What does this mean???

[Alyce Johnson]

This question was somewhat inspired by the greenwing nesting question.

My female ruby macaw Berta, who has chosen me as her mate (she doesnt know she's a *******, so dont tell ) - she sits on my knee at night when I watch TV.

I groom her (get nipped for my trouble), cuddle & kiss her etc and she grooms me, too. She also marauds (sp?) around on the couch where there is usually fresh laundry, pulling buttons off of clothes (if she can get away with it) and beating up on her great enemies, the Towels. She tells those hapless towels who is boss, too - she's very vocal about her victories!

Well, here's what I wonder about - she gets in my lap and begins to dig and pluck at the crotch of my sweatpants. Quite determined about it, too. And makes a lot of kind of "purring" noises - not the same as the aggressive noises she makes when attempting to shred the towels. But she persists, like she's trying to dig to China, as my Granny would say.

Is this a scent thing, motivated by hormones? Or (being blind) does she just think the sweat pants would be nice to shred up for a nest? Should I make her stop? Other than having somewhat of a fear of being subjected to the human equivalent of a feather plucking I'm not too disturbed by it.

She hasnt bit me ever and really just pulls at the clothing. But I'm just not sure what to make of it. Is this yet another manifestation of mating behavior towards me? (I've been kinda slow to catch on to her signals in the past so I thought I should ask. )

I love holding her and dont want to banish her from my lap, at all. And so far, she hasnt ever tried to lay, although she has definitely tried many times to mate with me. Is this lap digging thing OK to let her do? And if not, how do I make her stop?

[The Outlaw]

Wendy Craig responds:

Alyce

It is not mating behavior but is most likely nesting behavior. It is not a scent thing and should not be encouraged. Don't make a big deal out of it, just distract her. Give her something else she can play with, or a food item. Anything really to get her focused on something else. Cloth items are especially coveted by adult Greenwings for use as nesting material. They have been known to hide in washers or dryers with the laundry and protect their nest. The best thing is simply to make sure these areas are not available. We have a Greenwing who will protect a/his towel when on the floor. Therefore he needs to be kept off the floor. Of course this is not always possible. When he gets into his towel nesting behavior we simply engage him in one of his favorite games. Once he starts playing the game he can easily be picked up. So even though your girl is not being aggressive the same type of distractions will work. Since she is not going to be a breeder it is best to not encourage that type of behavior which will assist in avoiding frustration.

Wendy