Distractions can really put an abrupt halt in training. For example, I had three birds out while attempting to work with just one of them. I didn't plan it that way - I had them all out flying around and then Bondi told me she wanted to work on her "roll over/play dead" trick so I began training on the hallway floor. Well, once Bandit saw Bondi ...

Photo  by Dave Location: Orlando, FL Lawn Mowing: Galah "Bandit"   Putting natural behaviors on cue is FUN and EASY! You need to know the basics of clicker conditioning and you're ready to go. I'm going to explain the steps I took to do so with my rose breasted cockatoo, Bandit, and how you can follow what I did with your own bird at home!   St...

 Photo by Mona Location: Daytona Beach, FL Receiving a Kiss: Rose Breasted Cockatoo "Bandit" While giving a parrot seminar in Daytona Beach, Florida I realized how un-fun many bird owners tend to be. A very common question was, "My bird doesn't want to come out of its cage to be with me, why?" Now obviously, there can be a list of reasons for t...

Photo by Dave Location: Spokane, WA Pictured: African Grey "Cressi", Galah "Bandit" & Macaw "Jinx"   Remember my "Bathing = Bonding" post about how I used the act of showering/bathing my birds to get them to be OK next to one another, even though outside of that environment they hated one another? Well, I decided to try that AGAIN... and it...

Photo by Dave Location: Orlando, FL Cockatoos: Galahs "Bondi" and "Bandit" A huge discouragement to letting a bird be a bird and use its natural ability to fly... is this myth that flighted birds don't talk. This is completely false!  I know, because I have both types of birds; the one who never flew outside before (Bondi, my galah) and one who...

Photo by Dave Location: Sandpoint, ID Excited ones: Rose Breasted Cockatoos "Bondi", "Ace" and "Bandit"   Some friends asked if I could watch their rose breasted cockatoo, Ace, for a day or so. They were staying at an aunt's and I was happy to look after Ace (whom I hand fed when he was just a youngin' anyway!)   I was actually really looking f...