't a fair reason-you made a commitment to me FIRST! And if you think that you must leave me because you might die, provide for me forever after you leave. I may live to a ripe old age but I can't provide for myself. Remember I'm in a small cage amongst people who are not of my blood.
11. Remember before you hit me that I have a beak that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but that I choose not to bite you.
12. Go with me on the last journey. Never say "I can't bear to watch it," or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I love you.
13. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been in the cage too long.
14. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I have only you.
15. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
16. YOUR RIGHTS - You have lots of rights, but I can only assure one. And that is, if you treat me the way I described above, I will reward you with unwavering love, humor, knowledge, beauty, dedication-and a sense of wonder and awe you haven't felt since you were a child. When you took me home, you became my Flock Leader, indeed, my entire universe-for life. I would hang the moon and stars for you if I could. We are one in Heart and Soul. "
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
海豚透過「名字」識同類
in chinese
Dolphins 『know each other's names' - Sunday Times - Times Online: "
The Sunday Times May 07, 2006
Dolphins 『know each other's names'
Jonathan Leake, Science Editor
Whistles are used for individual recognition
DOLPHINS may be closer to humans than previously realised, with new research showing they communicate by whistling out their own 「names」.
The evidence suggests dolphins share the human ability to recognise themselves and other members of the same species as individuals with separate identities. The research, on wild bottlenose dolphins, will lead to a reassessment of their intelligence and social complexity, raising moral questions over how they should be treated.
The research was carried out by Vincent Janik of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University, who has found bottlenose dolphins to be among the animal world's quickest learners of new sounds.
He said: 「Each animal develops an individually distinctive signature whistle in the first few months of its life, which appears to be used in individual recognition.」
The research has its origin in the 1960s when dolphin trainers first noticed that captive animals each had their own personal repertoire of whistles.
This prompted speculation that dolphins had their own language and might even have individual 「names」. However, the theory was controversial among whale and dolphin researchers, and until now, there had been no means of testing it.
Janik's work was based on a group of dolphins living in Sarasota Bay, Florida, who have been studied for more than 30 years. Over that time researchers have built up a detailed picture of individual dolphins, their family ties and their 「social」 interaction.
They have also made extensive recordings of the noises made by individual dolphins and isolated the sounds thought to be their 「signature whistles」 or names.
In the study some of the Sarasota Bay animals were corralled in a net. The researchers then played synthetic versions of the signature whistles of other dolphins through underwater loudspeakers to see if they would evoke a response in the captive animals. The use of synthetic whistles ruled out the possibility that the animals might simply be recognising the sound of each other's voices.
They found that dolphins responded strongly to the whistles of their relatives and associates while generally ignoring those of dolphins to whom they had no link.
Janik said: 「Bottlenose dolphins are the only animals other than humans to have been shown to transmit identity information independent of the caller's voice.」
The findings are supported by other authorities. Denise Herzing, research director at the Wild Dolphin Project at Florida Atlantic University, said it was already clear that many of the 77 known cetacean (whale and dolphin) species had rudimentary languages.
「We know that dolphins' brains are nearly as large and complex, relative to body size, as those of humans. They have evolved to be intelligent and that implies being able to communicate,」 she said.
Dolphins may, however, be just the first of many species where individuals are found to have their own names. Other researchers have already found evidence for highly developed language skills in parrots, crows and primates.
Great apes, such as chimpanzees and orang-utans, have been a popular subject for research because they are so closely related to humans.
Their limited vocal apparatus means they cannot speak but researchers at Georgia State University have taught chimpanzees to communicate in English via computers equipped with customised keyboards and voice synthesizers.
The African grey parrot is another renowned linguist, able not only to learn words but to use them in the right context.
Even some rodent species may have developed a rudimentary language. Con Slobodchikoff of Northern Arizona University recently found that prairie dogs, a large rodent found in the western United States, shared a language of at least 100 words.
Donald Broom, professor of animal welfare at Cambridge University, said species living in large groups all had advanced communication skills. 「They have a complex social structure where they have to live with others, negotiate friendships and find mates. If dolphins are using names I expect we will find the same in other species with similar lifestyles.」"
Dolphins 『know each other's names' - Sunday Times - Times Online: "
The Sunday Times May 07, 2006
Dolphins 『know each other's names'
Jonathan Leake, Science Editor
Whistles are used for individual recognition
DOLPHINS may be closer to humans than previously realised, with new research showing they communicate by whistling out their own 「names」.
The evidence suggests dolphins share the human ability to recognise themselves and other members of the same species as individuals with separate identities. The research, on wild bottlenose dolphins, will lead to a reassessment of their intelligence and social complexity, raising moral questions over how they should be treated.
The research was carried out by Vincent Janik of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University, who has found bottlenose dolphins to be among the animal world's quickest learners of new sounds.
He said: 「Each animal develops an individually distinctive signature whistle in the first few months of its life, which appears to be used in individual recognition.」
The research has its origin in the 1960s when dolphin trainers first noticed that captive animals each had their own personal repertoire of whistles.
This prompted speculation that dolphins had their own language and might even have individual 「names」. However, the theory was controversial among whale and dolphin researchers, and until now, there had been no means of testing it.
Janik's work was based on a group of dolphins living in Sarasota Bay, Florida, who have been studied for more than 30 years. Over that time researchers have built up a detailed picture of individual dolphins, their family ties and their 「social」 interaction.
They have also made extensive recordings of the noises made by individual dolphins and isolated the sounds thought to be their 「signature whistles」 or names.
In the study some of the Sarasota Bay animals were corralled in a net. The researchers then played synthetic versions of the signature whistles of other dolphins through underwater loudspeakers to see if they would evoke a response in the captive animals. The use of synthetic whistles ruled out the possibility that the animals might simply be recognising the sound of each other's voices.
They found that dolphins responded strongly to the whistles of their relatives and associates while generally ignoring those of dolphins to whom they had no link.
Janik said: 「Bottlenose dolphins are the only animals other than humans to have been shown to transmit identity information independent of the caller's voice.」
The findings are supported by other authorities. Denise Herzing, research director at the Wild Dolphin Project at Florida Atlantic University, said it was already clear that many of the 77 known cetacean (whale and dolphin) species had rudimentary languages.
「We know that dolphins' brains are nearly as large and complex, relative to body size, as those of humans. They have evolved to be intelligent and that implies being able to communicate,」 she said.
Dolphins may, however, be just the first of many species where individuals are found to have their own names. Other researchers have already found evidence for highly developed language skills in parrots, crows and primates.
Great apes, such as chimpanzees and orang-utans, have been a popular subject for research because they are so closely related to humans.
Their limited vocal apparatus means they cannot speak but researchers at Georgia State University have taught chimpanzees to communicate in English via computers equipped with customised keyboards and voice synthesizers.
The African grey parrot is another renowned linguist, able not only to learn words but to use them in the right context.
Even some rodent species may have developed a rudimentary language. Con Slobodchikoff of Northern Arizona University recently found that prairie dogs, a large rodent found in the western United States, shared a language of at least 100 words.
Donald Broom, professor of animal welfare at Cambridge University, said species living in large groups all had advanced communication skills. 「They have a complex social structure where they have to live with others, negotiate friendships and find mates. If dolphins are using names I expect we will find the same in other species with similar lifestyles.」"
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