Let there be Flight!

[Ashling]

I am just so excited I had to write this!
When I first got Ashling, she was very heavily clipped and couldn't even glide. As her fluttering progressed she could jump and flap and go straight- not up at all. I taught her the command "jump" and she'd jump/ flutter onto my arm. After her first molt primary feathers began to appear and it was so exciting! She just got better and better and stronger at fluttering until she could actually stay in the air for more than a few seconds, but then fly down again. WELL last night I was getting somethin from the fridge and Ash was sitting on the bench 2 METERS away. She called to me and I said I'd just be a minute. Well that wouldn't do her. I heard a huge fluttering behind me and felt her land on my HEAD! She flew UP from 2 METERS AWAY! I was so proud! Then today I let her out with my tame cockatiel Peanut and she followed him all the way up to the curtain rod! My baby can finally fly!!! I don't think she can turn in midair yet but she is learning fast. I remember reading lots about a birds' need to fly in order to develop their muscles, respiratory and brain. I'm hoping a few months of solid flight will give Ash a head start with this. I wanted to keep her clipped but I believe she should learn to fly while she's young.
Anyway, for now we are developing her flight skills and having a great time!
Thanks for reading! I just wanted everyone to know cause I'm so excited for my baby!
Take care,
~Melanie and Ashling

[ROYJOY]

i can relate, 100%, to that. please read my thread "baby blue" in the parrotlet forum. its like watching a child take his/her first steps. i will never clip. flying is what they do.

[Izzy]

Congrats! It's taken my tiel nearly 2 years of being unclipped to master flight. She'll never be as good as a bird who was fledged (she still panics sometimes when flying, and has to really think about her decisions), but she's learned to turn, land, fly up and down, and hover.

It's been a long journey, but well worth it.

[Courtzrocks]

CONGRATS!! My tiel is clipped cos he is a dangerous flyer (to himself). My green cheek is clipped til she is a bit more tamer then she will be flighted...Matches has never been clipped and never will be, i love how she can fly to me instead of me getting her...except when im trying to put makeup on....takes 10 times longer than it should when an alex is trying to get your mascara.

[Ashling]

It certainly is like watching a baby take is first steps! But a baby will never fly so it's even more special! hehehe! I shall go and read your thread royjoy!
Wow! Two years Izzy!? Ash was only unclipped for a few months! I guess lorikeets are a little more bold than cockatiels. It's great that she's learnt so much!

"except when im trying to put makeup on....takes 10 times longer than it should when an alex is trying to get your mascara."
I can SO relate to that. In the mornings Ash will scream if I don't let her out on the bench while I do my makeup. She gets into everything- I have to make sure it's all closed. If she's on my shoulder she'll "preen" the mascara off my eyes... so I don't wear it anymore!!!

[Courtzrocks]

Lol I have a old mascara i let matches play with while i do it...she is only occupied until she sees i have one and thats the one she wants lol...