Choice and control are buzzy words in animal training right now. But what do we really mean when we talk about choice? And are we actually offering it? Are we really performing a functional assessment to see what true choice means? And doesn’t B.F. Skinner’s...
November in Southern California doesn't look like fall in most places. Our trees stay green, our temperatures stay mild, and you won't find snow on the ground (unless you drive up to the mountains). But just because we don't have dramatic seasonal changes doesn't mean...
At a recent Heroes 4 Wildlife conference, I shared insights about a training approach that's transformed how we work with our education ambassadors—particularly those "legacy birds" who came to us with compliance-based histories rather than choice-based foundations. Recognizing the Gaps We've all seen it. The bird who...
If you've been working with birds of prey for any length of time, you've encountered it: the bird that won't step up, the eagle that lunges, the hawk that retreats to the back of the mew. And if you're like most trainers, you've probably approached...
Feather destructive behavior is one of the most difficult challenges we face as bird trainers and caretakers. It’s frustrating, heartbreaking, and complex. And if you’ve been there, you know there’s rarely a quick fix. At Avian Behavior , we’ve been living this reality with Rio, our...
When training feels stuck, it’s easy to zero in on the behavior itself — reinforcing more, adjusting criteria, or shifting mechanics. But often the real breakthrough doesn’t come from tweaking the behavior at all. It comes from stepping back and looking at the bigger picture:...
In the Avian Behavior Lab, we talk a lot about trust. Not the fluffy, motivational kind — the kind you build, step by step, when a bird that once hissed at your presence eventually chooses to lean toward your glove. This free loft training series focuses...
If you’ve ever looked at a tough behavior case and thought, “Where do I even begin?”—you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. And not just with one species. I’m talking about cockatoos that scream sunrise to sunset. African greys with surgical bite precision. Raptors that...
If you’ve ever heard the words “just fly the bird on creance a few times and then you’re done,” I want to gently throw a creance line across the table and say, “Let’s unpack that.” The truth is, creance flying isn’t a one-size-fits-all stepping stone to...
Birds help us track environmental change, understand animal behavior, and even spark innovation in how we design and solve problems. Whether we’re talking about conservation, climate, or cognition, birds are at the center of some of the most important questions we can ask about the...