My yellow naped amazon parrot Delbert was in the mood to sing this morning. He pretty much is every morning, but today I quickly set up a video camera to capture a few of his songs. Here they are. Enjoy!
To learn more about training your parrot to talk and to see more of Delbert check out the DVD Train Your Parrot to Talk
Barbara Heidenreich
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
For quality information on parrot training visit www.GoodBirdInc.com
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Go See a Bird Show!
What luck! This morning there just happened to be a Bird of Prey demonstration just a 5 minute drive from my house. This show was presented by Last Chance Forever a raptor rehabilitation and education organization. I have seen these folks before and am always impressed by their excellent training skills.
It was a windy day today but the trainers were attentive to this as well as some earlier spottings of a red shouldered hawk in the area and a loose dog. They flew a HUGE female Harris' hawk, a crested caracara (one of my favorite birds!) and a Lanner falcon. They had a few walk on's too (barn owl, screech owl and a red tailed hawk)
I enjoyed watching all the flying. It took me back to my bird shows days. But the best part for me was the caracara doing the infamous dollar bill trick. I have seen various parrots and corvids do this behavior, which is basically a retrieve, but never a caracara. As the presenter said they are not quite a hawk, not quite a falcon and not quite a vulture. They seem to be a combo of all of the above. Really cool bird in my opinion.
Of course the presentation was meant to educate a well as awe and I was thrilled to see my non animal trainer friend who was with me was totally into it. It is one thing to hear about birds, or watch them on TV, but once you have had an up close and personal experience it really can give you a deeper appreciation for animals in your home and the wild.
I hope the video clips give you a little taste of the experience. Go see a bird show if you can!
Barbara Heidenreich
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
For quality information on parrot training visit www.GoodBirdInc.com
It was a windy day today but the trainers were attentive to this as well as some earlier spottings of a red shouldered hawk in the area and a loose dog. They flew a HUGE female Harris' hawk, a crested caracara (one of my favorite birds!) and a Lanner falcon. They had a few walk on's too (barn owl, screech owl and a red tailed hawk)
I enjoyed watching all the flying. It took me back to my bird shows days. But the best part for me was the caracara doing the infamous dollar bill trick. I have seen various parrots and corvids do this behavior, which is basically a retrieve, but never a caracara. As the presenter said they are not quite a hawk, not quite a falcon and not quite a vulture. They seem to be a combo of all of the above. Really cool bird in my opinion.
Of course the presentation was meant to educate a well as awe and I was thrilled to see my non animal trainer friend who was with me was totally into it. It is one thing to hear about birds, or watch them on TV, but once you have had an up close and personal experience it really can give you a deeper appreciation for animals in your home and the wild.
I hope the video clips give you a little taste of the experience. Go see a bird show if you can!
Barbara Heidenreich
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
For quality information on parrot training visit www.GoodBirdInc.com
Friday, March 11, 2011
Parrots and Stress Bars
Blu Lu had a rough start in life. She was rejected by her parents. This meant she likely did not get fed as frequently or as much as she needed during those critical early weeks of development. When baby parrots miss feedings, become ill or are otherwise compromised it shows. One place where it becomes very evident is in their feathers. What is often observed when conditions are poor and a feather is growing in is what is known as a stress bar. The bar is a line that is visible across the feather. This line represents a weak spot in the feather. Without adequate nutrition the feather did not development properly at that spot.
The drawback to stress bars is that the feather is very vulnerable at this line. Many feathers break at the stress bar. Tail feathers and primary feathers (wing feathers) need the support of surrounding feathers to grow successfully. Without support they too can break.
Blue Lu did break a few tail feathers close to the base of her tail due to stress bars. And it will be important to keep an eye on her new growing tail feathers. New feathers initially have a blood and nerve supply. If one of the growing feathers were to break it could bleed and be painful. In most cases a little pressure can stop the bleeding, but if you are unsure what to do when a blood feather breaks, I do highly recommend you visit your avian veterinarian. You can find an avian at The Association of Avian Veterinarians website.
