September 13 - Michele Parrett - Beyond the Scope: The Social and Emotional Lives of Captive Parrots
We humans can’t get enough of talking parrots. We scour the Internet for videos, and eagerly watch as parrots use words and phrases in context. Those of us who live with parrots smile (or cringe) when our birds say something new, and we usually can’t wait to tell family and friends about our parrots’ latest expletives - err, exploits. Among all the storied wonders of the animal kingdom, talking parrots are amazingly unique!

But we rarely appreciate that parrots are using words to connect with us. They want our undivided attention because, just like us humans, parrots are highly social creatures. And we LOVE this about them! We love that they want to sing with us, and dance with us, and have fun! Unfortunately, when we bring parrots into our homes, most of us don’t understand how much social support parrots need. When we’re not able to meet their expectations, the consequences can be difficult for us, and devastating for them.

Join us for an intimate look at the social and emotional lives of captive parrots. Our ability to interact with them is not merely entertaining: it’s paramount to their well-being, and must be considered a critical component of basic care.

Michele, former, Humane Education Director for Foster Parrots, holds a Master's degree in Italian literature from the University of Connecticut, and spent most of her professional life working in administration and human resources. Her passion, however, has always been education. As the former owner of a parrot specialty shop, Michele spent countless hours educating the public about parrots and about the unique challenges of caring for them in captivity. This experience ultimately led her to Foster Parrots and The New England Wildlife Sanctuary where, as the Director of Humane Education, she worked on behalf of their amazing residents to encourage people of all ages to become thoughtful, responsible stewards of planet Earth.