Sunday, February 15, 2009

From Jean: The blog is finally open.

Greetings NEI friends. I miss the camaraderie and fun of that spectacular week back in January. Somehow, life intruded in its myriad ways, and I wasn't able to put up this blog until now. I've been busy, and I've not been feeling well, so I've not trained my Triton cockatoo, Snowy, as much as I had planned . How many of the rest of you believe that life would be a whole lot better if it revolved around our birds...with no other distractions (kinda like our week at NEI)? That's what I'm thinking on this lovely sunny Colorado day. This morning, I took a long shower with Snowy and resolved that the entire day will be devoted to her.
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3 comments:

  1. Wellness CommitteeFebruary 15, 2009 at 2:38 PM

    Thank you, Jean!
    I love the creative title and that adorable picture of Palmer!
    I also hope you feel better soon.
    I look forward to hearing how everyone's training is going!

    ReplyDelete
  2. GizmoFebruary 15, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    Jean -

    I almost deleted the email invitation, but saw "pitoo" in the nick of time. I knew that couldn't be referring to anybody but Palmer!

    I know what you mean about life intruding on our bird lives. I feel the same way.

    I'm looking forward to the NEI group discussions.

    I've only had time to work with one bird (my 5-year old Eleanora cockatoo Plato), but he's been incredibly easy. Makes me think I've stumbled onto a trick somebody started him on before, orhe's smarter than I am, which is entirely possible. I'm having him count by tapping on the table with his left foot. Once he gets the numbers down (we're only going to four), we will move on to addition, subtraction and multiplication (with the answer always being l, 2, 3 or 4).

    I'm hoping to have an outside flight by the time it gets warm. It won't be as big as Steve's--probably half as big.

    I'm glad to hear from you. I'm sure everybody else will chime in soon.

    Evelyn (Hyacinth Macaw - Gizmo)

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  3. cathyFebruary 18, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    Hi Bird Fans,

    I remember Steve saying that we can't eliminate all aversives. All creatures need limits sometime, none of get to do what we want all of the time. Sounds like Snowy has a rich life with you with a big trust account. The only way I can think of to completely eliminate the scooping at night would be to make sure she is hungry and will take food or a special toy to go in the cage, something she wants more than to hang out with you (which is hard to imagine).

    Our road has been rocky since returning from NEI. I've been depressed and working on all fronts to get well with a way to go.

    When I got home my Triton Cockatoo had started picking his chest. (This occurred BEFOR my return). This is a first in 18 years! Did he sense changes afoot?

    Training has progressed but I use his favorite toy as reward (empty plastic bottles). The problem is that they stimulate the picking and there in 20-40 seconds of superstitious behavior in between the behaviors. He has however, learned to fly to my hand(indoors), stand on a scale, wave, circle and step up.

    I'd like to move him to food rewards. I need to be predictable and consistent with his feeding so he will care. Right now he sees pretty bird as a toy to flip on the side of his head and then pick chest, walnuts an inalienable right. How to change so he feels safe?

    What to do about the bottles? Limit, structure, or go cold turkey? I have emailed Lindsey and gotten no response. Have you had luck communicating with your trainers?

    I've had a positive relationship with this bird for 18 years and now it feels like a mess. Do any of you have ideas? I'd be eternally grateful for suggestions.

    Enjoy birdland, avoid conundrums, and keep good cheer,

    Hopeful and dedicated,

    Cathy (Ike)

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