Ever watch an episode of the reality TV show, “Survivor?” If so, you might have noticed that the contestants are provided with very little food. If they’re lucky, it’s a sack or two of rice to feed a tribe of 10. No wonder a lot of the footage follows the contestants’ foraging-for-food quests. They’re on the prowl for protein sources, which vary from the icky (grubs, slugs, bugs and even rats), as well as items that are a bit tastier and offer vitamins and minerals, such as exotic fruits and fish.
What the show demonstrates is how even us pampered, thoroughly domesticated humans still have wild instincts that inspire us to forage for food. If a lawyer or aspiring actress on a reality TV show is driven to seek out a variety of food sources, imagine a parrot’s desire for the same; perhaps even more so since most pet parrots are only a couple generations removed from the wild.
**For the full article, pick up the 2009 issue of Birds USA or click here to buy the issue.**