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1) “Pet birds: historical and modern perspectives on the keeper and the kept,” by Dr. David   L. Graham from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. In this article Dr. Graham points out that necropsies of “pet” birds often reveal evidence of “a life beset with stress.” He partly attributes this stress to restriction or deprivation of natural behaviors and activity including flight. His recommendations for keeping a captive bird happy far exceed the means most people are capable of providing. He writes, “It would seem that the ideal enclosure for a captive bird is one of such size and equipped with such internal furnishings that the bird would have no awareness of its captivity. Anything less is a compromise and acceptance, on the part of the keeper, that the kept may or will be subject to the stresses imposed by a lesser or greater degree of restriction of its normal behaviors

2) “Who’s a clever parrot, then?” from New Scientist. This article examines parrot intelligence and the ethics of keeping parrots captive. The author describes that parrots develop strong and complex social-emotional bonds and that they can develop behavioral problems when deprived of companionship. Not surprisingly, biologists who study parrots refer to them as “flying primates” and “honorary primates.” According to James Serpell of the department of veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge and its Companion Animal Research Group, parrots should not be kept as pets unless caretakers are prepared to devote as much time interacting with them as they would a human child. Serpell contends that parrots will suffer unless they are kept in large aviaries with other members of their own species. Charles Munn, a well-respected research zoologist interviewed in this article, believes that no one should be allowed to keep parrots over a certain size. He has compared keeping large parrots such as macaws to keeping wolves instead of domestic dogs.

3) “Considerations in selecting an appropriate pet bird” by Liz H. Wilson, CVT, from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, highlights the behaviors of different parrot species. She also notes that, “under the best of circumstances, parrots are difficult creatures to live with, and few people will actually enjoy long-term cohabitation with them.”

4) “Captive mangement of birds for a lifetime” by Susan L. Clubb, DVM, from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, explains that “many birds are given up within a few years of being brought into their owner’s homes,” and describes the common reasons cited for giving up “pet” birds. She notes that, “in many cases, owners simply do
not have accurate expectations when they purchase parrots or have not been properly educated and made
aware of normal psittacine behavior.”

One of our primary concerns about the sale of birds is that very few people are capable of caring for the special needs of exotic birds or comprehend the seriousness of the commitment for the birds’ life span. Schuppli and Fraser point out that “animal welfare may also be jeopardized if the owner loses interest in, or commitment to, the animal,” and that “consistent care may also be jeopardized if animals are very long lived. For example, parrots in captivity can live 30-80 years, as do many primates.” Each year thousands of birds are sold into the pet trade to individuals who are under the mistaken impression that a bird will make an intriguing pet.  Eventually, whether due to frustration, disinterest, or concern, many people attempt to rid themselves of the responsibility of caring for their birds, or reduce the quality of care provided.