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Alanna Ozun
Instructors: Tina Chavez and Josh Brower
Senior Internship
12/17/15

Feathers and Fury

Introduction
One of my best friends is not a human. Ive always known that I love animals, but that love
reached great, new heights when an academic internship was factored into my life. I interned at
the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center. My first two weeks were spent taking care of
reptiles such as snakes and lizards, but my third and fourth weeks formed a lifelong relationship
with a bird.
Emerald, the Green-winged Macaw, was donated to the foundation by the city of Carlsbad.
He was a rescued parrot and came from a hoarders home. He lived with a supposed seventy other
birds, none of whom were properly cared for. His first years of life were spend locked away in his
own filth, and now it was up to us at the Discovery Center to make him feel at home.
Somehow, he fell in love with me. I fell in love with him too, and now he has become a
huge part of my life. I spend hours of my freetime caring for him and playing with him. He has
become one of my best friends, and one of my main priorities. I put off plans with my human
friends so I have time with my bird one.
Part of why I feel so obligated to care for Emerald is that he has gone through traumatic
experiences and feels a distrust in humans. I want to be there for him so he knows he can always
trust me and go to me for comfort/ protection. He doesnt trust anybody else as much as he trusts

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me. I can pick him up by his belly and I wont loose a finger, whereas if someone he dislikes tried
that, they would probably loose a whole hand.
With all the boredom and stress Emerald has faced, he developed a self-mutilating habit of
plucking out his feathers and picking his skin. Feather plucking in parrots is common among those
in captivity that have experienced trauma. Most birds in hoarding situations come out with some
sort of damage: whethere it be emotional or physical, environmentally caused or self-inflicted.
Being personally introduced to and befriended with a feather plucker specifically rescued
from a hoarding situation, my essential question for my research through senior internship was:
How can we, as humans, ensure Emeralds well being as best as possible under the given
circumstances?

Background
Parrots are among the most intelligent species on the planet, just behind marine mammals
and primates. Birds in general fall under this category, and parrots are a group of some of the most
intelligent bird species. The Macaw is the largest of parrots and is a very popular pet; although,
this creature is meant to be a wild animal, not a pet like that of a cat or dog. Not everyone
realizes this, and parrots are often bought on a whim. Macaws, and parrots in general, require lots
of attention. They are naturally very social animals, with macaws living in flocks of about 30 but
the average parrot living with hundreds of individuals. When domesticated, they often lack social
interaction with others in their same species, so they crave the attention of their human owner.
Unfortunately, people do not expect to need to donate so much time to their birds, and the birds in
turn feel neglected and stressed due to their natural needs not being met. Birds have become one
of the fastest-growing groups of unwanted pets according to Laurie Hess, board certified by the
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian medicine. She says there are five

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main reasons for thisthe first being, like stated earlier, parrots are commonly
bought on a whim. People see them in stores and are dazzled by their beauty
and fairytale-like appearance without realizing the commitment they are
making. Secondly, people tend to lack education of normal parrot behavior
and dont know how to correctly handle their pet. In the wild, they scream to
communicate. When they do this in homes, owners often quickly attend to the
bird's cage to try and scold it. Unfortunately, this positively reinforces the
screaming because it shows the bird that he/she will get attention from its
owner when screaming. People make many other common mistakes like this
one when first getting a bird. Parrots are very intelligent and independent,
even at a young age, and shouldnt be expected to be docile and submit like a
puppy. When new bird owners dont understand how to make them stop biting
their fingers or properly listen to their commands, they give them up to a
shelter or, possibly less humane, keep them in their cage without offering
enrichment and attention.
When parrots reach their age of sexual maturity, which is 5-8 years old depending on the
species, they may begin to view their owner as a sexual mate if they are not exposed to other
birds. They typically become very protective of their chosen mate and attack/scream at other
people who interact with them or their mate. They may also scream, pick their skin, and pluck
feathers simply out of sexual frustration. Parrots are often given up from their homes at this point
in their lives due to their new behaviors. Another reason for so many homeless parrots is that
owners dont take into account veterinary care when purchasing their bird. Parrots typically have a

