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...
Have you ever seen someone run at a flock of pigeons to make them fly or nudge their dog to move? It’s a pretty natural response. As humans, we often feel the need to prompt animals into action. But here at Avian Behavior International, we take...
The focus of our Bird of Prey Workshops is to blend practical tips and philosophies that challenge traditional training methods. These workshops are kept small to allow abundant hands on training time as well as maximize the in-between moments, those critical conversations that happen between...
Have you ever noticed a bird with a feather that just won’t let go, like a stubborn leaf clinging to a branch? That’s exactly what we’re seeing with Aldo, our great horned owl, as he wraps up the final stages of his molt. Molting is...
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...
Our Fall 2024 Bird of Prey Workshop focused on key topics such as managing fear and aggression in raptors using the constructional approach and non-coercive negative reinforcement and using progressive weight management techniques....
We're starting a new segment for our weekly newsletters called "Trainers Corner". We will be highlighting key lessons from my consultations. Learning through others' experiences is a powerful way to grow as a trainer or bird owner because it allows us to see different approaches to...
Welcome to our interactive deep dive on training a young Swainson's hawk at Avian Behavior International. This particular bird has quite an interesting backstory that shapes our approach to his training. He was found as a nestling covered in ants and ended up imprinting on...
As we gear up to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day, it's the perfect time to explore how we at ABI foster our relationship with these fascinating birds through respectful and effective training methods. Vultures may often be portrayed as grim reapers in cultural myths, delighting in...
Training your bird for transportation isn't just an important part of education programming, it's a good life skill to have. For wildlife rehabilitation organizations, nature centers, and other small bird of prey centers, this is an essential skill that trainers rely on. For companion parrot...