The Telepathic Parrot

There’s a good reason for for these seemingly telepathic occurrences -- you and your bird are both able to read each other’s minds. Actually, all animals, including humans, are telepathic. We humans rely so much on spoken language that we’ve lost much of our ability to communicate telepathically, however it can be developed in anyone who seriously wants to communicate with their animals.

I often know when my Timneh African Grey, Jing, wants a drink of water if she’s on a perch away from her water dish -- without any spoken sounds from her. Sure enough, every time I offer her water, after receiving her request, she drinks deeply. However, try it without her unspoken request and she turns her beak up at my offering.

Sometimes I combine spoken words with mental transmission. I will ask her where she wants to go, naming a list of places. She only answers when I say the correct place.

Perhaps the most interesting example of her telepathic ability is choosing objects by mind transmission alone. Jing and other parrots I’ve worked with will touch fingers on mine or other people’s hands from their thoughts alone. For instance, if I think ‘index finger’, she immediately and gently touches that finger. She is very accurate at determining the correct finger. Jing and other parrots will also choose colored or marked tongue depressor sticks from a selection of three or four. Jing pulls the correct one out and hands it to me.

To be sure I’m not inadvertently cueing her, I’ve had other people transmit requests to her while she sits on my hand. She always chooses the correct finger, stick or number paper -- although I have no idea which one it is.

You too can teach yourself and your parrot to respond to one another telepathically. Here’s how it’s done ----------

1. First, you must be clear minded, with your mind not cluttered by everyday thoughts and problems. You must also have an open mind about your parrot's abilities. If you don't think your parrot can do this, you probably won't be able to establish communication.
2. Start by holding your bird on one hand, with the other hand held within reach in front of the parrot. Say out loud whichever finger you want your parrot to touch. Saying it verbally helps you think about and visualize that finger. Your bird will probably not touch the finger, because it doesn't yet associate touch with your choice of finger. Therefore, after saying the name, tough that finger lightly to the parrot's beak. Praise the bird immediately when contact is made with your finger (not if it bites you of course, we're assuming your bird won't bite). My Grey, Jing, is a very kissy bird, so I reward her with verbal praise, Good Girl, and a kiss (lips closed to prevent bacteria from my mouth to hers).
3. Repeat this several times with the same finger. Soon your parrot will begin reaching for that finger when the name is called. When it does, immediately reward it with praise.

After fingers, try small colored objects that your bird can easily pick up. I use tongue depressors, colored with non-toxic coloring on one side only. The bird cannot see the colored side. Look at the object and think about your parrot picking it up and giving it to you. After fingers, this was an easy step for Jing and me. If your bird likes to crunch wooden object, you may have to train it to release the stick into your hand. Do this by grasping one end and asking it to release the object. Try not to twist it out of the parrot's mouth. This is too much a fun game for the bird. Just hold the end until it lets go, then praise it for doing so.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me.