I hesitated to use this photo in my article last week about animal emotions because out of context, even an experienced bird trainer could misinterpret Carson's body language seen here. The emotion behind this behavior, not perceptible in the photo alone, is an essential layer to understanding what she is doing.
Serious animal trainers operationalize a behavior by only describing it in observable and objective ways. What behaviors are we actually seeing Carson demonstrate in the crate?
Crouching low
Head moving rapidly back and forth, mostly looking toward the top of the crate door
Wings slightly open
This kind of analysis takes away any bias that I might have and allows me to address the behavior itself. It's scientific, and an incredibly effective tool.
Now let's try to operationalize this short clip. What observable behaviors do you see?
Crouching
Head moving rapidly, mostly looking up
Wings open
Did you notice that the observable behaviors are almost identical in the two situations? Does that mean that she feels the same in both scenarios? Not necessarily.
In the crate, Carson is showing eager anticipation. I almost always deliver food at the top edge of the door so her attention is acutely focused there as she searches for the treat. She prepares to reach for the food by crouching and holding her wings out. She's excited to continue our training session!
These similar behaviors tell a very different story in video. In the clip, her eyes quickly scan upwards, this time searching for an escape route. Her crouch and wing spread are preparations for flight. She is telling me that she is a little uncomfortable and would rather be somewhere else at the moment. Rather than continue with our training session, I would likely bring her back to her safe mew before she gets too scared outside.
The emotions involved in these similar behaviors can be very different and have varying consequences. I need to be sensitive to those differences and respond accordingly to maintain a positive relationship with Carson. While it is not always as straightforward as these examples, understanding the emotions of a behavior is just as important as operationalizing it.
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