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long life-span, Macaws living an average of 50-70 years, and often outlive their owners, leaving
them without a home.
Another issue facing parrots and macaws is illegal trade and smuggling. Following the
trade on drugs and arms, wildlife is the third most common subject to be illegally smuggled and
distributed. The Wild Bird Population Act of 1992 was meant to end the capture of wild birds, but
a large percentage of birds still sold in the US are a product of illegal trade. Not only are the birds
harshly taken from their habitats, but less than 40% of those captured survive the trips across the
border. Many smugglers, in order to get he parrots into the country undetected, put the bird
through incredibly cruel conditions. The Animal Law Coalition states that parrot have been found
hidden anywhere from toothpaste tubes, stockings, and toilet paper tubes to glove compartments,
tire wheels, and hubcaps. They are often drugged or given alcohol to keep them quiet, and
sometimes have their beaks taped shut. Smugglers, on average, capture four times as many birds
as they sell to compensate for the mortality rate during transport.
Another act of inhumanity faced by exotic birds is animal hoarding. Animal hoarding is
when a human individual (or group) possesses an unreasonable amount of animals, yet is unable to
provide adequate care for each of them. Often, they are unable to provide minimal veterinary care,
nutrition, sanitation, and shelter, which leads to starvation, illness, and even death of the animals.
In less extreme cases, the animals are emotionally neglected and still face mental trauma. It is
generally thought that animal hoarding is caused by obsessive- compulsive disorder in people, but
animal hoarders can be triggered by attachment disorders in conjunction with personality
disorders, paranoia, delusional thinking, depression, and other mental illnesses. (American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)) Not all animal hoarding cases are caused by
mental illness, but perhaps even someone with a big heart and a love for animals who is just trying

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to care for ones in need. What often happens is people take in more animals than they can care for
by themselves, and over time let the problem get out of hand, finding themselves living with an
unmanageable amount to care for. Each year, there are approximately 250,000 animals that fall
victims of hoarding situations. (ASPCA)
Birds are commonly hoarded and represent the largest group of wild animals captive in US
homes. Parrots that survive being hoarded almost always come out of the situation with some sort
of damage, physical or emotional. Diseases due to lack of sanitation are very common, along with
deformation of wings, beaks, and claws due to lack of space to move around. Parrots, being so
intelligent, understand when they are in stressful situations and emotionally react. Many resort to
self-mutilation by plucking feathers and damaging skin.

Methods
At the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center in Carlsbad, California, there
lives a Green-winged Macaw named Emerald. The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation is a 501C3
non-profit formed in 1990 by Carlsbad citizens. The mission of the foundation is to Inspire
people through education and outreach to preserve the Agua Hedionda Lagoon as an accessible
and healthy watershed. It is open to the public but primarily serves families and school children
and involves hands-on educational experiences. The Discovery Center is a nature center located
on the eastern end of the lagoon estuary and wetland. The Discovery Center houses exhibits and
displays which pertain to historical and environmental aspects of the Lagoon. The Center houses
many animals and critters including bearded dragons, lizards, leopard geckos, frogs, turtles, a
tortoise, finches, fish, and an ant farm. They had a cockatiel named Al last spring, but he flew
away before my 11th grade internship began. In replacement of Al, the city donated a rescued
macaw to the foundation named Emerald. Some of his feathers (of those that are left) are a

