Socializing: The One Person Bird May 31, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, Florida
Pals: Military Macaw “Cash”

 

Meet Cash, our 2 year old military macaw (male). When we got Cash, we got two other macaws at the same time; Jersey and Chayko (female and male, sister and brother, blue and gold macaws). Because there were three birds, Dave and I split the bill. I mainly worked with Chayko right away, while Dave mainly worked with Cash and we both gave Jersey work together (Jersey was the easy one!).

 

Cash was the most timid of the three macaws and wanted nothing to do with us. Dave worked with him (using the Power Pause method) and eventually, Dave was Cash’s favorite person in the whole wide world!

 

Well, although Dave could do anything with this bird, no one else could come near him, including me! This was a problem, as we wanted to use Cash in our Saipan dinner show called Magical Flight. For Cash to be able to go into the show, he had to be handle-able by more than just Dave alone (trust me, we tried it!).

 

Since most people aren’t too thrilled at the idea of getting bit in the training process; I got to work with Cash first. We decided to indoor flight train him as his feathers grew in (clipped from the breeder) from me to Dave. He was very reluctant to come to me at all, but with coaxing of peanuts, he did. He didn’t care about peanuts or treats with Dave, when he was with Dave, that was his treat. So we used Dave as the reward in our training process.

 

If you have a one person bird, more than likely, that one person is the bird’s reward. So use that and incorporate it into your training to make it as positive as possible for your bird.

 

When Cash stepped up on my hand, he got a seed or peanut. If that wasn’t what he wanted at the time (and sometimes it wasn’t) and he was too busy looking for a way to get away and back to Dave, Dave would come over and love on him while he sat on my hand. This was a way of rewarding Cash for sitting on my hand.

 

As Cash became more and more calm with coming to me, he’d get more and more love and reward from Dave. We started by standing real close to one another, then eventually I would move a bit farther and a bit farther away from Dave. I would hold on to his toes with my thumb, and when he calmed down I would lift up my thumb letting Cash fly directly to Dave as his reward.

 

Now this training and socializing technique worked two fold as Cash not only loved Dave, but also loved flying. From this point, we just moved further and further apart until I was the one flying Cash from the very back of the theater! He then learned and associated me, with Dave and with flying. He knew if he held out long enough, that eventually he’d get to fly to Dave! What could be better?!

 

On my harness blog you can view a video of Cash flying from me (I’m also the one filming) to Dave. I can now get Cash out of his cage, take him out on walks, and more. He doesn’t love me as much as Dave, but he is no longer a “one person bird”. We used this training and socializing technique with all the cast and crew backstage. Since Cash had warmed up and learned from doing it with me, it didn’t take him long at all to realize it was going to be the same with everyone else. Cash quickly became the easiest bird for anyone (no matter who they were) to handle backstage, on stage as well as off stage.

 

So if you have a one person bird who shows the same signs as Cash, try this socializing method for yourself and please share your results!

 

It’s also a good idea to introduce one new person a day to a one person bird (or an ex-one person bird) just to continue socialzing him or her on a frequent basis.

Baby Blue Throated Macaws: Getting Color May 30, 2008

 Photo by Katherine B.
Location: Naples, Florida
Siblings: Blue Throated Macaws

 

My baby blue throated macaw is growing up! He or she is finally looking blue and the nice black beak is showing. Looks like they have to grow into their feet now!

 

One Bird or Two? May 29, 2008

Most people, when buying their first bird, think to get a second one so the first doesn’t get lonely. But then they fall into the groove of, “My bird doesn’t want anything to do with me” and that’s because you got it a friend. This friend goes through it all with them, and he trusts his birdie companion over you.

 

If you just want your bird for looks, then yes, get it a birdie companion and keep them in an outside aviary so they can be real birds instead of look pretty inside your house and yet get nothing from you as their owner.

 

However, if you’d like a cuddly and fun companion to play with then get just one bird. Even if you have to leave on a trip, there are boarding places (often times at your vet) that can care for your bird while you’re away.

 

Two birds is the starting of a mate, and a flock. One bird relies on you and itself to get along. With one bird, you need to have the time to stimulate his mind. This means a generous amount of toys; all different types and kinds and colors, as well as shapes and sizes. Foraging toys work great for keeping your bird busy during the day when you’re not around. Edible perches are great, too. Any type or mirror toy is not! Putting a mirror in your bird’s cage is the equivalent to getting another bird.

