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Training Django to talk on cue

2009-03-17T03:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
I just wanted to share this short video with you of what I've been working on with Django, my Maximillian's Pionus, since NEI.
As you can see, after a minute the training went awry. For this reason, sometimes I will return my other birds to their cages when training one. Sometimes, as in this video, I leave them out, however.
I hope everyone is well!

Parrots as family members

2009-03-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Bird Fans and Friends,

I'd love to hear from you.

I know there is so much going on out there. Training successes, unexpected difficulties, changing family dynamics! It's very different living with a parrot as a family member/pet than having the structured situation at NEI. Not so easy to control the diet, is it? What are the guidelines for interacting with your bird or birds when it is not training time but family togetherness time? What new found skills have you been able to use and what old habits have returned? For those of you in the northern climes, how is the coming of spring effecting, the birds, you and your time together?

This can be a wonderful resource for us all as we have a common language and experience. Maybe blogging is a new way to communicate( it is for me) and not yet familiar but I think it holds promise. Don't be shy, share a story. It feels so good to know that others are having similar struggles and can give hope and inspiration to many when there is a success.

More and On,

Cathy

From Cathy: Switching Rewards

2009-02-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

(Admin note: Cathy, I reposted this comment of yours as a posting, since you bring up interesting issues and also have questions to be answered)
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)

From Jean: Everyday Aversives and What To Do About Them

2009-02-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

After NEI many of us became extra conscious of aversives we expose our birds to. My only frequent negative interaction with Snowy is The Scoop.

Here's the scenario: The only time the Snowbeast is caged is at night, or once or twice a week when I have an event she's not invited to (why, oh why, isn't she welcome at the opera, I wonder?). Other than that, she's playing with toys on the kitchen floor, riding along in the car, hanging out in the livingroom, playing on the floor in my home office...etcetera.

To avoid utter destruction (well, some of the time--see photo), I always keep her with me. I know I need a bird room, a Corners Unlimited aviary, and other birds to keep her company. I'm working on all that.

The trouble comes when she's not in the mood to relocate. She doesn't give a hoot about food treats, though sometimes I can lure her with a toy.

So what do I resort to? The Scoop. I say the word "scoop" in a cheerful voice, hoping she'll voluntarily hop up. When she doesn't, I admit to a gentle nudge that makes her climb onto my arm. It's gentle, sure, but she doesn't like it.

The Scoop seems unavoidable if I intend to let her hang with me, uncaged. Is it? What aversives do you expose your birds to and what solutions have you come up with to avoid them?

From Jean: The blog is finally open.

2009-02-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

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.