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brilliant green, given his name. He arrived one of the first days in June, right in the middle of my
internship. Him and I did not bond right away, for he was absolutely terrified of everyone at his
new home. After around 4 days of trying, I finally got him to step up onto my arm. That day
and the next days following, I made efforts to bond better with this bird; we played fetch with
keys and I let him bite my apple along with sharing other various snacks.
Im not sure exactly what it was or why he chose me, but Emerald came to trust and love
me before the end of my 11th grade internship (which was only 4 weeks, and he arrived during the
second week). Internship ended and so did the school year, but I still visited him often over
summer break. Senior year approached along with senior internship, and the foundation more than
welcomed me to intern with them again. I then decided to focus my entire research project on my
new parrot friend.
Emerald was very nervous when he first arrived at the lagoon, and
continues to be aggressive and unpredictable. Moodiness is normal among
parrots and, well, almost all living creatures, but theres a particular reason for
the extent of Emeralds behavior. Before being rescued then donated to the
lagoon, Emerald was in a bird hoarding situation with allegedly about 70 other
birds. Like mentioned before, parrots are very smart creatures, having the
intellect equivalent of a young human child and needing as adequate of
attention. When put through stress and a lack of natural needs being met,
these animals develop emotional issues. Emerald is missing many of his
feathers an outcome of stress induced self-mutilation. He is 15 years old
and this habit seems to be very engraved in him. Despite his nervous and
aggressive tendencies, I know from first hand experience that he can be a

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very loving and endearing creature. For my senior project, I chose to explore
ways to ensure his well being as best we can as humans.
Most of my research and knowledge just came from simply spending time with Emerald
and observing his behaviors. I took many mental notes, and also some physical notes, to remind
me of his tendencies. I recorded my observations in a journal, parts of which I have typed and
included in the Appendix section. I also interviewed Erika Bristow whom works at Best Avian
Advice and is also a freelance animal trainer. I asked her questions about Emeralds conditions
and advice shed give to care for Emerald. My questions and her responses are also included in the
Appendix.

Analysis and Discussion

Emerald has been neglected for a large portion of his life, and above anything else, he
benefits most from love and companionship. They rival a 2-5 year old human child in intelligence
and should be treated no different. Bird lovers often refer to their parrots as fildren or fids,
meaning feathered children/kids.
According to Patricia K. Anderson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology in the Department
of Sociology and Anthropology at Western Illinois University, whom conducted a study on the role
of companion birds in homes, many parrot lovers consider their birds to be a family member. One
of her survey respondents states:
We discovered early on that a bird was as devoted and loving a pet as a dog or cat and,
actually, now feel birds are even more so. As far as the most important thing, I guess it would be that caring
for them fullls the need to nurture once the kids are grown and gone. They enrich our lives because they
are always there ready to be your buddy. They will sit and talk with you anytime, anyplace, not only in real
words, but with their own unique sounds and clucks and body language. Of course, having a pet that yells,
Daddys home! when you walk in the door or says Good morning! when you open the drapes is quite a
signicant event too. They are a lifetime commitment much as your children are and they require your
devotion as well as give theirs. (Survey Response No. 100) (Anderson 402)

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Emerald didnt begin his life as a family member, but merely as one more individual added
to a collection. The details of the extent of the hoarding situation he was involved in are unknown
to the lagoon, but it is obvious they were extensive enough to cause emotional damage and selfmutilation. Just like a human suffering from PTSD, a parrot can eventually adjust and rehabilitate
from a traumatic experience, but it requires a long period of time with consistent security and
proper action taken. In the same paper by Patricia K. Anderson, she states that her parrot has lots
of living space, toys, and attention. He has free access to his play gym and the back of the living
room sofa when we are home, but spends at least half his time in either of his cages, doors open,
playing with toys, grooming, napping, eating, drinking, or engaging in other activities. His former
owners, who did not understand his needs, conned him to a cage where he screamed for
attention, which we suspect was answered by punishment. After five years in his current home
he has lost his fear aggression and appears fairly well adjusted. (Anderson 412)
It is likely possible for Emerald to be relieved of his nervous tendencies, but it wont
happen quickly or without cautious effort. Emeralds caretakers must be properly educated in
parrot handling. Emerald is very selective when it comes to people he positively interacts with;
this is likely due to a lack of trust he, understandably, has in humans. Perhaps potential caretakers
should take part in positive reinforcement with Emerald in order to gain his trust and
compassion. As Erika Bristow states, positive reinforcement can be something as small as the
person putting his favorite snack in his bowl. Building a parrots trust is similar in building a
humans trust, they simply need to know their owner respects them and their desires, while also
prioritizes their well being and protection from danger. When a parrot realizes that a certain
person repeatedly acknowledges and cares for them, they grow trustworthy. Emerald needs to
have someone he knows he can consistently trust.

