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Written by an evolutionary biologist/ornithologist who writes about E3 -- Evolution, Ecology and Ethology -- and the subtle relationships between these phenomena, especially in birds.
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« Godless Scientists Are Ignorant! | Main | Mystery Bird: Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor »
Topic Categories: Behavior • Ornithology • Parrots • Streaming videos
Posted on: June 28, 2009 8:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: World Science Festival, science, dancing parrot, Snowball, eleanora cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea eleonora, humor, funny, streaming video
Despite living in NYC, I was not at the World Science Festival last weekend, which totally bums me out, especially since Irene Pepperberg was there, speaking, and Snowball, a male Eleanora (medium sulfur-crested) cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea eleonora, was there, dancing. This video shows Snowball's delightful performance -- which I missed!! [3:01]
Brain & Behavior
Education
Comments
This is the first time I have seen Snowball dance with his owner in the picture. It raises the question of whether he only dances when the owner is providing visual cues or does he spontaneously dance without any cues when he hears the music.
Dancing when cued is just a party trick, dancing without cues indicates much more.
Posted by: Mike Owen | June 29, 2009 6:47 PM
This is the first time I have seen Snowball dance with his owner in the picture. It raises the question of whether he only dances when the owner is providing visual cues or does he spontaneously dance without any cues when he hears the music.
Dancing when cued is just a party trick, dancing without cues indicates much more.
Posted by: Mike Owen | June 29, 2009 6:52 PM
I love this bird. They need to give him his own show. (Hell, if Jenny McCarthy gets one ... why not?)
Posted by: Jo | June 29, 2009 7:06 PM
The truth is Snowball would spontaneously start dancing to Backstreet without knowing Irene or anyone was present ...that is what is so amazing and why science is studying this ..of course the idea of cues came up and it was quickly shown to be it was Snowball who needed no one but the music! Anyone with parrots already knows this as no big deal but it is only recently that neuro science is taking an interest at what those that live with these creatures have known all along.
Posted by: Angela Cancilla Herschel | June 30, 2009 9:37 PM