Austrailian Pretty Birds Going Rogue!!

Facinating article.

....Martyn Robinson, a naturalist who works at the desk, explains that occasionally a pet cockatoo escapes or is let loose, and "if it manages to survive long enough to join a wild flock, [other birds] will learn from it.
....As well as learning from humans directly, "the birds will mimic each other," says Jaynia Sladek, from the Museum's ornithology department. "There's no reason why, if one comes into the flock with words, [then] another member of the flock wouldn't pick it up as well."

'Hello cockie' is the most common phrase, though there have been a few cases of foul-mouthed feathered friends using expletives which we can't repeat here.

The evolution of language could well be passed on through the generations, says Martyn. "If the parents are talkers and they produce chicks, their chicks are likely to pick up some of that," he says. This phenomenon is not unique; some lyrebirds in southern Australia still reproduce the sounds of axes and old shutter-box cameras their ancestors once learnt.

The entire article can be found ----> http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/Parrots-and-other-wild-birds-able-to-talk.htm

What are your thoughts?

That may well be true.

alexczarn wrote:

That may well be true.

Hey! If I heard a bird speaking right to me, I wouldn't think I'm necoming crazy!

Vanesa.

I like the idea of a jungle full of foulmouthed birds. But it would require a lot of work, and really, we'd be meddling in the ways of nature. So we'd better get started real soon.

Joe wrote:

As well as learning from humans directly, "the birds will mimic each other," says Jaynia Sladek, from the Museum's ornithology department. "There's no reason why, if one comes into the flock with words, [then] another member of the flock wouldn't pick it up as well."

'Hello cockie' is the most common phrase, though there have been a few cases of foul-mouthed feathered friends using expletives which we can't repeat here.

The evolution of language could well be passed on through the generations, says Martyn. "If the parents are talkers and they produce chicks, their chicks are likely to pick up some of that," he says.

Reminds me of how I wish human offspring weren't so eager to learn/mimic the foul language of some immature and unprotective parents out there.


Very interesting Joe!

instersting.

Amy wrote:

Joe wrote:

As well as learning from humans directly, "the birds will mimic each other," says Jaynia Sladek, from the Museum's ornithology department. "There's no reason why, if one comes into the flock with words, [then] another member of the flock wouldn't pick it up as well."

'Hello cockie' is the most common phrase, though there have been a few cases of foul-mouthed feathered friends using expletives which we can't repeat here.

The evolution of language could well be passed on through the generations, says Martyn. "If the parents are talkers and they produce chicks, their chicks are likely to pick up some of that," he says.

Reminds me of how I wish human offspring weren't so eager to learn/mimic the foul language of some immature and unprotective parents out there.


Very interesting Joe!

More than true, Amy!

Vanesa.