 

Also with two birds (or a mirror) parrots will become aggressive towards you in order to protect and defend the other bird. They are standing up for their mate or small flock in which you are not part of.

 

 

It is possible to have more than one bird in a cage and have them all be hand-tamed. I have three parakeets (also referred to as budgies) who live in the same cage. I can take any one of them out (or all) and have them be happy and playful. However, the way I tamed them was I raised them all from babies (I bred their parents) and had them housed separately during the process of taming and training. Two of them are brother and sister, the other one is unrelated from a different set of parents and he joined them later. They were all housed individually first, tamed, and then properly socialized, then put together in one cage. The cage was new to every one of them so there were no territorial issues to be had and they all went in at the same time. If I noticed one toy was loved over the others, I got more.

 

For example, the boings. All 3 parakeets loved playing on a boing toy! So, I got three. It’s also important the cage space is large enough that they can get away from one another if they need to (mine were all fully flighted). If your birds’ wings are clipped, it makes it easier to pick on and harder for the bird to get away.

 

Paying attention to food bowls is important as well, to make sure everyone is getting a fair share. There is usually a more dominant bird out of the flock that will kick the other birds out of the food dishes, so make sure the food is plentiful as are the dishes.

Cage Size May 28, 2008

When buying a cage for your bird, you need to know the correct bar spacing. This varies depending on the size and capability of your bird. Ideally, pet parrots should be provided an outdoor aviary as large as possible.

 

Birds are made to fly and their entire bodies are built around flight - it’s essential for their physical and mental health and an outdoor aviary is a great way to stimulate your bird on a daily basis. When considering the size your bird would want or need, think about what their natural playground would be:

 

 

Obviously, we can’t provide that (unless your bird is a freestyle flier!) so for the rest of owners who don’t freestyle fly, bigger is better. The larger you can go, the better off your bird will be in the aviary. So provide as much room as possible with a varied amount of perches and toys, as well as other neccessities.

 

The same applies for indoor cages. Some owners prefer to keep their parrots outside for the day, and bring them in at night. There’s not really any “right answer” concerning many bird related topics, it’s all based on quality of life, lifestyle and personal preference.

 

My favorite cages that provide a lot of room and all the essentials are by Cages by Design. As of now, we have two. One holds both our Congo African Grey & our rose breasted Cockatoo while the other holds our military macaw. Read about how my grey & cockatoo are properly socialized here.

 

 

Basically, the bigger the better. Get the largest cage you can possibly afford and if you can’t afford a large cage for your bird and can only get the bare minimum - you shouldn’t be owning a bird in the first place.

Wing Clipping: Animal Cruelty? May 25, 2008

 

This blog isn’t for me to force my opinions on anyone; it’s to bring up topics for you to actually think about that you may have not given any thought before. Wing clipping is such a serious topic for bird owners or soon-to-be bird owners. I don’t think people quite grasp how essential and important flight is to our feathered friends.

 

Fledging is essential - do your own research on it and read about how it is from various sites. You will see for yourself without me needing to provide you with any helpful links on it. I haven’t seen a single site yet that says otherwise.

 

An amazing article I came across was published by the New York Bird Club;

 

New York Bird Club
“God loved the Birds and Invented Trees. Man loved the Birds and Invented Cages.”

 

At the present time, there are strongly held views on whether to clip the wings of your companion bird or leave him flighted.

Proponents of wing clipping claim that birds in captivity do not need to fly since they have no enemies to escape from, do not have to migrate or obtain food, and that flying puts the bird at risk since he can escape from his home.

Others consider wing clipping cruel and a form of abuse, destroying the essence and spirit of a bird,
and rendering him helpless and handicapped. A bird whose wings have been altered has limited ability to destroy your property and is easy to control, however, wing clipping is done for your convenience only, and has nothing to do with the well being of your bird, but robs him of his identity and independence.

And the conclusion of the article;

 

Why should you deprive your bird the joy of flight and punish him because you do not want to take responsibility for his safety. If you will not accept the responsibility of having a bird in your home, perhaps you should consider not having a companion bird or getting another type of companion.

Birds are creatures designed around the act of flight. It is part of their genetic makeup and crucial to their life experience. It is no wonder millions of people are awed by these magnificent creatures and their abilities. Human beings have spent hundreds of years trying to emulate flight. Why? Because it is a fantastic and exhilarating gift and experience. Don’t deny your birds their birthright — their inherent right to fly.

