I, like an increasing number of Bird owners, provide foraging & enrichment to my Birds. Whilst the word ‘enrichment’ is becoming familiar to people, the true meaning behind it often remains cloudy. Because enrichment is a hugely complex & in-depth topic, people who speak about it & encourage its use often shy away from explaining enrichment in detail. We often know WHAT enrichment is & HOW to give it, but not WHY it is so important to offer. In this article I hope to bring you a little bit of the science behind enrichment to help interested owners uncover the phenomenal impact this simple thing has on their brain.
The phrase ‘you are shaped by your environment’ has never been so profoundly true as when it used for Birds. Every interaction, every angry response or kind word, every experience, every movement & taste & exposure significantly shapes who our Bird is. This goes far beyond stimulated Birds being too busy to misbehave or Birds being treated with gentleness copying that gentle nature.
Enrichment actually changes the structure of the brain. They behave differently when having enrichment because their brain is different.
In 1874 Charles Darwin noted that domestic Rabbits had smaller brains than their wild conspecifics, which he attributed to the domestic Rabbit’s lack of using senses, instincts & interacting with stimulating environments. In the 60s, studies began to emerge, showing that enrichment positively alters the chemistry & anatomy of animal brains, which in turn positively alters their behavior. Enrichment’s effect on the Bird’s brain also improves their quality of life, memory & ability to learn.
In 1964, two studies proved that the structure, chemistry & physiology of the brain could be changed significantly. Since then, the brain’s ability to respond to types of environmental input, particularly enrichment, has become an accepted fact among neuroscientists & other professionals alike. The realization that environmental enrichment can modify the structure of the brain in Rats at any age altered preconceptions about the brain’s plasticity forever.
The cerebral cortex (the area of the brain responsible for higher cognitive processing) is more responsive to environmental enrichment than any other part of the brain, meaning that experiences throughout life can change their brain. Providing enrichment ensures that we are altering their brain in a positive, life enhancing way rather than a negative way. When a Bird is stressed, their brains suffer badly & the Bird is less able to think, plan & problem solve. Creating a life enhancing atmosphere for our pet Birds gives them the advantage of a positive brain structure & the ability to think clearly. Enrichment also increases movement, which in turn exercises muscles, chewing keeps beaks trim & a more active Bird has reduced risk of health conditions caused by sedentary lifestyles.
What could be more natural or beautiful than that?