Abbey and Jazzy

October 2004 Fly Day. Abbey is a Hyacinth Macaw. In the beginning of the movie, Jazzy the Mitred Conure is flying around her caretaker. Jazzy lands. We want to film a recall from Abbey so she is taken to a fake well and asked to fly to her caretaker. Note that at one point, the caretaker considers tossing Abbey but the parrots body language clearly indicates she does not want to do it and the bird is not tossed.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Mitred Conure
• Hyacinth Macaw
• Fly Day
• Flying parrot
• Parrot Tricks
• Parrot Recall

[birdmanlv]

What positive reason did the bird have? No treat nor petting, just a landing on the shoulder where he thinks he is safe? Therefore, taking the safetry away from him, and having to hide as you do, is not the best way to get a bird to some to you. Simple Operant Conditioning with positive reinforcement works much better with fewer side effects than -R training does.

[AvianFlyers]

Hi Joe:

Abbey was a baby at the time the video was shot. The positive reinforcement was "flocking".  Abbey is very bonded with Jazzy and she was flying to be part of the flock.

[birdmanlv]

I disagree. What a human "thinks" is working on a bird is no substitute for an objective primary drive that is a part of any training regimen. If people are to learn bird training by example, proper examples are needed. Thus my simple suggestions on how others can change this situation with an anxious bird who has no choice but to fly, into a positive situation where the calm bird is clearly rewarded for his choice to fly to a target.

[JackandNaki]

Thanks for the clarification. Learn as you go, right?

I hadn't thought of "using" the seperation as R- to get a bird to recall, I will have to be careful I don't start doing it unintentionally. I bet I would have just thought "oh, how cute,they want to come and hang out with me."

[birdmanlv]

Exactly. A little change in the antecedents and consequences will go a long way in the birds' minds.(PS- sorry for my previous typos! Was in a hurry.)

[JackandNaki]

Okay. I see your point.  I guess even if the bird isn't overly anxious and just enjoys being on the shoulder, it's still R- because that enjoyment is being taken away from him when he is placed on the well.

[JackandNaki]

What is it that tells you he's using anxiety? Is it the bird's body language? It looks like the bird is straining to stay with him.

[birdmanlv]

Hopefully the man on this video can learn to employ some basic positive training techniques techniques with these 2 beautiful birds. It is better to use a treat for a job well done as a positive reinforcement, than to use removing the anxiety caused by separation as a negative reinforcement.