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Part of Emeralds self-mutilating behaviors may not only be stemmed from anxiety at the
hoarding house, but possibly sexual frustration. Hes been captive his whole life and has probably
never had a mate. He therefore thinks a person he bonds with is his sexual partner, yet his sexual
desires are not fulfilled, causing frustration, which may contribute to the feather plucking. (Hess
Positively)
A nutritious diet is one of the most important key elements for a healthy parrot. Their diets
should consist of mainly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They can also eat grains like rice or
noodles, and they can eat beans, which are nutritious and rich in protein.
Emeralds feather plucking began as a nervous issue, but it seemes as if he sometimes uses
it as a way to get attention now. When he is left alone on his perch and wants to play with
someone, he starts to flap his wings, then picks at his feathers and groans in pain. It makes the
people around him notice him because he is making noise, but also tend to him because they want
him to stop plucking. This shows Emerald that when he plucks to get attention, it works and
someone will come give him attention. Thus, the person is then encouraging the plucking behavior
in the future. Many people that try to bond with Emerald also fail to respect his warning signs that
he does not want to be touched. Parrots differ from cats and dogs in that they dont desire constant
physical petting. (Wilson Bird Channel) They do invite their favorites to scratch their head
occasionally, but they, especially Emerald, do not like to be touched by people they dont fully
trust and love. When someone pushes Emeralds limits, he becomes agitated and is likely to bite.
A lack of understanding from caretakers and education of parrots directly attributes to Emeralds
bad behavior.

Proposed Action

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The end of Emeralds feather plucking isnt something I plan to see in the next few months,
or even the next year. Like us, animals develop habits that are not easy to break. Although, with
my help and dedication and that of others who love Emerald, I am confident he will someday
overcome his stress and be a calm, compassionate bird. In order for him to be fully rehabilitated, I
believe there are steps that the Discovery Center should consider taking. He needs more
caregivers who understand parrots. Right now, the only people that he displays a desire to be with
are me and Morgan, a head employee at the center. In order for him to form relationships with
others, training with positive reinforcement should be incorporated. Parrots are typically trained
with a clicker and one of their favorite treats. When Emerald first arrived at the lagoon, Morgan
and I began to use a clicker to train him, but we havent for months. When Emerald steps-up
onto a strangers arm or invites play with someone he generally attacks, positive reinforcement can
be utilized by using the clicker and giving Emerald a treat. This causes him to associate the click
with food, and if he does something good, he knows he will get to eat the food. (Goldtein
Association of Animal Behavior Professionals)
Emerald also needs more enrichment in his life. He has lots of toys, but he isnt satisfied
with simply playing alone with toys all day. I think he should be taken on walks outside more
frequently. When I take him outside, he always seems extremely excited and looks at the view of
the lagoon with fascination in his eyes. Ive taken him in the car a few times, and he absolutely
loves it. He looks out the window and dances to music. He also occasionally will sing along.
Taking Emerald out of the center and on playdates can help stimulate his life, rid him of
boredom, and possibly make him sleep better at night which would ultimately result in him being
in a better mood during the day. There should be volunteers at the lagoon specifically dedicated to
Emerald and giving him activities, Exercise is also very important for his mental and physical