 

However, I HIGHLY recommend you read the article in its entirety here, and make your own decision.

Key Largo Conch House: Romeo May 21, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Lacey, Washington
Of: Congo African Grey “Cressi”

 

I just spend a wonderful seven days vacationing in Key Largo, Florida. While there, I went to eat at the Key Largo Conch House 2-3 times! In the entry way of the restaurant, there is a big white cage. This is Romeo’s cage, a 4 year old Congo African Grey parrot.

 

Now, I was really excited to meet Romeo since the last time I was in Key Largo, the cage was empty. His owners take him home every night from the restaurant and I was there too late. This time, though, I came for lunch!

 

Romeo reminded me so much of my own grey, Cressi, who is only 6 months old. He was sitting happily content and all poofy when his owners came near or any sort of familiar face. He was a bit shy but not scared - he just didn’t want to show off his talking abilities around me yet.

 

I was so happy to see someone else had a grey that was not entirely plucked or insanely phobic of strangers. His cage placement was perfect for him and he was outside on the porch as well, in the shade but still catching the light breeze and the soft sunshine. He had gone through his fresh veggies and fruit for the day as I saw bits and pieces left in his dish. Another thing I was thrilled about - he wasn’t a seed eating bird! In fact, Laura (his owner) went on to tell me his favorite dishes from the restaurant. This African Grey not only eats well but eats full blown beautiful looking meals! I think Cressi would be envious to find out she wasn’t getting a variety of cooks making her meals every day!

 

Romeo really had it made. Anyone who wanted into the cute little restaurant had to walk by him and almost every single time, they stopped to say hello to Romeo. He was constantly getting interaction from all sorts of people and was always visually stimulated by his environment. His wings were also another thing to be proud of - when I looked at them I actually thought he was fully flighted but Laura said he’s just barely clipped so he can still fly pretty well but it doesn’t look bad, either. I loved that his wings weren’t just snipped to bits like most.

 

The Conch House is family owned by Laura and her husband Ted, along with their two kids. We met them all and it was the daughter who talked the family into getting the bird in the first place when she was around 15 years old. She is now heading off to college and mom gets to keep Romeo in the mean time and the two have grown quite attached but Romeo was open to anyone as he gets properly socialized every day. This was one African Grey that was not in any way, a one person bird or had any problems whatsoever. I’ve never seen such a content grey before. And I was so happy to meet him and his wonderful owners.

 

Romeo’s owners are a great example of people who truly did their research before buying this bird. They knew it would live over 60 years and they knew it couldn’t live on pellets or worse, seed, for all its life. They really read up and they’ve done an amazing job at giving this bird a proper and healthy home. If Cressi liked older men, I think she’d be interested in Romeo!

Freeflight Candidate: Toucans May 20, 2008

Photo by www.villatoucan.com
Of: Keel Billed Toucan

 

Fiji is my three year old Swainson Toucan and ever since learning and really just diving into the world of freeflight, I’ve wanted to convert my entire flock over to it! Especially after having much success with my Congo African Grey, Cressi.

 

I have been considering long and hard if I should give it a try with my toucan, Fiji. She has never been too keen on flying nor has she been that great or graceful at it in the past. She has always preferred to hop from point A to B instead of fly. She had bad luck growing up and somehow always managed to break her tail feathers every which way so she was always wrongfully balanced which made it hard to flight train her.

 

I assumed it was just her personality to want to hop instead of fly, thinking it had to do with her many broken feathers in the past making it too frustrating of an experience. When I mentioned her behavior to my friend Susan Hilliard, she looked into toucans more as candidates for freeflight. I had considered buying a new baby toucan to do it with so that maybe that would help ease Fiji into it.

 

Susan wrote me a few weeks later saying that she had talked to a specialist in the toucan area who said it was natural for toucans to prefer to hop and that because of it, they are not the best candidates for freeflight. Merely because, well, they don’t really like to fly unless they have to.

 

I wanted to do my own research and make sure since a freeflighted toucan seemed so fun and different. Plus, I really wanted to give this life of freedom to Fiji.

 

I came across one website that told me how flight with toucans is only used to go from tree top to tree top for various fruits and to raid other birds’ nests. They seemed like cautious fliers that weren’t all that willing to follow the leader all the time. The website also mentioned how toucans are not skilled like parrots or pigeons with their flocking abilities and various manuevers for predator avoidance such as jinking.

