Screaming- my ears ring just thinking about it! One of the leading causes of birds needing to be re-homed is the noise that they make and what is described as "screaming". Since I live with several 'world class' screamers, I thought it might be useful to describe what screaming is and isn't.

Screaming is a form of communication and while it may be unpleasant to most humans, for birds, screaming has a definite purpose. Birds are vocal creatures and normally vocalize, and yes, scream, at various levels throughout the day. Vocalizations and contact calls are an essential survival mechanism that birds rely on to locate each other, to warn of impending danger and to maintain their flock communication and bond. Birds normally converse with each other throughout the day, with morning and evening being particularly active times. The noise level varies depending on the number of birds, how excited the birds are and what the activity is. Some birds may also be what's referred to as sentinel birds or birds that are in charge of warning the flock of danger, generally by screaming as loudly as they can. I live with a sentinel bird. Iris is the first one to scream at any (and I do mean any) thing that she perceives as out-of-the-ordinary or dangerous. Her warnings usually set off a chain reaction of events where the birds all become hyper-alert and vigilant. They may try to fly away and they usually all scream right along with Iris. The resulting chaos can be deafening! It's important to understand that these types of behaviors are hard-wired in the bird's brain and not something that can be eliminated. What can be modified are the conditions that cause the birds to call or scream excessively.

If your bird is being too noisy or screaming- start by trying to determine if the bird is really being too loud, if this is a normal noise level for that species of bird, or are the humans in the household too sensitive to the pitch and volume. If you aren't familiar with a normal noise level of the species of bird that you have or are considering, talk with people that have experience with that type of bird, hopefully before acquiring the bird. For example, if you are considering a conure, you may want to visit someone that actually has conures. Certainly, if you are considering a cockatoo, spend some time with a few before deciding to adopt one. Larger parrots can be heard as far as 2 miles away when outside. You can imagine what a neighbor in an apartment or condo will say living just a few feet away!

Evaluate when the bird is calling or screaming. Does the noise coincide with your getting home from work, the bird being isolated away from the rest of the family's activities or another bird? Birds are flock animals that are not naturally alone. They are prey animals and instinctually know it. It is a natural behavior for a lone bird to try to locate its flock (including humans) by calling out. You may need to consider moving the bird's cage, perch or stand to a central location or having multiple perching stands throughout the house so the bird doesn't perceive that it's alone, and thus, in danger. If your bird does need to occasionally be in a room separate from the main activities of the house, try providing a radio or TV or some other distraction. Don't ignore a bird's contact call- that does nothing to address the bird's insecurities and why the bird is calling out in the first place. Sometimes a simply reply to your bird's call, such as "I'm here" or "I'm busy" works wonders to re-assure the bird that you're there.

A common reaction to a bird's screaming is to yell back, even louder. All that does is reinforce the contact screaming and make you lose your voice in the process! I can tell you from first-hand experience: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OUT-SCREAM A MACAW OR COCKATOO! So, save your breath. I've found that whispering works wonders. As soon as I lower my voice and whisper, the birds stop screaming to hear what I'm saying. Of course, that also works in reverse…. Several of my birds have taken to whispering to me to get me to quite down!

You will need to evaluate if the bird is screaming in fear or alerting to danger. Check the bird's cage placement. For example, a cage place directly in front of a window may be very stressful to the bird, especially if the bird has no cover or place to hide. In a bird's world, the window with no cover is like sitting outside at the top of a tree inviting a large hawk to swoop in and grab it.

Is there something in the environment that the bird may be percieve as threatening? I recently talked with a woman who indicated she couldn't understand why her bird was screaming every time she put it in its cage in the family room, until she figured out that a hanging mobile in the room was intermittently casting a shadow on the bird's cage. The poor bird saw the shadow and probably thought it was going to be a snack. Once the mobile was removed, the bird settled right down.

Consider modifying the bird's environment or cage placement to reduce noise levels. For example, if you live in an apartment or duplex, you may want to place your bird's cage on wall or room farthest away from your adjoining neighbor. Carpet and furniture can muffle noise, so if you have hardwood or laminate flooring, expect the noise level to be louder than if the bird is in a carpeted room- which is a drag, since flooring is much easier to clean! You may want to consider putting lights on timers so that the lights are dimmed periodically allowing for naps. I spoke with a woman that had just recently acquired a conure. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to keep the bird, because it kept screaming and waking her 2 year old from the child's afternoon nap. In reality, the bird was being "put away" in its cage during the child's nap time and the bird didn't like being alone. Simply dimming the lights, covering the cage and coordinating the toddler's nap time with the bird's afternoon nap, corrected the problem and now everyone has adjusted well.

Under NO circumstances should a bird be ever punished for vocalizing- that includes placing the bird in the dark, spraying with water, isolating, hitting the bird, removing the bird from its mate or flock, or using the cage as punishment. These activities generally backfire and can actually escalate the screaming behaviors as well as create a host of other problems.

If you have a bird that screams neurotically, meaning and repetitive scream that goes on and on, no matter what the intervention, that behavior is NOT normal and needs to be evaluated by a professional, starting with a comprehensive examination by a veterinarian that specializes in avian medicine. The bird also should be evaluated by an avian behaviorist. While rare, neurotic screaming may be symptomatic of an array of problems including phobias, trauma, or medical problems, some that can be addressed successfully, others that can't.

Become familiar with 'normal' vocalizations, including screaming, so the you will recognize a scream or sound that indicates distress. For those of us who have experienced a panicked or injured bird's screams, it's not a sound we will forget. It's important to recognize a bird's normal sounds so that you can respond immediately to any sounds that aren't. I have heard repeatedly from bird owners about incidences where their bird made a 'funny' sound or something just didn't 'sound' right, only to discover that the bird had become entrapped, had a seizure or some had some other life threatening problem.

Screaming behaviors can be extremely taxing to both the bird and its human companions and there is no canned answer. That's why it's important to seek out solutions that you can individualize to your bird and family. There are lots of good resources out there including a variety of websites, books and articles. You may also want to seek out the support of a local bird club or rescue organization, as members will have a variety of experiences that may work for you.

-- Leanna Rein, President

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
akbirdclub@yahoo.com