Providing life-changing care and environment for special needs avian species in Minnesota.
To conclude this series: Parrots don’t leave their instincts behind in captivity.
They adapt, they cope, they learn—but they are still wild animals at their core.
What we’re seeing here isn’t “behavior” to fix.
It’s communication. It’s expression. It’s survival, shaped by an environment that wasn’t built for them.
Understanding that changes everything about how we care for them.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
Parrots may live in our homes, but they were never built for them. Time in captivity doesn’t change what they are. Their instincts, needs, and behaviors remain the same.
They are still wild animals.
Understanding that helps us better support the birds already in our care and make more informed choices moving forward. Tomorrow is the final part of this series! Stay tuned and come back to learn more.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
These five ring-necked parrots were once held at the Mayagüez Zoo in Puerto Rico. At the sanctuary, even after time in captivity, they are still very much wild!
Their instincts remain intact. Their needs haven’t changed. Captivity doesn’t remove what they are. It only limits how those instincts can be expressed.
And that’s the distinction that matters.
Because parrots aren’t domesticated companions!
They are wild animals living in human care.
Understanding that helps us meet them where they are, not where we expect them to be. #MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