 

Admittedly, I still wasn’t convinced. I just kept thinking that they would look intimidating enough to other birds and predators that they would be safe, right?

 

Wrong. I then came across another website with even more information on toucan flight.

 

“Naturalists have long puzzled over the significance of the toucan’s large bill. Originally, observers suggested that the bill was a weapon used to defend the nest cavity. This is not so; when toucans sense danger, they come out of the cavity entrance in a hurry, threatening the enemy only out in the open, if at all. Instead, a long bill enables these rather heavy birds to pluck berries from the tips of branches without leaving a stable perch. A thin, dark-colored bill would, however, be just as useful for this purpose. Possibly the toucan’s bill plays a role in pair formation and in the social life of the group. According to E. Thomas Gilliard, it acts as a signal. However, toucans can also use their bills to threaten those birds whose nests they plunder. Tyrant flycatchers and even small raptors are frightened by the giant bill, which is even more effective because of its lively colors, and they fly about helplessly while the toucans devour their young or eggs. Other birds will attack a toucan only while it is in flight, because it is then unable to defend itself with its bill.”

 

Basically, toucans are scary to these large predator birds but are made to be very vulnerable and defenseless in the air while in flight making them a bad candidate for freeflight.

Blue Throated Macaws May 18, 2008

Photo by Katherine B.
Location: Naples, Florida
Sibs: Blue Throated Macaws

 

This is a picture of two blue throated macaw babies. One of which, is mine! I have already picked the name (with the help from Dave) of Jinx (Jinxi for a nickname). The reason for the name comes from the word “jinks” but we wanted to spell it “cooler”, hehe.

 

I am very excited to get my new baby in a few months when he or she is ready and wanted to share as much as I possibly could now. I had no idea blue throated macaws even existed until I met Dreadful and Gleam - two blue throated macaws belonging to Chris Biro and Susan Hilliard.

 

To see their two macaws, among others, visit this link for a complete slideshow.

 

I soon learned how endangered in the wild blue throated macaws are. I’ve heard various numbers from anywhere around 30 to 75 to 200 still left in the wild so who knows what the real numbers are but we do know they are few. These macaws are similiar looking to the blue and gold macaw but instead of gold under their throats, they have blue. They are also much smaller than the blue and gold which is a huge characteristic of them that intrigued and interested me.

 

My favorite bird of all time was (and is) Chayko, a beautiful blue and gold macaw male I worked with while in Saipan. Chayko was an amazing bird and trusted me completely. Even after not seeing him for months on end, he let me put him right on his back (which he will do with no one else… yet!) when I walked in to see him in Las Vegas, Nevada. Even when I interrupted his sleep that night, he still put up with me! Since having Chayko and his sister, Jersey, go to Copperfield to live on his islands in the Bahamas (can’t beat that life!) I’ve really missed having the handsome boy around so that is where the blue throat came in.

 

Dreadful also took a liking to me during our trip to Moab and I think that really sealed the deal. It was hard to find a reputable breeder that was okay with keeping the baby bird fully flighted but I managed to find a breeder here in Florida who has and continues to include me in the entire process of my baby macaw. I’m so excited to meet him or her when the time comes but for now, updates and pictures is what you will see from me!

Freeflight: 3 Year Old Properly Fledged Cockatoo May 7, 2008

Photo by Dave
Location: Orlando, Florida
Flying: Galah “Bondi”

 

Bondi is a rose breasted cockatoo also commonly known as a galah in Australia. She is three years old and was bought from her breeder fully flighted and was properly fledged by Dave Womach and I using target training. She is not only an avid flyer but a very skilled flyer. Dave used her in his illusion show for years while headlining on world tours, top of the line cruise ships, and his own dinner theater in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. All the parts in the show that she performed in, involved flying. It is her favorite thing to do next to trick training and a way to let out all that energy of hers.

 

Galahs are known for getting “fatty tumors” and their diets have to be strictly watched to where they do not receive seed or other fatty foods as part of their normal diet or as their entire diet. Seeds should only be given as rewards and treats so not to “over do it” with these birds. The fact that we keep Bondi full flighted also helps her obtain the proper exercise she needs to also diminish the effect of getting any fatty tumors.

 

When we first picked Bondi up in Oregon, she was only a few months old and she was still being hand fed. We fledged her while on the road in various hotels, theaters, etc. She naturally began to dart and dash around during flight (like all birds) and did what is referred to as “jinking” which are predator-avoidence manuevers.

