Free as a Bird
The Plight of Caged Birds
by Lori Lindner, PhD
What would you do in a situation like this? You meet someone at a local demonstration against fur and you decide to strike up a conversation. It would be really nice to have a new friend, someone with similar values and beliefs – and a kindred spirit. Here is someone you can relate to…and, indeed, you hit it off.
Before long she invites you over to her home. As soon as you walk in you notice the cage in the corner of the living room. It is apparent that the animal inside the cage is thrilled about the return home of his companion human. He is calling to her excitedly, calling for attention and affection.
As you approach the cage, your eyes confirm what your other senses have already prepared you for. The animal inside the small cage is a dog.
You inquire of your newfound companion about this odd state off affairs. She assures you that she has had this dog for twelve years and that "Sparky" has always lived inside this cage and truly loves the safety and security it provides. Sparky gets fed twice a day with special in-between treats and his "messes" get cleaned up daily. There are 30-minute play times twice each day and Sparky couldn’t be happier.
But how, you ask, would she know that Sparky truly enjoys living his life in a cage. "Oh, easy," she explains, "Sparky barks and wags his tail – a sign that a dog is happy if ever there was one. He doesn’t have to worry about the coyotes which prowl the backyard at night nor the more vicious automobiles that prowl the streets all day. He lives his life safe indoors in his cage, he has the perfect life free from the worries of the outside world."
Surely this would offend you deeply. What would you do, what would you say? You would be unable to grasp how she could make such outlandish rationalizations for her callous treatment of this loving animal.
What if this animal was not a dog but a bird? What would you do then? Would you call the local humane society? Would you end the relationship immediately? Would you do anything at all?
The truth is, most of us do nothing, even those of us enlightened activists in the trenches for so many other animal causes. Most of us see birds in cages as we shop for dog and cat food at our local pet shop; we know people who, themselves, keep caged birds as "pets"; and many of us even keep birds as companions of our own. We have become blind to the reality of what it means to keep a flighted, non- mammal, flock creature as a "pet" in a cage alone for her/his entire life. We have resorted to the same rationalizations as this fictional friend, blinding ourselves to the plight of nearly 30 million exotic animals kept in cages in the private zoos of people’s homes.
Most of us would never really contemplate keeping a dog in a cage, yet we have come to believe that there is no other option for a bird. In fact, birds, being capable of flight, are able to cover far greater distances in one day than a dog might in an entire lifetime.
Or picture in the cage, instead, a bald eagle or robin redbreast. While we may be outraged by such an image of our own wild birds denied their freedom, why is it acceptable to keep birds of other nations captive? The U.S. Fish an Wildlife Service repeatedly has to confiscate and release caged eagles, bluejays, and other North American birds because the people who possessed them couldn’t understand why birds from their native lands (Mexican Amazons, South American Macaws, etc.) could be kept in cages but not birds from our country.
Just as our fictional friend justified the imprisonment of her dog, many people try to explain away the abuse underlying the keeping in the U.S. of at least 12-15 million birds by exclaiming such things as:
Birds live longer in captivity. (You would live longer, too, if you were never exposed to driving on our highways, walking across boulevards, and any social contact to avoid contracting illnesses. But would you rather not do these things in order to live longer?)
Birds in cages do not have to face predators. (But would you prefer to live in a closet the rest of your life rather than face risks?)
Birds only sing if happy. (First of all, ornithologists agree that birds sing and call for myriad reasons. But wouldn’t you continue to speak your own language no matter in what dire straits you were?)
Birds in cages do not have to hunt and forage for food, it’s just there for them whenever they want it. (Hunting and foraging are a very natural part of a bird’s daily existence. This is what they know, this is what they do, and it allows for a diversified, nutritious diet of seasonally varying foods. Instead, most birds in cages [remember, there is no such thing as a cage-bird] get the same seed or pellet diet day after day, year after year – this, for what in nature are gourmet eaters. How monotonous for them, how tasteless. So few "bird people" attempt the sweet potatoes, corn, rice, and other veggies that most parrots love. People often say that they tried but their bird didn’t like the new foods. Most birds require long periods of time to become accustomed to new things and most people simply do not try long enough.)
Birds are not domesticated animals – most are only one or two generations from living free. Think of all the times you’ve heard people with birds frantic that a window or door might be left open. And ironically, it is because of this that we take away a bird’s very identity – the ability to fly.
