DEBATE: Yawning Birds

[The Outlaw]

OK. Here's what I get out of this whole thread: Birds and most other animals, not insects, yawn and apparently for a miriad of reasons. It is medically documented.

As for giving our pets special cutesy names, you bet we do and you should be REAL glad that we do. In fact, if it weren't for my naming a pet calf Gwendolyn when she was born, we'd be dining on her today. We do that to differentiate those things we love and admire from others we care less about.
Its the difference from investing in the very best care and equipment we can to make our birds happy or simply shoving them in a filthy cage. I'm all for it!

As for the authenticity of the posts, I'll take the ones that I can actually reference myself and draw my own opinions. What does that mean at the end of the day? Hell, not much really. Its only in the end my humble opinion.

I do like a good debate. I'm sorry, but I do

[Doubleyolk]

Yehuda as always I find your posts very informative, but I did have to spend time with a dictionary to get a good understanding this time.

I find with my Cockatoo and B&G they spread their Maxilla and Mandible either just before or just after a wing and leg stretch. I can't recall my Grey's doing anything other than a wing and leg stretch.

Whatever they are doing it sure looks like a yawn to me!

[TooLover]

what have I gotten out of this thread? Scientific or not - I know for a fact that my "FIDS" yawn - I have seen it; I don't care about scientific names for the upper and lowers beaks - doesn't matter at this point to me - I just know for a fact that my "FIDS' yawn.
Yes, I put "FIDS" - cutesy or not - that is what we call them in our most affectionate way!

[FairLight]

My only FID, Abbie, yawns whenever I try to explain some scientific detail
to her that she already knows. After her yawn, she always corrects me.
We call each other "s'eetheart" and spend a lot of time admiring her unique,
intellegent and creative being. She is precious to me, and I have an infinite capacity of love for her.
We spent a long time finding just the right name-I needed one that was sufficiently cutsey to show the sweet side of her and not just the intellectual.
I had thought of "The Baroness Rothchild" but, it's cutsey quotient didn't work.
I hate debates because I am always RIGHT! :o) Why waste my time? :o)
Just agree with me, it's easier! :o)
Wishing you all a day of good cheer and much humor,
Linda In CA

[The Outlaw]

Linda, I like your style!

[Rue]

...just for the record, I read and post on these boards in part to get AWAY from strict scientific protocol...get enough of that at school/work...

...my opinion? Birds yawn...ain't gonna defend it...they also do other yawn-like behaviours...what are they? Not sure - I'm trained in insect behaviour not bird behaviour but I'm guessing it's something to do with crop contents, burping, or something along those lines...

I'm not into cutesy names or terminology either...don't use the term 'fids' myself...but if someone wants to when referring to their pets? Why the heck not?...

...and Yehuda? Just out of curiousity...why don't you italicise/underline genus and species? We had proper presentation of Latin names drilled into us way back when, so I'm curious if we were taught incorrectly...

i.e. Pionus senilis or Pionus senilis are the only options we were told were acceptable.

[yehudasf]

BS"D

Rue:

.and Yehuda? Just out of curiousity...why don't you italicise/underline genus and species? We had proper presentation of Latin names drilled into us way back when, so I'm curious if we were taught incorrectly...

The protocols that you refer to apply only if the terms are being used in a monograph, scholarly paper, or a simple textbook. It has absolutely no application in something as non-authoritative as a sig file. Were I to publish an article on living with my psittazen companions, wherein I identify them by the proper Latin nomenclature, then of course, I would follow the correct format for doing such. It is completely unnecessary (& a great deal more than a bit pretentious) to modify text format in a sig file wherein the only Latin present is simply the genus Ara & the species Macao, Ararauna, Chloroptera. I always identify my psittazen companions by the Latin designation to avoid confusion. Since I deal with many Europeans, & in European English nomenclature many of the names are different, i.e. greenwing = green & red HERE IS A LINK FOR VERIFICATION Buffon's = great green HERE IS A LINK FOR VERIFICATION, as these sources & many others will show you, every other country in the world uses these other names. For my purposes I find it better to use the Latin & avoid any confusion.

Rue:

just for the record, I read and post on these boards in part to get AWAY from strict scientific protocol...get enough of that at school/work..

While that attitude may be understandible in some circumstances, when it comes to asserting a false statement as fact, in relation to our psittazen companions, it is of utmost importance to be certain that unassailable facts are presented. This is not simply a matter of correcting an obvious falsehood in the service of truth. It is also vitally important to be certain that any false information is corrected to prevent less experienced human companions from making what could turn out to be a fatal error with their psittazen companions. This is in-and-of-itself a desirable end. Frankly, it is the only concern I would have. Anything else is superfluous & of no importance compared to the responsibility of doing what we can to prevent harm to companion psittazens.

Rue:

I'm not into cutesy names or terminology either...don't use the term 'fids' myself..

I use the term "psittazen companions" to denote my moral, ethical & philosophical position on the deserved treatment of those creatures that we bring into our home. They are, without doubt highly social, emotive, & deeply dependent creatures. To refer to them in a manner that perpetuates the heinous injustice of regarding them as mere chattel is a most grievous averah (evil act).

[Tiki]

I love the "cutesy" terms such as "Psittazen" and "Fids". My birds are so much more to me than mere pets, they are family! They are very emotional, feeling creatures, I never had a clue how emotional birds are until 5 years ago when I got my first cockatiel. I have seen love, hate, lust, jealousy, trust, fear (night frights), relief, and other emotions I can't think of now all played out in my bird room. It's like a soap opera in there!

[Rue]

...thanks Yehuda, for the in-depth reply...

...birds are much more emotive than I had anticipated, I'm amazed at the depth of socialization they participate in - and I'm talking hand-raised individuals...my older unneeded aviary cockatiels have been a very different experience...

...now, just because I'm not fond of the term 'fids' doesn't mean I don't walk around doing the silly, high-pitched baby talk with them, because I do...and they so obviously respond to it...how could I not?

In fact, I do much more baby-talk with my critters (even the snake - who couldn't care less from what I can tell) than I ever did with my kids...