Macaws @ Fort Funston Memorial Weekend

Pix of Macaws FreeFlght @ Fort Funston

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Macaws
• FreeFlight

[starquestca]

Well thank you MissWild Bird.

[flychomperfly]

@basspig parrots don't seem to use 'homing' like pigeons, or they wouldn't have as much trouble finding home when clipped or untrained parrots/macaws get lost. they mostly use landscape navigation and possibly other visual cues.

lots of cockatoos fly at liberty and find their way home no problem. many parrot species besides macaws fly several miles a day and have no trouble returning.

pirate macaws aren't special -- unless you are in need of a very big and sharp beak attack from behind :-p

[basspig]

@flychomperfly That sounds logical. I think an important factor is how the bird handles the unexpected and it's homing ability. Macaws seem to have a history, at least in fiction novels of pirates of the high seas. The proverbial Macaw on the pirate's shoulder, out in the open on the high seas.

[flychomperfly]

@basspig didn't see an answer, so i will let you know it's a valid question. macaws are, indeed, the faves--they are colorful, big, and loud, so they are easy to spot and safer re: predators.

bright, loud, small birds (sun conures) are good when there's more than 1, while not many people fly african greys--they tend to spook.

biggest problem for freeflight--isn't hawks. when loss occurs, TRAINED freeflyers are most often lost to human predators, who like to take the birdies home :(

[alexisPaulG]

@mabutola13 i dont have any place big enough for mine to learn inside. i have done years of research on this. about 2 years ago my boy macaw flew away for 5 days and then came back home. but i never want that experience again. i was walking to the car when it happened and he thought we were going to fly off together i think because he sat 60 feet up in a tree calling to me.

[mabutola13]

@alexisPaulG I satred freeflying my GW since he was 4months old. Indoors first then outdoor with the leash then I took it off after 2 weeks. You can train older birds to freefly but it is harder. There are risks freeflying your bird outdoors so please do your research and try using a leash when training outdoors but train your bird indoors first and see how it goes. hope i answered your questions. My friend Ray (starquestca) who made this video helped me a lot through the process. Nice guy!

[alexisPaulG]

@mabutola13 how old was your greenwing when you starting flying him? i have two rescues one i have had for 5 years and the other only 6 months they are both older birds. Do you think they could learn?

[basspig]

Is the Macaw particularly suited to free flight in that they're maybe less likely to get lost? Many parrot owners and most of the experts say it's risky to try free flight. I'm sure that training is a major factor, but I wonder if species/breed of parrot makes for safer free flight with better abilities to return to the launch point?

[shalamar07]

Beautiful birds!!! I love the song choice! I have a Blue & Gold Macaw named Gucci.  Hoping to get a Greenwing soon.

[mabutola13]

Awesome, bro! I started freeflying my Greenwing outdoors. I wish it's summer now so we can do more outdoor flying. How old and how long have they been flying?