Imprinting

Imprinting occurs when a bird is conditioned to believe humans are its natural mother or parents. This will have implications later in life with dependency and sexual attraction.

Imprinting can be avoided by:

• raising birds with others of the same species
• replacing the nest
• fostering baby birds with other parents of the same species
• puppet feeding (some species need this)
• playing bird calls while feeding
• not treating the baby bird like a pet

Magpies imprint easily. Young magpie can be returned to a parent up to 21 days later. Imprinting can be avoided by:

• raising young in groups or with older magpie
• fostering with local parents
• encouraging early self-feeding
• not encouraging begging beyond an appropriate age
• feeding with a hand puppet.