Escaped Pet Birds Teach Wild Cockatoos how to Talk

In some parts of Australia it is no exception to hear voices when there are no people near. The voices are the chatter of wild cockatoos that where taught words and sentences from escaped domesticated cockatoos.

Increasingly, inhabitants of the New South Wales province report birds that shout 'Hello there!', 'Hello Darling' and 'What's Happening' from the trees. Some people thought they were going mad after watching a flock of birds in their garden while the animals shouted things like: "Who's a pretty boy then?"

According to Australian Museum's naturalist Martyn Robinson, the language is picked up from pet birds that escaped their cages and joined wild flocks. "These birds are very smart birds and very social and communication and contact is important between them"

"The pet bird begins to say things it's been taught by its owner and the rest of the flock learns and starts speaking too, to mimic the pet bird," Mr Robinson said. "I just hope a pet that's been taught dirty words doesn't join a flock." Indeed that would unsettle our suburban backyards.

Via DeMorgen, Via DailyTelegraph. Image: Shutterstock. Thanks: Dennis Lodewijks.