Earthchild

I just found this while researching. Is this outdated? http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/bird_leg_band.shtml second to last paragraph

That is why my friend from bird club thought he was older, he thought he was brought in before the ban. After he saw how young Irwin is he said he's not a pre-ban bird. (I'm not sure if the wording on that makes any sense) And it doesn't matter how old he is, I don't want to get rid of him. I was just asking if anyone thought he would be happier as a breeder which was a silly question in the first place.

I am so sorry, this is not what I intended to happen when I started this post. To anyone who had trouble for this I'm sorry. I love this forum. I have been using it as reference long before Irwin even came into my life, and I still plan to. I love all of the wisdom that is shared and the fact that people are so willing to help everyone else, and the love of the birds. Thank you everyone for all of your advice. Back on topic: The very good man from my local bird club came to visit us and it turns out (we're blind) there is a number on Irwin's leg band, it's FLE992. He told us that from the condition of his beak and feet he is not as old as he thought and is probably 6-8 like we were told. The band is open, but I researched it and found out that can also just mean that it was put on later in life. He offered us a trade in case we wanted something more suited for our low experience level, but we love Irwin a lot and we said no thanks. Other than that he said there is absolutely nothing wrong with my bird and he just needs time, which we have a lot of. We plan to keep working with him as we have been every day. We sing to him, play guitar for him, talk to him, and even have a special chair set up next to his cage to get him used to us. Also for anyone concerned, Irwin is not a test subject. He's a happy, talking, dancing pet bird in my living room. I probably didn't give that post the best title, the "tests" are more enrichment for him (toys), and me too really since animal cognition is my favorite area of study.

I'm on here for help not criticism..

Love the pix too

Thank you very much for the articles, I've been researching with no luck. This man is the second to bring up the leg band/wild caught idea. Both people who have also have suggested giving him up to a nice breeder facility and getting a baby, but I don't know. I love Irwin a lot, but they say he would be happier as a breeder. We will find out tomorrow though so I guess it's just wait and see. Even if he is wild caught I probably could still work with him. That article on taming was good, I will keep trying that.

We went to our first bird club meeting tonight, and found out that it is highly likely that Irwin is actually a 30+ yr old wild caught import. He is coming tomorrow to check him out. (Update: looks like he is probably six yrs as we were told, and we still don't know where he came from . But, he is happy and healthy and perfect. )

He would rather hide under the sofa than step up.

So cute! Irwin has actually stopped the squawking since I started covering his cage at night. Sadly he has stopped talking altogether too unless coaxed by a nut. >.< I'm hoping if I wake up earlier to uncover him he will start talking again.

He has the same reaction with sticks outside of his cage too. Last time I was able to get him onto his perch (we detached it from the cage) but when I would move it he would jump back off. I tried for over 45 minutes.

He goes ballistic if we put a stick even an inch into his cage, i don't know why. He hates them like ten times worse than hands. Last time he was out we tried using his normal long perch to get him to step up but he would jump back off after the slightest movement. The man who had him first did clip his wings so he can't fly back, that would be ideal though.

When he gets out we have to towel him to put him back in which really freaks him out

that was a nice review. Thanks!

Thanks We're moving to a house soon so it won't matter, but we just don't want to get kicked out early. A friend of mine just got a notice that he needs to get rid of his new macaw or leave because it screams. We are in the same complex...

Singing was the only thing that stopped him this morning, but it was very hard to keep singing while studying for a math final for the whole two hours