“It is my child”: About the significance of birds

Abstract

Animais are present in the lives of human beings at least since the Palaeolithic períod, having several roles and meanings: yvork, food, companionship, power, social status. As in other European countries, the presence of companion animais in Portuguese families has been grcnving and in 2018 these pets were already more than 7 million. Although not as numerous as cats or dogs, birds are common pets. The present yvork is the first contribution to the knowledge of the relationship between humans and their “companion birds ” in the Lisbon region. We explored the significance and impacts of birds (mainly Psittacidae) on the respondents ’ daily lives. We used questionnaires, interviews and observation and also resorted to digital ethnography. The phvsical and mental well-being of birds is a concem for guardians who perceived birds as “children” or “family members”.