It’s a well-known fact that birds are just as capable of providing emotional support to people as dogs and cats are. In some respects, and with the proper training, birds as emotional support creatures can add to the quality of life significantly. Although with birds, sometimes it’s just the ability to mimic human voice that can lend considerable comfort to someone with anxieties that oftentimes preclude people from public interaction. From time to time, we enjoy putting a spotlight on owners and the unique ways that their bird pals have contributed to their lives, and perhaps in the lives of others.
Meet Bridget and her parakeet friend, Hamlet. Hamlet is a beautiful blue Indian ring-necked parakeet that has picked up a few words and phrases along the way. The then 8-week-old Hamlet was acquired when Bridget was in college in Australia to keep her company, providing someone to take care of during her college years thereby taking her mind off her troublesome anxieties. With anxieties a part of her emotional makeup, Hamlet immediately began to help Bridget find a level of calm and peace.
Hamlet Takes Over TikTok
Hamlet is now a medium-sized, energetic parakeet, and, for the last four years, has kept Bridget amused and occupied. He was named after the Shakespeare character because Bridget has a background in theater and acting. In the arrival of the pandemic, Bridget decided to video Hamlet’s outward personality displayed in his antics and the cute phrases that he uses. One of those is “What doing?”, a phrase he uses frequently. After a few video posts to the popular short video website, TikTok, Bridget discovered quickly that not only was Hamlet helping her, but he was also helping hundreds of thousands in the metaverse as well.
Soon enough, Bridget’s TikTok account was burgeoning with followers. Today, her popular TikTok account is numbered a whopping 4.1 million engaged followers who happily watch every video posted with Hamlet involved. And it seems that Hamlet is plugged in on the party line. It’s evident that he is as much a willing participant in the video as it appears as if he knows that a produced camera means that it’s showtime. The goal that Bridget originally intended for the TikTok account was that the videos would be a joy for others to watch. She certainly didn’t expect the explosive popularity that Hamlet was getting.
Bridget began to receive a large inflow of messages from followers that have depression. They let her know that each video was a source of happiness that provided many with a bad moment the ability to grow a smile and to feel good within themselves. Parents with children that have communicative disorders have also written to Bridget to express profound thanks that Hamlet had brightened the day of a child.
Hamlet has a website that sells talking plushies replications of himself, creatively designed “What Doing?” mugs, tees, and even a hoodie. Check out his TikTok page, with its many videos, most with 400,000 likes.
We love Hamlet and his vibrant personality. We wish the best for Hamlet and Bridget, and for their many followers.
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