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well-being. My favorite (and hopefully his) favorite way to exercise with him is holding him out
on my arm and running. When I pick up speed, he opens his wings and flaps them as if hes flying,
and I swear I see his beak curve into a smile when we do this.
Positive reinforcement and more active stimulation in Emeralds life are sure to be
beneficial. When working with him, people need to be cautious to not accidentally encourage bad
behavior. When I or someone else he loves leaves the room, he often starts screaming. He also
screams when he has been left alone for a period of time and wants attention. Just wanting it to
stop, it is often someones first reaction to go to him. This unfortunately shows him that screaming
will get him what he wants, and that he should do it as a way to communicate. We should instead
completely ignore him when he is screaming, but praise him when he makes other calling sounds
like a whistle or a Hi! Reinforcing good behavior in Emerald will be good for us humans, and
handling his issues the correct way while also providing love and enrichment will be good for him.
Of course, if Emerald was treated properly from birth, he would not face many of the
problems he does today. Sadly, theres no clear answer to animal hoarding and animal neglect in
general. Laws can be modified for harsher prosecution, but people will still break them in the first
place to get what they want.
I think the most important and most effective way to help animals is to change the human
way of thinking. Animals are not objects, decorations, trophies, or prized possessions. In fact,
they are not possessions at all. They are alive, emotional, and aware; just like us. Emerald is not
my pet or a cool facet to the discovery center.
He is my child. He is my friend.
In Defense of Animals (IDA) couldnt have articulated it better in their mission statement:
We seek to redefine the role of animals in society on local, national and international levels by elevating
human perception of animals from that of mere property, objects and things, to that where animals are

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recognized to be individuals, with feelings, needs and interests of their own. Through our work to inspire
and shift the way people think about non-human beings, we believe a positive change will result in the way
people treat them today and in the future.
Humans and other animals share many similarities, despite our differences in appearance, forms of
communication and ways of living. As feeling beings, we are united by our desires to seek pleasure and
enjoyment, and to avoid pain and suffering.
When we speak of animal rights, we are not referring to political rights or rights that we presume to bestow
as the dominant species on Earth.
The rights of animals are birthrights, similar to those we claim for ourselvesthe right to live our lives free
of subjugation and institutionalized violence, where the random and special joys of being alive can be
experienced.
The Golden Rule is not a do-gooders slogan. We need to treat others as we want to be treated not only for
their sake, but also because our own good is interwoven with the good of others, including other species.
Animal Rights and Human Rights are linked at their core, because how we treat those most affected by our
actions is the best reflection of who we are as a species. We must strive to do right when our actions, needs
and interests intersect with those of other species.

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Appendix
Interview with Expert
Questions written by Alanna Ozun
Responses by Erika Bristow at Best Avian Advice
Questions about parrot health, behavior, behavior modification and pair bonding.
1.) What are the causes of feather plucking in parrots?
Many factors can cause feather plucking, feather barbering and self-mutilation in any and all parrot
species. Reasons for this vary widely. The most prominent and well know factors are the
following: Poor diet, isolation/lack of stimuli, smoke exposure, exposure to household items (i.e.
Windex, Bleach etc.), physical/psychological trauma from an outside source (i.e. harassment by
children/other pets, inappropriate enclosures/perching, poor temperature control, over preening by
a cage mate.
2.) Can parrots suffer from PTSD or anxiety disorders?
All the causes for feather plucking listed in the first response come down to one thing, increased
stress. Parrots are very smart animals and some are said to rival a five year old child in their
intelligence capabilities. Stress management is the main concern for any zookeeper or animal
owner. An animal should always have the five freedoms:
Freedom from hunger or thirst
Freedom from thermal or physical discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury or disease
Freedom from fear and distress

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Freedom to indulge in normal behavior patterns.When a parrot is denied any of these freedoms the
stress level increases and the amount of
self-destructive and stereotypical behaviors increases.
3) What steps can be taken to help rehabilitate an anxious bird?
As in the response to question number two first and foremost the bird must be given the five
freedoms. However in certain situations it may require slow small approximations to get an
anxious bird to engage in healthy activities such as utilizing enrichment. Many parrots who have
never been given any form of enrichment before can be extremely fearful of anything new in its
environment. As such new toys, perches and feeding bowls should be introduced slowly with the
supervision of an animal behaviorist. The reason for this is a parrot can be so fearful of a new toy
or item in its cage or environment that the self-harming and stereotypical behaviors can increase
drastically without proper oversight.
4) How can Emerald (Green-winged Macaw) be taught to be less aggressive?
To lessen aggression in a parrot positive reinforcement training techniques yield the fastest and
most positive results. I recommend reading the book Good Bird by Barbara Heidenreich. Training
using positive reinforcement can be complicated and Barbara Heidenreich book does a great job of
making it easy to understand for the typical bird owner.
5.) How prominent of an issue is bird hoarding and animal hoarding in general?
Bird hoarding is not as common as a lot of other hoarding cases. Cats and dogs are a lot more
common. This is primarily because parrots in general are quite expensive. However very few
people are equipped to properly care for exotic bird species, parrots especially. So many people
who purchase parrots end up relinquishing them to another family or a well-meaning facility.
Parrots also live a very long time, so many parrots may see ten to twenty more homes in their lives

