This is BirdNote.

Video chats help us keep in touch when we're far apart.

And now some birds are in on the fun too.

Knowing how clever parrots are, researchers wanted to see how they'd respond to another parrot saying hi on a tablet or phone.

Researchers taught the parrots how to signal they wanted to make a call by ringing a bell, so they could decide for themselves to participate.

Do you want to call a friend?

The bird's caretaker would show the parrot a screen with photos of birds to choose from by touching.

You want to call Rosie?

Then the person would start the call.

She wants to say hi.

Where is she?

Yes.

There she is.

Yes, that's Rosie.

Yes.

Many parrots chatted amiably during the call,

behaving much like wild birds keeping in touch with their flock.

They often stayed on the phone for the maximum allowed five minutes.

Some birds even learned skills from each other and seemed to form lasting friendships,

continuing to call each other after the experiment.

The researchers think that video chats could help enrich the lives of birds in captivity.

Sometimes, it's just nice to have a friend to squawk on the phone with.

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