In one of my courses we have to find a natural phenomenon and come up with a hypothesis as to why it occurs. The phenomenon that I am thinking about using is the fact that pet budgies (or all budgies that I have owned at least) chirp and chatter when they hear the sound of running water. My idea is that this may have developed in the wild as a way to notify other budgies that they are near water since they live in an arid climate. Let me know your thoughts on this and if your budgie does this. Please participate in the poll and leave any comments on the subject. If you think or know my hypothesis is wrong and know the real reason why they do this please let me know... its all about learning! Thanks! :hap:

Voted YES. The reason being that the wild Australian budgerigar lives in drought conditions much of its life. The sound of rain primarily ...water...is the sign that a drought is over and that breeding may begin and food will be plentiful. It ( the sound of water ) most likely firmly embedded in their brain as a meaning that things will be good and progress....a reason for them to be happy.

Edited January 24, 200817 yr by KAZ

I have noticed that my birds go crazy when we water our lawn... now i know why :hap:

Like kaz said, it is in their instincts. being from sucha dry area, they hear the rain and get excited. breeding season - woohoo!!!!!!

 

Nothing worse then it is about 10pm, everyone has setled down for the night, and it starts to rain. Birds all start chirping - (Laughing out loud)

Like kaz said, it is in their instincts. being from sucha dry area, they hear the rain and get excited. breeding season - woohoo!!!!!!

 

Nothing worse then it is about 10pm, everyone has setled down for the night, and it starts to rain. Birds all start chirping - (Laughing out loud)

 

:hap:

My room is right next to our carport, so when it rains the sound gets magnified, my budgie's go nuts!

All my birds, budgies, tiels and galah all go nuts when they hear water.

OH YES!!! My two budgies go CRAZY when I even turn the tap on and they hear the water in the sink!! I thought they just like the noise. Maxie is a very quiet girl and rarely chats other than softly.. but she goes absolutely crazy when I turn the tap on.. she stops instantly when i turn it off.. its at the stage where I have to fill the kettle in the evening for an early morning cuppa as the minute she hears the tap.. even if the cage is covered.. she starts.. and she is LOUD!! Its quite humerous at times. Its like turning a little feathered radio on and off!!

My budgies and tiels both scream their boxes off when the tap goes on or they're getting hosed down... even when re-filling the pond next to them

Yes for me and I think that is amongst many type of birds.

yes, both of mine also go crazy when ever anyone turns on the tap

same my petie LOVES running water it rained last night and he went skitzo and this morning as well

Mine squawks and goes nuts. And other times he doesn't care (Laughing out loud)

Not only rainfall, but the sound of the washer, the dishwasher, the shower, and the vacuum will get mine going. Especially the washing machine. When I had a mixed sex aviary, they were in breeding mode all the time until I figured out what was triggering it (they were very near the washing machine). The sound of rainfall triggers excitement.

:hap: Sometimes even the toilet flushing gets them going........always found the budgies react more than the lovebirds and cockatiels.

speaking of running water and budgies.... as i've spoken about many times on this forum, Charley picks up new words after only a few days... well he's now picked up the sound of (wait for it!!!!)... "tinkling!!" he has this really (rather cute!) sound that can not be described in any other way than "tinkling"! He lives in my bedroom and i have an ensuite where I tend to "go to" many times during the day (and night!)... recently i heard his new sound and thought "what the HECK has he picked up now???" I couldnt work out what his new sound was (a very quick, high pitched "water" sound).. then I realised when I was in the ensuite and myself "making" this sound...I could hear it "echo-ing" from his cage!!! THIS is the sound he is imitating!! how embarrassing!!

 

Now when I'm in my ensuite and he's in his cage, its almost as if he's mocking me by repeating the sound!! Its quite off putting!! ... but rather funny (and so cute!!) :sad:

 

Needless to say, I'm now VERY careful about the "noises" I make around the place :sad:

speaking of running water and budgies.... as i've spoken about many times on this forum, Charley picks up new words after only a few days... well he's now picked up the sound of (wait for it!!!!)... "tinkling!!" he has this really (rather cute!) sound that can not be described in any other way than "tinkling"! He lives in my bedroom and i have an ensuite where I tend to "go to" many times during the day (and night!)... recently i heard his new sound and thought "what the HECK has he picked up now???" I couldnt work out what his new sound was (a very quick, high pitched "water" sound).. then I realised when I was in the ensuite and myself "making" this sound...I could hear it "echo-ing" from his cage!!! THIS is the sound he is imitating!! how embarrassing!!

 

Now when I'm in my ensuite and he's in his cage, its almost as if he's mocking me by repeating the sound!! Its quite off putting!! ... but rather funny (and so cute!!) :rip:

 

Needless to say, I'm now VERY careful about the "noises" I make around the place :sad:

 

:sad:

Charely is such a character! It is amazing how quickly he seems to pick things up, clever little budgie.

I can (sort of) understand what you mean about 'off-putting' though, my tiel, Bumblebee loves showers, and so generally has one with me at night, but then he'll start wolf whistling from his perch atop the shower! :sad:

But your very right, it is quite funny.

speaking of running water and budgies.... as i've spoken about many times on this forum, Charley picks up new words after only a few days... well he's now picked up the sound of (wait for it!!!!)... "tinkling!!" he has this really (rather cute!) sound that can not be described in any other way than "tinkling"! He lives in my bedroom and i have an ensuite where I tend to "go to" many times during the day (and night!)... recently i heard his new sound and thought "what the HECK has he picked up now???" I couldnt work out what his new sound was (a very quick, high pitched "water" sound).. then I realised when I was in the ensuite and myself "making" this sound...I could hear it "echo-ing" from his cage!!! THIS is the sound he is imitating!! how embarrassing!!

 

Now when I'm in my ensuite and he's in his cage, its almost as if he's mocking me by repeating the sound!! Its quite off putting!! ... but rather funny (and so cute!!)

 

Needless to say, I'm now VERY careful about the "noises" I make around the place :sad:

 

:sad: :sad: :rip:

Rain also means breeding. The Australian wet season is from Spring to Summer. This is the time that they mate. Rain is one of the triggers that start this. As Kaz said, it is the sign that food will be available.

Tinkle away Charley!!! Nobody will ever figure out what he is ever mimicing anyhow!!!

(Laughing out loud)