Parakeets teach a lesson in friendship

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Making new friends (especially as an adult) can be challenging. When new birds are introduced to a group, monk parakeets will "test the waters" to avoid getting injured by defensive strangers. The parakeets will gradually approach the new bird, taking some time to get familiar before ramping up to more risky or vulnerable interactions that are needed to form the bonds necessary for survival. "There can be a lot of benefits to being social, but these friendships have to start somewhere," said Claire O'Connell, a study co-author and a doctoral student in the University of Cincinnati, said in a statement .