Sarasota

I had a hybrid macaw living with me a short time. His first owner was an elderly woman. After the lights were out he would talk in her voice and say "Hi Sweetie" and laugh. It was actually pretty creepy at times!

LOL! I love that scream, it's absolutely prehistoric.

You need to make it reinforcing to stay on the perch. If you are using a clicker - click for staying on the perch one second (reinforce), then two (reinforce), etc. It may take a couple of sessions, but eventually he'll see the connection. And Nancy's right. He's just a babe. Take it slow and don't worry about progress as much as making a connection/bonding with your little one.

Thank you for this! Mine love to roll the plastic bottles across the kitchen counter...but I've never strung one up. Great idea!

What is so fascinating that she has to stare at me all the time with that little smile on her face? Oh now she’s giving me that “look” again and talking in a high, funny voice. I tried letting her know I wasn’t interested in a grape. I even wiped my beak on the perch stand about six times even though I don’t have anything to clean off it. If I take it from her fingers and give them a little scrape, maybe she’ll get it…sigh, I guess not. Oh! But now she’s singing that funny song I like! This is cool! I’m going to bob my head up and down a bit. Whoo! Whoo! Hello Sondhi! Hello Sondhi! Hi Boo Boo! (From the other room) What is all that racket going on? I’m trying to get some sleep. Looks like the crazy lady forgot to buy the almonds in the shell, or does she think I’m too old to crack a nut? I still got a lot of fire in me! At least I finally figured out what she wants me to do with that rope perch – get up on it. And I have to admit, I should have tried it sooner because she takes me all sorts of fun places – the kitchen, the aviary. I even get to take showers in the hose. Not bad at all – minus the hawks that fly overhead and scare the crap out of us every now and then. (From the Toucan Aviary) Victor: Those fat, grey things are really ugly. Mollie: Well, the red tail is nice. Victor: With tiny little beaks. Can’t understand why the lady yelps if they grab on to her. Mollie: Yeah, and can’t get a word in edgewise while they are yapping their heads off. Victor: Harumph. I just don’t get the appeal.

Did I miss the DNA results?? I'm so curious!

What a darling little guy! I'll be looking forward to more posts and pix!

I have some construction going on at the moment as well. At first, the birds were very quiet. Then they discovered the joys of competing with the sounds of hammering, power saws, etc. I say get ready with a tape recorder or video camera!

There have been studies showing the dangers of Grapefruit Seed Extract and it's ingredients. Here's a quick link that can help you research: http://www.livestrong.com/article/141607-grapefruit-seed-extract-dangers/

Welcome! Sounds like you are doing your homework. p.s. Dr. Who is awesome.

Well said, Jeff!!

I babysat a guinea pig for a few days awhile back. The parrots didn't make a peep. When I brougt back the same guinea pig about six months later....they all erupted into perfect guinea pig squeals. The little stinkers were just waiting to let that one out!! p.s. THANK GOODNESS they only make the sound when they see the little piggie.

Mine are the same. If the behavior doesn't change, weight stays consistent - I wouldn't worry about it.

I am a terrible whistler. Burt has a three note contact call. I try to whistle it back to him. Funny thing, Sondheim picked up on my BAD whistle and uses it back at me. And never leave The Cartoon Channel on for the birds while you are away. My birds are suddenly whistling some nutty tunes!

He's really adorable. You got yourself a nice little buddy there. Others have addressed the clipping issue really well. My birds are fully flighted, so I'm no help there. In the first part of the video you describe Skippy regurgitating and comment on his body posture (body low, wings held slightly out to the side). Just as an FYI, those are mating behaviors.

I am so very for your loss.

Absolutely. An unused toy is just "art." There are really great ideas in the Parrot Enrichment Activity Books (free online). But my guys love cardboard packaging, paper to shread, etc. It really doesn't have to be expensive if you're creative and have a little extra time.

This is hysterical!!!! Birds really are concerned about pottie!

Again, great question. I'm not sure I know the answer. Training can be so subtle that it appears to be learning or cognition. Even respondent learning can be trained as Pavlov showed with his dogs. It's extremely hard to separate the two. There's a great description of this in Alex and Me. Alex loved almonds. Almond isn't that easy for a parrot to say. For some reason, Alex associated almonds in the shell with corks. So, of his own volition, he named almonds "corknuts." Amazing! Alex was worked with constantly, with several different handlers. He was able to express what he wanted - "Wanna go back," "want some pizza" etc. I can't help but wonder if our own birds are frustrated by our limited ability to read their signals and body language, and thwarted by their inability to use full human language with us to communicate!

I'm contemplating turning my second bedroom into a room for the hookbills so they can safely spend more time out of the cage. Does anyone on the boards have pix of their bird rooms? I'm collecting ideas!

It's a terrible feeling. I'm so sorry. I'm constantly working with one of my birds on building trust. Here's one tip: some birds just don't like to be pet. It's not natural for them. Or some only like being pet on the head - or she might have pin feathers coming in that make it painful to be touched right now. There are so many variables when it comes to a bite. But in short, it means "back off." In any event, sounds like you just have lessen physical contact right now and build up the trust a bit. Do you ever video the interaction? Sometimes it's really helpful to see it from another point of view - maybe your hand is moving too fast, etc. I'm awful with always trying to stick food in my bird's beak. It's a bad habit I constantly work to break...and it can make my bird cranky to the point of a nip. I hope something I've said is comforting or helpful!

It's a good question, and a complicated one. The answer is yes AND no. I use a specific whistle to call my pigeons in from flying. When the parrots are in the aviary and I walk near the loft, they will sometimes let out the whistle. Now, they rarely actually *see* me calling in the birds, just whistling for them. With the dogs if I call out "Howard! Come on, let's go!" the birds might answer "Outside! Come on!" I can't tell you if they are just echoing what they normally hear, or there is comphrehension. This is more along the lines of comphrehension - I have some construction going on at my house. The workers were new to the birds, never seen them before. After a day or two and they were comfortable, the birds starting asking the workers entering the bathroom "You wanna go pottie??" I'm sure I've have said to the birds "Hang, on I'm going pottie" (oh geez! I must look like a crazy bird woman!!!) or "Let's go pottie!" to the dogs. But the birds pulled the concepts together and knew what the workers were doing.

You make an excellent point here. AND it has everyone talking about using more positive training methods.

Very interesting! I haven't noticed any increase in whistling with my birds - or perhaps I'm just used to it.

Ha! That's the "Whale Eye"! I know that look very well.