Best Practice Guidelines for Fly-Offs
At Avian Behavior International (ABI), we know that a fly off is part of the free flight process. As birds learn to navigate in three-dimensional space as well as the variables, both predictable and unpredictable, that free flight comes with.
A fly off is defined as any time a bird flies out of the flight training area unexpectedly and is not responding to audio and/or verbal cues from their trainers. Expecting fly offs is part of the process in free flight training in conjunction with a progressive weight management paradigm. Our hold on our birds’ motivation levels is not so tight that we can make specific predictions about their accuracy in early flight performance and skill development, nor is this strict control over their flights conducive to these goals. Instead, we rely on the following tools to enhance the chances of a successful flight retrieval:
- Proper assessment of a bird’s fitness levels prior to unrestricted flight
- Fluency in basic skills that include aviary or creance flights in and out of branchy, unstable perching, strong response and positive associations to lure where applicable, strong crating and hood behaviors, and fluency at recall in variety of scenarios to a minimum of two trainers, and familiarity with new faces
- State of the art telemetry equipment whenever possible, even on our most reliable flyers
- Proper training and preparation of all flight training staff
- Proper preparation of volunteer and intern staff
- Charged radios at all times
- Two sets of binoculars
Long Term Goals of a Fly Off
The immediate goal of a fly off is to have the bird return as swiftly and safely as possible with minimal lasting negative impacts. At any time during a flight session, it is necessary to recognize by any flight trainer, no matter how seasoned the bird and human training team, that variables known and unknown exist beyond the control of the human team that are a safety threat to the bird’s life. This humbling promise reminds us to examine our decisions each session for a better response the next time.
Fly offs are not without their benefits, which is why with proper training, we can minimize the stress to our team and realize their proper place in our bird’s flight development. A fly off be the catalyst for a bird learning evasive maneuvers, handling less than ideal weather conditions, taking off from unfamiliar and inhospitable perching, and encountering natural punishing stimuli that, with further skill building, help shape staying in contact with home cues even more reinforcing.
Since a fly off can happen with a trained or untrained bird, this document will attempt to cover both scenarios, with ABI’s flight training expectations covered in that SOP.
General Guidelines
There are some critical components to keep in mind when a flyoff occurs, whether it is during a training session or flight program.
- The point of a recovery is to have a trained bird return voluntarily. There are very few extraordinary circumstances that would require a trained bird to have to be grabbed, trapped, netted, or otherwise restrained to be recovered.
- These protocol scan still work in the event an exhibit or intermewed bird escapes and needs to be trapped with a bal chatri or other form of trapping method.
- Before a free flight session with a bird that has a higher potential for a fly off, trainers are encouraged to grab a snack, use the facilities, hydrate and bring their water bottles, and grab important equipment such as binoculars and radios.
- Establish a language and a communication system that your team will use to communicate significant events and how they will do so, whether it’s by radio, cell phone or both.
- Birds on a species and individual level have different flight and recovery patterns. Familiarizing your team with how a bird is likely to act when confronted with unfamiliar conditions in a fly off situation will reduce stress and confusion for everyone.
- Have at least one person maintain eye contact on the bird as much as possible. This may mean that you stake people out from high vantages rather than follow the bird’s flight in a direct line.
- Some birds are more likely to vocalize and can be found through contact calls. Others can be found looking for native species mobbing. For other birds, having bells is helpful. These are in addition to telemetry or in the event telemetry is not possible or experienced a technical failure.
- Maintain short communication with the team how the bird is traveling so that movements can be used efficiently. The bird may be looping around or heading straight away, these are important concepts for the person dictating the information to convey
- At least one member of the team will need to plan on staying with the bird until last light and one person will need to go to the bird at first light. These are the times the bird is often likely to stir as roosting time can be dangerous for many species.
- Once the bird has gone to roost for the evening, avoid disturbing it with lights, physical disruptions, and recall cues.
- Do not give up! Even if it looks bleak now, there are many different ways of getting your bird back. It could take a few days, but never underestimate the power of community.
Language
The way that we communicate as a team during the time of emergency or near emergency can make the difference for how efficiently the bird is retrieved. Radios are to be checked that all are on the same channel and at an appropriate volume before a bird is out of the travel crate or unhooded. If the bird is a fly off risk, a quick review of language protocols and who will be directing the fly off is established.
We avoid using directions such as north, south, east, and west. We use large obvious landmarks that are familiar to everyone, and then we can triangulate. This may sound like, “She was flying away from us between the green house and the cabin up the hillside.” We avoid using descriptors that could be confused with anything else, such as that tree/rock, or even descriptors such as right and left. These will be different to everyone, and your team may not know where you are facing if you are talking over the radio.
Transmissions of voice or on the radio need to be short so that information can be transmitted efficiently and not get confusing. This is a high stress scenario, and conditions will change rapidly. Hogging air time will frustrate your team. Take a deep breath, be clear, and be concise.
We have a specific set of terms for what is happening when a bird is not responding to cues in a fly off or near fly off situation.
