Bird behavior

Animal Training

Understanding Degrees of Freedom: The Power of True Choice

Choice and control are buzzy words in animal training right now. But what do we…

Hillary HankeyNovember 17, 2025

On the Ranch

Why Our Owls Are Getting Louder (And Other Fall Surprises)

November in Southern California doesn't look like fall in most places. Our trees stay green,…

Hillary HankeyNovember 17, 2025

Bird of Prey Training

The Power of Distance: Building Choice-Based Foundations with Our Ambassador Birds

At a recent Heroes 4 Wildlife conference, I shared insights about a training approach that's…

Hillary HankeyOctober 9, 2025

Bird of Prey Training

Is Your Bird Fearful or Lacking Skills?

If you've been working with birds of prey for any length of time, you've encountered…

Hillary HankeyOctober 2, 2025

Animal Training

Feather Destructive Behavior in Birds: Lessons from a King Vulture

Feather destructive behavior is one of the most difficult challenges we face as bird trainers…

Hillary HankeyAugust 29, 2025

Animal Training

Context: The Missing Piece in Animal Training

When training feels stuck, it’s easy to zero in on the behavior itself — reinforcing…

Hillary HankeyAugust 22, 2025

Animal Training

What Free Loft Training Really Teaches Us

In the Avian Behavior Lab, we talk a lot about trust. Not the fluffy, motivational…

Hillary HankeyAugust 1, 2025

Animal Training

How We Solve Behavior Problems (Even the Big Ones)

If you’ve ever looked at a tough behavior case and thought, “Where do I even…

Hillary HankeyJuly 10, 2025

Animal Training

Creance Mechanics: It’s Not Just a Line — It’s a Language

If you’ve ever heard the words “just fly the bird on creance a few times…

Hillary HankeyJune 26, 2025

Food for Thought

Why Bird Biology Matters (And Why We’re Starting with Darwin)

Birds help us track environmental change, understand animal behavior, and even spark innovation in how…

Hillary HankeyJune 2, 2025

Understanding Degrees of Freedom: The Power of True Choice

Why Our Owls Are Getting Louder (And Other Fall Surprises)

The Power of Distance: Building Choice-Based Foundations with Our Ambassador Birds

Is Your Bird Fearful or Lacking Skills?

Feather Destructive Behavior in Birds: Lessons from a King Vulture

Context: The Missing Piece in Animal Training

What Free Loft Training Really Teaches Us

How We Solve Behavior Problems (Even the Big Ones)

Creance Mechanics: It’s Not Just a Line — It’s a Language

Why Bird Biology Matters (And Why We’re Starting with Darwin)

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