avian ignorant visitors....

[parrotntn]

This weekend, we had 3 visitors to our home. 2 adults and one kid. different times. the adults were mature responsible, intelligent, educated people. The kid was just a normal 9 year old boy.
All three seem to be just completely ignorant of the dangers of approaching a BIG FAT GREEN BIRD WITH PINPOINT PUPILS AND FANNED TAILFEATHERS...

I was shocked at the adult's lack of understanding. Even though none had ever been around exotic birds, they just seemed oblivious to the unsettledness of the animal. A bird's reaction like that, an Amazon, is the equilivant to a dog with ruffed neck hair and snarling. Nobody tried to touch him, thank God. He was out on top of his cage and one guy, very tall, I'm 6'3, he's taller than me, just sacheed up there like he was somebody and Cecil,well, I thought he was gonna eat him if he could. I told him you probably need to just step back a few feet. He just stood there, talking to him like he's a cute lil puppy and Cecil is thinking "this guy has no idea how I wanna put HIM on a cracker and eat him". So, I finally told him, "here, man, back away from the bird, serious dood or he's gonna go off. your in HIS space now and he's not a dog. I'm not being rude, I"m protecting you buddy."
So, he moved back and Cecil retreated.
The lady pretty much did the same thing, but Cecil was in his cage and couldn't get out but it was rude and assuming that they just barged in on him. I mean, you don't see me crawling into their doghouse when we visit them.
I do believe, it is because all of my family and friends are so used to Dood. Dood just goes to anyone and sings Andy Griffeth and eats their earrings and they love him. But dood is a lil bird compared to Cecil who weighed in at 2 lbs!
When I get my ekkie, there will be VERY VERY plain rules about visitors to his area. I don't care if he's more friendly. He'll be mine.Don't make me fan my tailfeathers, hiss and pinpoint my pupils. I will probably be labelled some excentric old bird man one day.

So, it taught me that people's perceptions of an animal's abilities is not innate. I guess I thought everyone thought like me about that. Apparantly it's not common sense to not crowd a fat green bird with fanned tailfeathers, hissing and pinpoint pupils.

Mark

[Missi]

Ughh...I feel your frustration. Well, when I bring Jasmine with me to the Aviary on Saturdays while I work there, she is the only parrot out on a stand, all the others are in cages. Well, most of the parents grab their kid when they go to grab at Jasmine, but sometimes a kid grabs her and it drives me nuts.
I don't blame you for being an "excentric bird person". Most of us here are the SAME way, I'm sure!

[bb100]

Originally Posted by parrotntn

When I get my ekkie, there will be VERY VERY plain rules about visitors to his area. I don't care if he's more friendly. He'll be mine.Don't make me fan my tailfeathers, hiss and pinpoint my pupils. I will probably be labelled some excentric old bird man one day.Mark

Yep, I feel the same way about rules. People usually think my Dad's Y/N look's cute when he's displaying meanwhile I'm like how cute does the E/R sound if you get any closer. That usually makes them think..

By the way if you grow tailfeathers make sure you post a pic..ok?

[catschair]

You are giving folks too much credit. I used to have a grumpy old orange cat (who I adored & vice versa). Folks would come to my house and I would tell them..."do not go near Sally, she does not like people and she will bite. Please be careful with your kids". Now honestly Sally would have run, but she would growl and fluff up and look horrid. First people would blithely tell me that animals liked their children and/or them. I would repeat the warning. Nine times out of ten, not long thereafter I would have folks coming to me very upset because my cat scared their child or them. Yes, English was their native language (well, in most cases). Finally got to where I thought it was funny. If the kids were really little I would lock up the cat, otherwise, I figured folks were on their own...I warned them at least twice! She never did bite anyone but me and the vet & I still miss that old girl all these years later!

[Monica]

Sadly, that's not all too uncommon... what's worse is to see these people caring for the birds... either not knowing any better and assuming... or being told by someone ignorant... on how to care for the birds.... and then taking this as the ONLY advice, and even if told how to better care for the birds.... don't even do so, even if they acted like they listened.... in one ear and out the other!

Most my birds are rehomes... most of the rehomes came from ignorant or worse homes... Some may have been "okay" but they certainly could have been better. I think that Charlie really came out of the best places, however his previous home was a foster home for 5 months. He was well loved and cared for, no doubt about that, but he's a conure... and was in an apartment with thin walls... not the best of situations for a typical conure. I do wonder though how well his first owner really cared for him, as I don't really know...

[grandma]

I had a visiter go right up to my macaw, stuck out her arm and Baby jumped right up, sat there, looked at her then latched on to her arm. This girl ended up with 15 stitches.

[Missi]

Originally Posted by grandma

I had a visiter go right up to my macaw, stuck out her arm and Baby jumped right up, sat there, looked at her then latched on to her arm. This girl ended up with 15 stitches.

Ouch, and all she did was had Baby step up? She didn't do anything else like act nervous or unsure?

[Wiggi]

Perhaps it´s a good idea to keep your birds in their cages when other people visits your house? When we have visitors I always ask if it´s okay that I take out the birds from their cage. Some of my friends are afraid of birds and of course I respect that and the birds stay in the cage.

[parrotntn]

Perhaps it´s a good idea to keep your birds in their cages when other people visits your house?

Absolutely! I agree. However, it amazed me at the lack of perception of danger to these people. On one occasion, he was inside, with the door closed. The other he was on top.
Both times, the visitors appeared oblivious to the danger. I don't blame the visitors. He's pretty and odd and, well, exotic to look at.
But, he's also to be respected and they just didn't do that.
His obvious dislike to their presence didn't carry much weight as they stayed there.
Also, in today's world people don't have much patience, as a whole. They want everything when/how they want it. Your having to cooperate with the animal. Today, people want the animal to cooperate with them.
Part of what I've enjoyed with Cecil is the challenge of interpreting.
Oh well, it was a learning thing for me on several levels.
-don't assume people "read" animal behavior, especially birds.
-take precautions to keep the bird and visitors safe.
-discuss with frequent visitors that your bird is not a dog and sometimes he/she is just not approachable. "polly want a cracker" will only get you so far. But they are extremely intelligent animals with a great sense of recall. They will remember you, good or bad. So, with parrots, first impressions count.
Mark

[Vega]

I have to admitt, that before working with birds....I wouldn't have had any CLUE as to what that body language meant. Unfortunately what seems like obvious warning signs to bird owners is nothing more than a bird being a bird to the untrained human.