I have a visual/Eyes on: You have spotted the bird.
Bird up: The bird has taken off from their perch. Everyone who has eyes on says this when the bird takes off.
In the air: The bird is flying. Often said with I have a visual.
She/he landed: Is only said when you have observed that the bird has landed. This will change your team’s behavior, so a false call can be detrimental to the bird’s impending recovery
She/he is down: This means something is potentially wrong and the bird went down. This is not to be confused with the bird has landed.
On the hand: The bird is on the trainer’s hand but is not secure yet.
Bird secure: The bird has been officially secured.
Coordination
Team coordination is an enormous part of the successful recovery. Most fly offs, while stressful and scary, are not to be treated like a full sprint emergency. The faster you run at your bird, the more likely you are to scare it and the more likely you are to make bad decisions. Trainers are still expected to move quickly, strategically, and decisively when the bird is on the move.
One person is established as the fly off coordinator. This is usually done for us before a high risk session in advance of the session starting. If an unexpected fly off occurs, this position falls to the most experienced flight trainer. In the case of multiple bird flight sessions, individual trainers will need to focus on each bird. One team member is usually left at the home base where the flight originated. In many of our early flight sessions, we already have one or two trainers positioned at high vantages to be able to keep eyes on the bird in case of a missed landing. These high-positioned teammates are crucial for communication.
Avoid having clusters of trainers in certain spots, as this can undermine the chances of an over-faced and nervous fly off bird landing on a trainer as well as limit much needed eyes from spreading out.
Staying at high vantages will also help avoid wasting energy and following the bird’s direct path, which may not always be the best path to recovery. It’s always important to keep your eyes on the bird as long as you possibly can until the bird has landed. One or two people trained on them with binoculars and others on foot, depending on the terrain, increases the chances you will find the bird quickly and recover them.
Telemetry and Locating Your Bird
ABI employs the use of both radio and GPS telemetry as much as possible. Even extremely well-trained birds can have challenges that necessitate tracking. Always double check that your telemetry is on, well-charged and working. We never overestimate the need for a well-charged battery, even on our most seasoned of flyers. There are too many unknown variables in free flying birds for double-beeping telemetry battery.
When your telemetry fails or you aren’t using any, keep the search going until you have located the bird. We recommend getting the word out quickly to local veterinarians, rehabbers, Facebook groups, your social media, and anywhere you can think of that a naïve member of the public would reach out when the see your bird.
In your search, look for native birds mobbing if you have a bird of prey or similar species, or use contact calls if you have a parrot.
Getting the Bird Back
As anyone who has used telemetry knows, a tracking device tells you where your bird is, but it does not guarantee your bird is ready to recall back. Sometimes you arrive at your bird’s location, and there are variables that will keep you from an immediate retrieval.
Weather such as wind, rain, and heat can play a factor. Your bird can be exhausted and not have the energy to try novel flights among novel stimuli until more motivation has set in, and the nuance has worn off. There can be a lot of stimulation to overcome, from traffic, dogs, native birds and other species, well-intentioned and curious public, construction, and facility activities. Your bird may be in a tree or other perch that is incredibly inconvenient to retrieve from. There are many different scenarios that you will have to face and assess.
You know your bird’s recall procedures and protocols the best. Some general guidelines we look at when we have located the bird, yet the bird still isn’t ready to fly to us immediately are helpful:
- Use your conditioned cues and reinforcers. If your bird is lure trained or has a perch, table, transportable cage, or crate that they have a strong positive learning history with, try those
- Have one person call at a time and avoid clustering.
- Try to have your bird fly upwind to you as much as you possibly can to give them an easier flight
- Avoid tossing tidbits too much that would fill your bird up and make recall or crating less motivating. Secure any food on lures, in crates, or in bait bags to ensure the bird does not have access to large amounts of food that will make recovery harder
- Utilize negative reinforcement strategies if your bird looks like they will fly off as you approach. This approach-retreat procedure works wonders to reinforce calm behavior during an approach by giving the bird space and then starting a new behavior loop.
Different species
Different species act in different ways when they are in a fly off situation, and of course, every individual is unique based on their learning history. Recognizing how certain species will likely respond in the face of this intense situation can help you plan for the right tools, the right team training, and the optimum time and environmental conditions for your bird’s skill level.
Recovery
Utilizing all the resources you have available, from technology, social media, caring neighbors, staff drills and training, team coordination, and strong secondary skills such as crating, lure training, and other learned behaviors will help you with your recovery. The goal of recovery is always to get your bird back, but, if possible, we want the bird to return voluntarily instead of by restraint. While for exhibit birds, this is likely not feasible, we still need to get the bird relaxed enough to return to a baited trap. This comes with team training.
At ABI, we embrace the opportunity for a fly off in a free flight scenario. We always acknowledge that even with our most trained birds, a fly off is always a possibility. There are too many variables in free flight to expect guarantees. When you learn to expect discomfort, you train for it, and you increase your threshold for the anxiety that comes with the unknown.