Initial observation of human-bird vocal interactions in a zoological setting

Abstract

Vocal interactions between humans and non-human animals are pervasive, but studies are often limited to communication within species. Here, we conducted a pilot exploration of vocal interactions between visitors to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Sampson, an 18-year-old male Hyacinth Macaw residing near the entrance. Over the course of one hour, 82 vocal and behavioral events were recorded, and various relationships between human and bird behavior were noted. Analyses of this type, applied to large datasets with assistance from artificial intelligence, could be used to better understand the impacts, positive or negative, of human visitors on animals in managed care.

Sonic enrichment at the zoo

“…Examples of the observed effects of enrichment included reduced respiratory rate in dogs (Wells et al, 2002), improved growth rate of chickens (Gvaryahu et al, 1989), reduced incidences of stereotypies, and enhanced general well-being in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (Wells & Irwin, 2008), leopards (Markowitz et al, 1995), and several species of birds (Kaplan et al, 2009;I. Williams et al, 2017;Kleinberger et al, 2019). However, it is worth noting that Khan and Wascher (2021) highlighted the frequent lack of reproducibility in auditory enrichment research.…”

“…Previous work in human-computer interaction have offered interesting instances of digital technologies used in the context of interspecies interactions between humans and non-human animals. This work has acknowledged and curated the human's role and behavior to appeal to the specific animal or species, from a challenging play partner (Noz & An, 2011;Westerlaken & Gualeni, 2014;Yanofsky & Markowitz, 1978), to an empathetic audience (Webber et al, 2017;Kleinberger et al, 2019), a conversational partner (Ko et al, 2018), or a provider of remote petting (Lee et al, 2006). Such approaches have the potential to lead to higher levels of animalhuman interaction, playfulness, and energy expenditure (Claxton, 2011), especially when the animal is provided with increased agency through the digitally mediated interspecies interaction (Kleinberger et al, 2023).…”

“…Illustrating this second principle, we envisioned the TamagoPhone project, an augmented incubator that maintains vocal communication between bird parents and eggs during artificial incubation (Figure 1 left). Presented at the 2022 International Conference on Animal-Computer Interactions (Kleinberger et al, 2022) and the 2021 International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots, the TamagoPhone specifically targets the understudied phenomenon of vocal communication between bird parents and their unhatched offspring to address the effects on post-hatching behvaior. It is common practice for zoos and bird conservationists to incubate bird eggs in artificial incubators to maximize hatching rates by reducing risks of predators (Schüttler et al, 2009), diseases (Lábaque et al, 2003) or temperature problems (King'Ori et al, 2011).…”

“…The TamagoPhone project illustrates ways to leverage technology to bring awareness of subtle, though fundamental, vocal exchanges in the animal kingdom, and to think about ways humans can limit perturbations when caring for wildlife and livestock. More details are presented in Kleinberger et al (2022). Ongoing work with collaborating avian institutions include the evaluation of the system in terms of post-hatching parental bonding and species-specific identity depending on incubating conditions using natural, artificial, or Tamago-Phonebased incubation.…”