Fortunately once she was rejected by her parents Blu Lu was well taken care of by caring humans and her feather growth from then on improved considerably. However this first molt is a welcomed one. It means she will soon have a brand new set of very healthy feathers. Just one single broken flight feather can dramatically effect flight skills. It is often a matter of pride for many professional bird trainers that their birds are in perfect feather. It is a reflection of excellent care.
Blu Lu is already pretty stunning. But I can’t wait for her new spring wardrobe!
Barbara Heidenreich
For quality information on parrot training visit http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
Friday, February 25, 2011
Parrot Training DVDs – Behind the Scenes
Oh have I got a fun video clip to share with you. Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when making a DVD? Here is your chance to find out!
Whenever I film a DVD I am busy at work doing my part as the host or animal trainer. I do a little bit of work explaining my vision and shots I think would support it. But most of the real work is in the hands of the film crew that you usually don’t get to see.
Einstein the African Grey Parrot, who appeared in my recent DVD Train Your Parrot to Talk, has caregivers who find film and photography as interesting as I do. Jeff and Marcia were gracious enough to allow me to interview them for the DVD, and they also set up their own cameras to capture this glimpse into the making of a parrot training video.
I was also thrilled to hear that Marcia has already been putting more of Einstein’s vocabulary on cue using the instructional information in the DVD. I have my fingers crossed she will get that on film too so I can share it here. If you want to learn more about Einstein the Talking Texan Parrot and see more video clips of her visit her website. http://www.einsteinparrot.com/
An interview with Jeff and Marcia is featured in the DVD. And of course Einstein also makes an appearance. She also lends her voice to the CD ROM of talking parrot recordings you can play for your own parrot. You can find out more information at Train Your Parrot to Talk.
Barbara Heidenreich
For quality information on parrot training visit www.GoodBirdInc.com
Copyright 2011
Whenever I film a DVD I am busy at work doing my part as the host or animal trainer. I do a little bit of work explaining my vision and shots I think would support it. But most of the real work is in the hands of the film crew that you usually don’t get to see.
Einstein the African Grey Parrot, who appeared in my recent DVD Train Your Parrot to Talk, has caregivers who find film and photography as interesting as I do. Jeff and Marcia were gracious enough to allow me to interview them for the DVD, and they also set up their own cameras to capture this glimpse into the making of a parrot training video.
I was also thrilled to hear that Marcia has already been putting more of Einstein’s vocabulary on cue using the instructional information in the DVD. I have my fingers crossed she will get that on film too so I can share it here. If you want to learn more about Einstein the Talking Texan Parrot and see more video clips of her visit her website. http://www.einsteinparrot.com/
An interview with Jeff and Marcia is featured in the DVD. And of course Einstein also makes an appearance. She also lends her voice to the CD ROM of talking parrot recordings you can play for your own parrot. You can find out more information at Train Your Parrot to Talk.
Barbara Heidenreich
For quality information on parrot training visit www.GoodBirdInc.com
Copyright 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Parrot Flight Training- Improving Skills
It has been a busy month releasing the new DVD Train Your Parrot to Talk, putting out another issue of Good Bird Magazine, presenting at Parrot Festival and somewhere in all that I came down with a nasty virus! However even though I have been rather busy, every day there has been time made for Blu Lu training. Yay! I just have not had time to blog about it until today.
Blu Lu the Blue Throated Macaw from the Bird Endowment is doing extremely well. One of the behaviors she has really been practicing is her flight training. You may recall I posted a video a while back about training her to fly to different perches in my house. I wanted to share a video clip of her progress since then. She is really mastering her flight skills. She has learned a nice quick response to my cue for recall.
She is sometimes a little slower than I would like flying to a perch when I cue her. But I suspect that part of the problem is that being with people is also a strong reinforcer for her. So going away from a person is tougher than coming to one.
