You ever meet a parrot with so much energy it’s like they drank three espressos before breakfast? That’s Kingston, our blue-throated macaw. Gorgeous, smart, and fast. Real fast. One of the most important things I tell people when they meet a bird like Kingston—especially on their...
Parrots have been part of human culture for centuries, admired for their intelligence, social nature, and striking plumage. In modern times, they are often kept as companion animals, forming deep bonds with their caregivers. However, unlike domesticated pets such as dogs and cats, parrots retain...
This week in Trainer’s Corner, we’re diving into one of the most common challenges parrot owners face - screaming. It’s a problem that can quickly escalate into frustration for both the bird and their humans, leading to strained relationships and daily disruptions. Today’s focus is...
This week in “Trainer’s Corner,” we’re diving into a common challenge many bird owners face: managing the dynamics of training multiple birds at once, each with their own personality and pace. Our case focuses on an energetic parrot, Kaiko, who tends to dominate training sessions, and...
This week in "Trainer's Corner," we're focusing on a case that many parrot owners might find relatable: a Green-Winged Macaw that has become aggressive toward one family member. In this instance, the bird is targeting the husband and even launching attacks, despite being otherwise well-behaved...
Today, I'm thrilled to share with you a detailed recap of our recent live training session featuring Rosie, our spirited parrot, who never fails to enlighten us with her dynamic responses. This session was particularly focused on the art of shaping behaviors—a core technique in...
When you are bringing home a new parrot, is training your new feathered buddy the first thing on your mind? Or are you in the same camp as one of my clients, Matthew, who emphatically explained to me: “when I think of training, I think...
Over the years, my team and I have learned that while fly offs can be daunting, they also offer unparalleled opportunities for growth and learning in bird training. Fly offs happen for many different reasons, and it’s important to assess what you can and can’t...
There is a very well known debate in psychology as to whether nature or nurture informs our behavior. It turns out, this debate is common among animal behavior scientists as well. It turns out, both nature and nurture, or ethology and learning history, inform the...
As a bird trainer and caregiver, you are likely aware that the behavior-response feedback loop is one of the most critical components to maintain communication with the bird in your care. It's one thing to pay attention to a bird's body language, it is a...