Jen Greenberg is a parrot trainer and behaviorist who surrounds herself with many different kinds of birds. Her social media channels are entertaining and educational, and it’s surprising to see just how smart these birds really are. She shared a perfect example of this in this video of her Eclectus parrot, Galen, who learned how to pack himself up when it’s time to leave the house.
Galen has a backpack that Jen puts him in when they travel anywhere. She wanted to teach him how to get in the backpack by himself, and said in the video’s caption that he learned to do the task very quickly. Jen tells the bird, “Galen, pack,” and the bird knows just what to do!
Galen’s wearing smarty pants! What a cool trick for Jen to teach him, and it looks like he enjoys the drill. Commenter @mystic_glam pointed out, “So cute and smart!! How he touches the toy each time!” @alpakat added, “I wonder if Galen has inadvertently come to think that the entire trick includes booping the toy in the back corner LOL!” @squeegieweegie joked, “He’s green, he’s handsome, and self-packing!”
Related: Cockatoo Tries to Spy on Mom by Adorably Peeking Under the Door
Is a Parrot the Right Pet for You?
My parents have an Amazon parrot who has been a part of our family for more than 40 years. He grew up with all of us kids and is like another sibling. He’s funny, quirky, messy, and noisy, and we love him just the same.
Commenter @shelli manning shared, “You have single-handedly changed my perspective on pet birds! Love how they all have different personalities and they’re SO smart!” If you watch Jen’s videos and then think about bringing home a parrot, they do make great pets.
But they’re a lot of work, though. Having a parrot in the house is like having a toddler around. An article at Petful says that pet birds “are unique. They require a special kind of understanding. Actually, they demand it.” The article goes on to say, “Before you buy or adopt a bird, think about something an avian expert once told me. ‘Keeping a parrot in a cage,” he said, “is like putting a 4-year-old in a cage. And leaving him there.'”
Parrots aren’t meant to live solitary lives, though they don’t necessarily need another bird around; they just want attention. They can form strong bonds with their humans, but if you don’t pay enough attention to them, you’ll definitely hear about it. “Large birds, like amazons, macaws and cockatoos, exhibit their frustration and boredom by screaming, being aggressive, feather picking or other compulsive behaviors.”
If you’re considering bringing home a parrot as a pet, make sure to do your research and learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about the breed so you can make an informed decision about if it will fit into your lifestyle and if you can meet their needs.