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if they are very unlucky. Usually the worst off individuals with the most problems find their way
into the hands of hoarders. This is because no one else is willing to take on the problem bird and
the animal in such a state that it can no longer be sold. I have heard of some very well-meaning
people who started taking in these types of cases because they had a big heart, but with the price of
proper food, vet care and time needed to properly clean these animals it spins quickly out of
control and intervention is required. Sadly the same animal that may have been confiscated from a
hoarder has a very good chance of ending up with one again.
6.) What do parrots need to be healthy and happy?
In the animal world we tend not to use the word happy because it tends to be thrown around a lot
by animal activists. Instead we abide by the five freedoms and would rather refer to the parrot as
being physically healthy and in an enriching environment. Parrots are wild animals, not pets.
Having said that we can still do the best we can to help those individuals that are in captive
situations have a long full and enriched life. Every parrot is an individual and as such have
different needs/expectations based on that animals particular history. A parrot that was hand raised
and seems to enjoy being with people would probably appreciate spending a few hours a day just
hanging out with you. A different parrot that was wild caught and has no fondness for humans and
only prefers its own kind would benefit from having a cage mate of the same species. Every story
behind every animal is different and it is your job as the animals custodian to find out what would
be the best solution for that individual bird.
Parrots should be given ten hours of uninterrupted sleep, usually covered, every day.
Diet is very important to the health of any parrot. That is why you should do your research on the
exact species you are dealing with. You will also want to train your bird to use a gram scale and
weigh them at least once a week. A parrots weight directly reflects its health. A parrot can look

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completely normal and have lost 10% or more of its weight overnight. This would be a warning
sign to take your bird to the vet immediately. Usually if your parrot looks sick,(lethargic, fluffed
out, not active, spending time on the bottom of the cage) it is already too late. This is because
parrots are flock animals and if the flock can see any sign of weakness they will be shunned or left
on the outskirts to be picked off by predators, so a parrot will avoid looking sick for as long as
possible.
7.) How can a green-winged macaw be trained to be more accepting of new/other individuals?
Please refer to question four. Positive reinforcement is the most universally accepted way to train
positive behaviors in parrots and decrease unwanted behaviors, such as aggression. Something as
simple as having the person in question drop the best parts of the birds diet in its bowl when it is
not acting aggressive can go a long way. Negative reinforcement (not a form of punishment and
not be confused with punishment) has also been shown to be very effective in situations such as
these as well. An example of which would be starting off really far away from the bird, waiting
until it calms down and then walking away. Slowly get closer and closer until you can be near the
parrot without it showing signs of aggression.

Journal Entry- observations of Emerald

submit: grab beak, look in eyes, say no

hates spray bottles and lotion containers
loves to be outside- looks at his shadow
loves floors, carpets, and corners (possibly nesting instincts)
doesnt like children in crowds (hides in my chest)
loves jazz and classical music
loves twinkle twinkle little star and will sing back
being higher in altitude makes him more aggressive (ex: hes meanest on his top

perch, maybe feels most empowered up there? feels bigger?)

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flower stress remedy oil- makes him calmer (less vocal, less sporadic) but doesnt
make him necessarily nicer

Works Cited
"About Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium." Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
at Tufts University. HARC, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.

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"ABOUT IDA - In Defense of Animals." - In Defense of Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
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Davis, Chris. "Macaws: 8 Things You Should Know." Bird Channel. N.p., 6 Oct. 2006. Web. 27
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The Linnean Society 168.4 (2013): 892.Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.
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