Yes, birds are beautiful to look at and listen to – they entertain us with their antics. But at what cost to both human and bird? We are losing rainforest habitat because of the poaching trade. Trees are hacked down to get to nests. Parent birds are killed to get to nestlings. Outrageous percentages of birds die in the transport to this country and in our disease-creating quarantine stations. Humans also become sick from diseases that birds carry and bird dust and dropping particles can infiltrate lungs and cause allergic reactions, especially in those with susceptibility to asthma and chronic lung disease.
Birds are sold, given away, lost or even set free at an average of every three years. Or, worse, put in some corner, garage, or basement to spend the rest of their lives in a cage alone because of their loudness, smell, or frequent messes. Think of a dog or cat having twenty homes in one lifetime – why is it acceptable for a bird? And birds are at least as intelligent, affectionate, curious, playful, social, mischievous, and devoted as your dog and cat. People truly underestimate these characteristics of birds as well as others.
But what about the birds who are already bred or imported and need good homes? Our hearts go out to them but the law of supply and demand prevails. We cannot buy that cute bird in the pet shop window and not expect another to replace it the next week or so. If you stop buying, they will eventually have to stop breeding or stealing them from the wild.
Not to say that there are not responsible pet shop keepers, of course there are, but they are in the bird selling business. Even researching their customers thoroughly they cannot predict what will happen in those people’s lives 2, 5, 20 years from now (graduation, divorce, relocation, death) creating an untenable situation for a once-loved bird and forcing him/her from home to home. Remember, certain parrot species can live as long as humans.
When pet shop owners tell you what a great "pet" a bird makes, they rarely tell you how noisy, messy, and "high maintenance" they are. Even if you want to be humane and leave the cage door open or the bird on a T-stand, that bird beak can chew through virtually anything and you will inevitably end up with part of your home destroyed. Birds’ calls are meant for members of the flock (now their human family) whenever they are out of view – "out of view" equates with danger and the bird is calling "Where are you?" But bird calls can be heard in the jungles for miles. Neighbours’ complaints about noise are another major reason people give up their once-loved companion.
Most parrots want to be in close physical contact at all times, just as they would be with their flockmates. Waiting for you while you are at work or school is intolerable, and stereotypic behaviors may develop (such as feather plucking, or self mutilation).
If you already have a bird or birds, love them, but please do not buy more. Instead, rescue a companion of the same species (check newspapers, pounds, animal rescue organizations, nursing homes). Because there is such a tremendous turnaround in bird ownership, some locales have bird placement centers where you can find a free companion of the same species for your bird. Some centers have hundreds of birds which were abandoned or given away just because they were too much work.
What kinds of birds can you find? While there are some 8700 known species of birds, the most popular small birds are parakeets, cockatiels, and finches; larger favorites include cockatoos and macaws. Why are they left at shelters? I’ve heard every story imaginable for why they were bought in the first place (e.g., they matched the living room furniture) to why they were given up (e.g., chewed the leg off of a $30,000 Baby Grand piano). Some people withheld food from their birds because they didn’t want them "pooping" when guests were over. Some people believed they intentionally screamed to wake the baby.
Don’t be a bird caretaker who gives up because your bird is "too much trouble". Get to know your bird. Read about how she lives in the wild. Find out what she normally eats in her native habitat. Check climate, mating, and other needs.
Do not separate pairs once bonded but don’t encourage breeding either. Remove nest boxes. Hollow out eggs and allow the pair to "go through the motions" of brooding – they will tire of it eventually when nothing hatches. Many birds will outlive their caretakers, so make provisions for them in your will and have your future caretaker make provisions as well.
Find out if there is a bird sanctuary or large, indoor-outdoor aviary in mild climates where they can ideally be with other members of their own species. If you can not find a sanctuary, donate birds to someone who has other birds of the same species and allows them to live in a free-flight situation.
If you do not have birds please do not buy one. We’ll all be better off observing birds in the wild and in their natural habitat. Attract wild birds to your home by offering water and bird baths (check migrating patterns first). Or rescue a dog or cat from the pound or a shelter – you both will be so much happier.
Article originally published in the Animal Protection Institute magazine Mainstream. Reprinted with permission.
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