 

She loved skimming the heads of the audience just to get a reaction and easily learned to do more than one “boomerang” flight in the shows. We were constantly having to change up her flight patterns in the show so she would still have fun with it - she had a need (and still does) to want to be challenged.

 

When I first learned about outdoor freeflight I was amazed and blown away at the very thought of it. It never occurred to me that you could take your pet bird outside without a restraint of any kind. And you can’t - without the proper training.

 

I was so intrigued and saddened at the same time. I felt like a horrible pet owner for never considering it before. Dave learned with Cressi, a Congo African Grey, exactly how to train a new baby bird to freefly outdoors. I was there through the process, picking up on everything he did and discovered. When I saw how happy Cressi was and how attached she was to Dave, it made me want the same thing for Bondi. But she was already 3 years old and I thought… “it’s too late for her, right?”

 

Well, it isn’t too late for her or any bird, I learned. The process just becomes different. I was desperate to take Bondi outside. She’s the type of bird that is very social but gets depressed being on a harness and it just broke my heart. However, I wanted her to be outside more than anything so I put the harness on her anyway and made do - thinking it was the best I could offer her.

 

Not knowing it, I had trained Bondi everything Cressi learned as a baby. And really, Bondi is even more talented at flying than Cressi as of right now. Bondi already knows jinking manuevers and can fly well in small, enclosed areas. Her turns are sharp and controlled and her landings are skilled to perfection. She even knew how to work and fly well in the natural wind outside which took me by surprise.

 

One day while on a drive looking for new places to freefly Cressi, we found a batting cage on the property of a church. Dave immediately knew it was a great idea and a perfect way to introduce real life elements to Bondi without the fear of losing her outside due to rushing into outdoor freeflight with her. We began bringing Bondi on all the trips with Cressi so she could watch and learn from Cressi. We even flew Bondi on her harness making sure she had enough slack in case wind picked up or something spooked her. She did amazingly well with A to B flights between Dave and me. I was so excited with how it didn’t feel any different from flying her inside that I immediately wanted to take the leash off. I’m always overwhelmed by how much I know the bird will love it that sometimes the dangers and precautions get swept away by the emotional part that comes into play.

 

Of course, Dave knew better and always keeps me in check, keeping the dangers real and the logic in the forefront. We worked Bondi on a harness for a few days before moving into the batting cage with no harness at all. It was exactly the same except Bondi had more freedom in the batting cage. She could do boomerang flights as well as simple A to B and she had the ability to jink as well. It was so fun to watch her zoom by. It’s like watching a child pick up a toy for the first time - their eyes get wide with amazement and they start having the time of their life. That’s what it was like for Bondi and experiencing that moment with her was breathtaking. The more we took her out and worked with her, the more I wanted it for her. And it’s so hard not to be over-confident in your bird and just want to toss her outside with you. It was essential for me to be learning from Dave and watching his every move. Even to be there to witness how his mind works was beneficial for me.

 

You don’t really think of the difference it can make for your bird until you watch your bird experience it first-hand. You think, “My bird is happy enough… it loves its toys, me, and it eats well and gets lots of interaction.” but is your bird really being a bird? I have to admit, I thought Bondi was as happy as could be. She is well socialized and entertained, she flys in the house and learns something new all the time. She doesn’t have any issues so I know there’s nothing “wrong” with the way I am raising her… but then this happened and my entire perspective changed. I’ve never seen her so happy! I mean, I thought her life was good… but now… it’s fantastic. And the bond it creates between you and your bird is like none other. It’s not comparable to any other type of training in my mind. And really, there is no other way to make your bird happier than outdoor freeflight. I don’t say that from a trainer perspective of “I’ve seen all, I know all” I say this from an owner, a “parront” perspective of actually witnessing the happiness first hand.

You think your bird is happy, wait until you meet a freeflighted outdoor bird. Then you be the judge.

Are Toucans Cuddly? May 4, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Reno, Nevada
Getting lovin’: Swainson Toucan “Meaka”

 

The question I get asked the most about toucans are, “Are they cuddly?” well, I think this picture says it all. This is my Swainson Toucan about a year and a half old at the time. She was always gentle and cuddly and would rub her head against you kind of like a cat for attention.

 

Of course, all birds are different just like animals in general. Some animals could cuddle all day while others only want it on their own time. Our toucans fit these molds perfectly as Meaka was the cuddler and Fiji (same age and gender) only prefers to cuddle on her own time.