Cortez

During class on Monday we discussed grooming and how it can bring creatures closer together. We talked about its importance in ape and monkey society and we touched a little on how we as humans like to be groomed. The discussion in class had me thinking about my own experiences with "grooming" and perhaps the most cantankerous, yet unquestionably loved, member of my family.

Cortez, my Quaker Parakeet.

As you can see he is posted above locked safely away in his cage. Though a lot of the times this is not the case, he is usually out marauding on my screened in porch.
To say he is hard to deal with would be a gross understatement but to say that it wasn't worth it would be even worse. Him and I have had a shaky road together, he squaks at 6 in the morning because hes hungry and wants me to come eat with him, he is incredibly picky with his food and will become aggressive if he doesn't like what your offering, he doesn't like change, did I mention he is loud enough that I can hear him while im out walking? He has drawn blood over simple things. Him and I do not communicate well.
HOWEVER, there is one thing that brings us together. You guest it, grooming. He will let me scratch his head, rub his feathers during a molt and otherwise groom him and he does not hesitate to return the favor. He grooms my goatee which he feels is perpetually disgusting and my hair with his beak. This activity requires tremendous trust on each others part because we both let our guards down to "groom". This is the activity that brings us together and allows us to grow in a human-bird relationship where no other form of communication really works. Sure he can respond to commands (when he feels like it) and he can talk but he truly understands me when I groom him. It's our way to build trust and enjoy an mutually beneficial relationship.
So whether its grooming or gossip I feel it really can bring people together in ways that are otherwise impossible.