Curing Loneliness in Captivity: the Parrots’ Video Calls鹦鹉也会视频？科技让鹦鹉不再孤独

With their colorful feathers and charming ability to imitate human speech， parrots have captured the hearts of numerous pet owners across the world. However， many owners aren’t aware that parrots are incredibly social animals that need plenty of attention and company. In the wild， they thrive in large flocks， but captivity often deprives them of the opportunity to interact with other birds. Bored and lonely parrots are at risk of developing psychological issues or harmful habits such as plucking out their own feathers. Thankfully， a new study has shed light on how modern technology can help relieve the loneliness of pet parrots.

凭借其色彩缤纷的羽毛和使人着迷的模仿人类语言的能力，鹦鹉俘获了全球许多宠物主人的心。然而，许多主人没有意识到鹦鹉是极其喜欢交际的动物，需要大量的关注与陪伴。在野外，它们在大群体中茁壮成长，但圈养往往使它们失去与其他鸟类互动的机会。感到无聊和孤独的鹦鹉有可能出现心理问题或有害的习惯，例如啄掉自己的羽毛。庆幸的是，一项新研究阐明了现代科技如何帮助缓解宠物鹦鹉的孤独感。

In order to provide parrots with the interaction they lack， researchers from several universities collaborated on a unique project. They recruited 18 parrots from an online training program for pet parrots called Parrot Kindergarten.

为了提供鹦鹉所缺乏的互动，来自多所大学的研究人员合作进行了一项独特的项目。他们从名为“鹦鹉幼儿园”的宠物鹦鹉在线培训课程中招募了18只鹦鹉。

The parrots were taught to ring a bell， which alerted their owners that they wanted to use a tablet. They would then proceed to tap an image of another parrot on the screen. This initiated a video call， bringing another parrot “face-to-face”. After becoming familiar with this procedure， the birds were allowed to call their friends freely. During the experimental phase， the parrots made 147 deliberate video calls， each one keenly observed by the owners to ensure the birds’ well-being.

这些鹦鹉被教导摇响铃铛，这用以提醒主人它们想要使用平板电脑。鹦鹉会接着点击屏幕上另一只鹦鹉的图像，这将开启视频通话，使另一只鹦鹉“面对面”地出现在屏幕上。在熟悉这一流程之后，鹦鹉被允许自由地和它们的朋友打视频电话。在实验阶段，这些鹦鹉进行了147次有意的视频通话，每一次都由主人仔细观察以确保这些鸟儿的健康。

The findings of the study were encouraging. The parrots appeared to enjoy their virtual hang-outs. They displayed a range of different behaviors， including singing， playing around and showing off their toys. Many parrots even chose to call the same birds over and over again， suggesting that long-lasting bonds were being formed. While video chats can’t recreate how parrots socialize in the wild， they can offer a beneficial addition to the lives of pet parrots and brighten up their days.

这项研究结果鼓舞人心。这些鹦鹉似乎喜欢它们的虚拟聚会。它们表现出各种不同的行为，包括唱歌、嬉戏以及炫耀它们的玩具。许多鹦鹉甚至选择一遍又一遍地打给同一只鹦鹉，这意味着它们之间正在形成持久的友谊。虽然视频通话无法再现鹦鹉在野外的社交方式，但它可以为宠物鹦鹉的生活增添益处，让它们的日子更加美好。

Word Bank

imitate /'ɪmɪteɪt/ v. 模仿；仿效

Teachers provide a model for children to imitate.

deprive /dɪ'praɪv/ v. 剥夺

deprive sb/sth of sth 剥夺；使丧失；使不能享有

They were imprisoned and deprived of their basic rights.

collaborate /kə'læbəreɪt/ v. 合作；协作