Cockatoo Free-Flight

Shelby, 5 yrs old at the time this was filmed, Bare-eyed Cockatoo, flies free with her owners and friends. Merlin, a 14-yr-old Moluccan Cockatoo, flies while wearing his Aviator harness. Shelby will be 10 yrs old July 19, 2011. She is still free-flying. While there is always risk involved, she has, in the meantime, had a wonderful life living uncaged most of the time while indoors, and having opportunity to fly free outside every now and then. She still flies right back and never flies out of sight.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Cockatoo Free-Flight
• Recall Clicker Training
• Shelby
• Bare-eyed Cockatoo free flight

[gigijloo]

So beautiful to see companion birds free flying like Shelby. Do you think Merlin will ever be fully free flying? I have 2 Amazons, an Orange Wing and a Mexican Red Headed, that are free to fly anywhere they want in our bird proof home. Neither my husband or I would have it any other way. I don't know that I personally would ever want to risk either of the Amazons to be fully free flighted outside. They wear harnesses when out. I can tell that you and your birds love each other very much.

[morganvideo]

@gigijloo Merlin will never fly freely outdoors. And Shelby does this naturally - she's bonded to a human flock. I doubt she comes back everytime because she "loves" us so much - she just has always done this. :) Thank you for your post, and I always caution not to take the risk. :)

[vegasgleason]

Just checking in- I fully support KNOWLEDGEABLE parrot owners to allow this.. after thorough training of course. And, it's good that you know the risk/reward.

I myself would rather have a free-flying bird that lives 20 years than a caged animal that lives 50...

We have a flighted Conure and are working on recall training in the house with hopes to take her outside one day. I have a YN Amazon who unfortunately had a broken wing long ago (before I had her) and will never fly.

[morganvideo]

@vegasgleason Thank you! Excellent post! Shelby was a "natural" for free-flight. She just never has ever had the inclination to fly off or fly out of sight. She's extremely flock-connected, and her humans are her flock. If she's startled or frightened by a hawk in the distance, she's right back on a shoulder and goes back indoors. But... Shelby is UNIQUE compared to the other parrots in the flock. She's the only free-flyer.

[Doum27Doum]

great way to lose your bird..... i know someone who trusted their bird... and one day the bird was gone.....

[morganvideo]

@Doum27Doum You're absolutely right - many parrots are not candidates for free flight. Shelby has been doing this for 6 yrs now. Her life has been so enriched by being flighted AND her free-flight, I doubt she would trade this life for a "safer" life in a cage or house with clipped wings. However, it is not safe for MOST parrots. Bare-eyeds and Goffins are noted for being good candidates for free flight, with proper trust & training over a long period of time FIRST.

[Chirostenotes]

We call these Little Corellas in Australia. They're quite common, but less so than the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo. They live all over the city.

[crazychick233]

Oooh that's awesome:D they're beautiful birds

[F77777777]

Just love it, veryyyyyyyyyyyyy nice :)

[Rambler4ever1]

Bride eye toos..... right on man..