Conference 7.286::pet_birds

942.0. "Cockatiel head shaking when "learning" phrases." by NETCAD::CREEGAN () Tue Jun 03 1997 13:03

    My daughter has an eight month old cockatiel.  She named her after
    the Greek god of blacksmithing, which I cannot spell :-{
    
    She spends hours a day with the bird.  The bird hears the keys in 
    the doorknob and goes nutty until she comes and picks her up 
    (she acts like a female, we're guessing she's one).
    
    When she tries to repeat phrases to the bird, like "I love you",
    "Hi", "Good morning" the bird shakes her head.  I tell my daughter
    the bird is telling her "I don't want to learn to talk", but when
    my daughter chats with the bird or asks it a question, "Want something
    to eat?" the bird does not react the same way.  I think the bird
    recognizes the repeated phrases and chooses to react that way.
    Does the head shaking suggest anything?  Is this normal?  Just
    wondering.