14 Jun 04 Motivation Part 1: Help, I can’t get my parrot to stop biting and screaming
To say motivation is a broad topic is an understatement. But it can be confusing. We call unmotivated parrots insecure, unconfident, phobic, territorial...
Blog
13 Jun 03 Avian Teachers: Larue the Crested Caracara and fearful behavior
Larue the crested caracara has taught us a lot of things, we wanted to zoom in the focus on three things here that are not only common issues as trainers, but are relatable no matter if you are working with a caracara, a hornbill, or...
12 Jun 02 Cockatoo Expert Katy McElroy
Cockatoos can be really challenging and take a special home to keep them happy. When done right, they can be resilient and independent. Doesn't that sound odd? Independent? It's true, and cockatoo aviculturist Katy McElroy has spent decades working with them, observing them, breeding them, and...
11 Jun 01 Avian Veterinarian and Nutrition Expert Scott Echols
If you have ever wondered about the right way to feed your parrot, how nutrition and exercise impacts an animal’s health-span, and how important foraging activities are for all kinds of birds, this is the conversation for you. Dr. Scott Echols has done extensive research...
01 Jun Hooding and Birds of Prey
Reprinted from our sister site, The Avian Behavior Lab If you have ever seen a bird of prey hooded sitting calmly, you might have wondered how a falconry hood works. Is the raptor calm because he is hooded or is he petrified in fear? Does it...
28 May Problem with a Parrot on Your Shoulder?
A human shoulder is a naturally wonderful place for a parrot to perch. She has everything she needs right there. A good view, good company, and the opportunity to go wherever her flock goes and see what her flock sees. For many parrot owners, shoulder...
08 May Should You Go Jess Free With Your Bird of Prey?
As we progress in our animal training technology, there are many practices that we are re-evaluating and refining, and with good reason. As we have discussed in our blog, podcasts, and from Day One of our online membership, the extensive and pervasive use of weight...
28 Feb Why Talking and Singing to Calm a New Bird is a Bad Idea
If you have ever brought a new parrot home and asked the social media hive mind how to get your nervous new friend used to you, chances are good that someone has told you to pull up a chair and calmly talk, sing, or a...
13 Feb My Parrot Bites to Step Up! How to work with aggressive parrots
Abbi is a thirty year old blue and gold macaw that has one eye and a fused wing after being attacked by a pitbull and never having proper veterinary care. He also did not like women and clearly had a preference for men. When the...
02 Feb Teaching Adult Parrots to Fly
As our understanding of how to keep our companion parrots healthy physiologically and behaviorally evolves with updated veterinary and field research, many companion parrot owners are asking for fully flighted parrots as youngsters or allowing their adult parrots’ wings to grow out. That said, many...