Hail to thee, blithe spirit! A critical study of bird agency among bird owners in China

Introduction In contemporary China, human-animal interactions remain predominantly influenced by anthropocentric ideologies. This phenomenon is especially pronounced concerning non-mammalian species beyond common pets like cats and dogs. This study addresses the research gap by focusing on birds, aiming to explore their intrinsic vitality and challenge prevailing human-centered perspectives in human-animal relationship research. Methods Employing the theoretical framework of vital materialism, this study conducted in-depth interviews with 21 bird owners in China. The participants included individuals who kept birds as pets or had rescued them. The interviews explored the owners’ perceptions and experiences of their birds’ agency and vitality. Results The analysis revealed that owners’ recognition of their birds’ vitality was a progressive process, deepening over time and through sustained interaction. A key finding was that owners increasingly came to understand that the birds’ vitality existed independently of their relationship with humans, demonstrating a non-relational form of agency. Discussion During the interview, the inadequacy of relational analysis in elucidating the materiality of birds was identified. The author further interpreted the theory of vital materialism from a speculative perspective and highlighted areas where research could be improved. It empirically supplements the concept of non-relational agency within vital materialism theory, offering new insights into the complexities of human-animal relationships beyond a purely anthropocentric or relational framework.