One of the benefits to training your bird to fly to designated perches in your house is that it makes it very reinforcing for your parrot to fly to those spots. So instead of chewing up the back of a chair, or flinging papers off of the table your parrot deliberately opts to go to the perches.
I do have another place in the kitchen loaded with toys that Blu Lu goes to as well. These also work as reinforcers for her to stay in that area and have fun. This really handy strategy of making the behavior you want your parrot to do the most reinforcing option is based on The Matching Law.
You can apply this to so many aspects of living with a parrot. Think of it this way. If your parrot has the choice to do behavior A or behavior B, whichever one he knows will earn the most reinforcers is the one he will do. This means it is your job to make the behavior you want your parrot do more fun than the one you don’t want. For example make it more fun to play on play stand, than chew up the books on the book shelf.
The video clip does not show off her maneuvering skills. She literally can fly through every doorway and turn every corner in my house, which can be quite tight at times. She is a smaller species of macaw, but even so, it is quite impressive. She also does this with impeccable precision. You can literally “see” her making decisions on the wing as she decides where she will turn and where she land. I never get tired of watching a young bird master flight skills.
More videos to come as her training progresses……….
Barbara Heidenreich
For quality information on parrot training visit http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
Blu Lu the Blue Throated Macaw from the Bird Endowment is doing extremely well. One of the behaviors she has really been practicing is her flight training. You may recall I posted a video a while back about training her to fly to different perches in my house. I wanted to share a video clip of her progress since then. She is really mastering her flight skills. She has learned a nice quick response to my cue for recall.
She is sometimes a little slower than I would like flying to a perch when I cue her. But I suspect that part of the problem is that being with people is also a strong reinforcer for her. So going away from a person is tougher than coming to one.
One of the benefits to training your bird to fly to designated perches in your house is that it makes it very reinforcing for your parrot to fly to those spots. So instead of chewing up the back of a chair, or flinging papers off of the table your parrot deliberately opts to go to the perches.
I do have another place in the kitchen loaded with toys that Blu Lu goes to as well. These also work as reinforcers for her to stay in that area and have fun. This really handy strategy of making the behavior you want your parrot to do the most reinforcing option is based on The Matching Law.
You can apply this to so many aspects of living with a parrot. Think of it this way. If your parrot has the choice to do behavior A or behavior B, whichever one he knows will earn the most reinforcers is the one he will do. This means it is your job to make the behavior you want your parrot do more fun than the one you don’t want. For example make it more fun to play on play stand, than chew up the books on the book shelf.
The video clip does not show off her maneuvering skills. She literally can fly through every doorway and turn every corner in my house, which can be quite tight at times. She is a smaller species of macaw, but even so, it is quite impressive. She also does this with impeccable precision. You can literally “see” her making decisions on the wing as she decides where she will turn and where she land. I never get tired of watching a young bird master flight skills.
More videos to come as her training progresses……….
Barbara Heidenreich
For quality information on parrot training visit http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Magazine for Parrot People - Good Bird Magazine
The latest issue of Good Bird Magazine is here.
Here is a sampling of some of the articles in this issue:
Parrot Profiles – Part 1 Interesting Information about the Behavior of Different Species of Parrots
Always Remember, Be Careful Out There! - Toy Safety
Training Your Parrot to Interact with Toys - Includes Video Tutorial!
A Parrotlet Stole My Heart
Parrot Handling and Training Guidelines
What Is Your Bird Saying? Learn to Read Bird Body Language
You can learn more about the new digital magazine at this link
Click on the link to see a free sample of Good Bird Magazine with all the features.
Your subscription also includes a PDF version that can be downloaded to Smart Phones and E-Readers. Try the free app iBooks for iPhones and iPads.
Barbara
Barbara Heidenreich
http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright Good Bird Inc 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Train Your Parrot to Talk
Have you ever wondered how to get a parrot to talk? They say all parrots can mimic sounds, but we all know not every parrot is a talker. The good news is there are some techniques you can utilize to increase the odds of creating a great talking parrot. I have had the good fortune to work with a number of amazing talking parrots over the years. But of course my personal favorite is my own Yellow Naped Amazon parrot, Delbert. I applied all the techniques I have learned over the years as a professional animal trainer to train Delbert to talk and sing. And I am pleased to report the results have been beyond my expectations.
So others can enjoy the pleasure of sharing their life with a talking parrot I have created a new resource for parrot enthusiasts. It is a new DVD CD-ROM set called “Train Your Parrot to Talk”
In this DVD I address common myths about talking parrots, which birds make ideal candidates for talking, the most effective ways to expose your parrot to sounds you want repeated, proven methods for encouraging your parrot to vocalize and most importantly how to train your parrot to talk on cue. Also included is an appearance by Einstein, the Talking Texan Parrot, plus an interview with her human companions. The bonus CD ROM includes recordings of a variety of species of parrots vocalizing to inspire your bird to talk. The recordings feature participants in our Best Talking Parrot contest and also my Amazon parrot Delbert, plus Einstein!
You can play just the species most closely related to your bird or you can play the mp3 of the entire collection of vocalizations if you live in a mixed species household. In the DVD I explain how I use this tool to train Delbert to pick up new things. I have a special set up that makes it super easy.
Besides being a great training resource I find the recordings are a wonderful form of enrichment for my birds. It makes me feel good to see and hear my parrots having such a great time listening to the mp3's.
I was at a conference recently and when I mentioned how much I enjoyed having parrots in my life, everyone in the room seemed to know just what I meant. I also received many emails from people who told me how much they enjoyed watching the videos of people interacting with their birds in The Best Talking Parrot contest. It was that special connection that was having such an impact.
Training is such a wonderful way to build that special connection. And training your bird to talk just takes it to a whole new level. I gotta say I love having my bird sing "happy birthday" to me every day. (Lately the new favorite has been "I feel good" by James Brown. I can’t wait to share that one with everyone.)
You can order your copy of “Train Your Parrot to Talk” by visiting the Good Bird Inc website.
Happy Training!
Barbara
Barbara Heidenreich
http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
So others can enjoy the pleasure of sharing their life with a talking parrot I have created a new resource for parrot enthusiasts. It is a new DVD CD-ROM set called “Train Your Parrot to Talk”
In this DVD I address common myths about talking parrots, which birds make ideal candidates for talking, the most effective ways to expose your parrot to sounds you want repeated, proven methods for encouraging your parrot to vocalize and most importantly how to train your parrot to talk on cue. Also included is an appearance by Einstein, the Talking Texan Parrot, plus an interview with her human companions. The bonus CD ROM includes recordings of a variety of species of parrots vocalizing to inspire your bird to talk. The recordings feature participants in our Best Talking Parrot contest and also my Amazon parrot Delbert, plus Einstein!
You can play just the species most closely related to your bird or you can play the mp3 of the entire collection of vocalizations if you live in a mixed species household. In the DVD I explain how I use this tool to train Delbert to pick up new things. I have a special set up that makes it super easy.
Besides being a great training resource I find the recordings are a wonderful form of enrichment for my birds. It makes me feel good to see and hear my parrots having such a great time listening to the mp3's.
I was at a conference recently and when I mentioned how much I enjoyed having parrots in my life, everyone in the room seemed to know just what I meant. I also received many emails from people who told me how much they enjoyed watching the videos of people interacting with their birds in The Best Talking Parrot contest. It was that special connection that was having such an impact.
Training is such a wonderful way to build that special connection. And training your bird to talk just takes it to a whole new level. I gotta say I love having my bird sing "happy birthday" to me every day. (Lately the new favorite has been "I feel good" by James Brown. I can’t wait to share that one with everyone.)
You can order your copy of “Train Your Parrot to Talk” by visiting the Good Bird Inc website.
Happy Training!
Barbara
Barbara Heidenreich
http://www.goodbirdinc.com/
Copyright 2011 Good Bird Inc
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