Free Flighted Macaws!! Stunning Videos!

[huntress]

See thats just it. Trained the way they are - they WANT to be with the owners. I would love to do that.

[SDavid]

That's beautiful! If youre going to have large parrots of any kind that's the way to do it! I think that anyone on this forum would be envious of the lifestyle these two are living with their fids. But training performing parrots IS their profession unlike most of us who have day jobs. I felt the same way when I saw "Parrots of the Caribbean" at a local water theme park. The macaws performing were free flying and were very well trained.

Unfortunately, most people live in urban areas more or less. Even if I was an expert in training birds to do this I still lack the open space where I can actually see where they fly to and where they can see me so they don't get lost. There are simply too many dangers for me to do this. Even the big parks around here still have the danger of the bird flying out into traffic, a tree, behind someone's house, on the roof of a building.....just not worth it.

[Navarrette]

Makes me realize that the exercise my birds get will never be enough. Knowing all that they can really be flying...
My friend had a parrot who would fly in circles...and always return to his tree. One time I visited her and yelled that her bird had flown away, and she replied that he would always return..not to worry. She had a bowl inside her kitchen on the floor, and she had a couple of chow chow dogs...they would all enter to eat oout of their bowl each...including her parrot. I would always find it amazing that the dogs grew up seeing him as part of their pack. I wish I could let mine do that, but I dont know if Lupita would return...Im sure Paquito would...he is way too attached to me. STill..I would be afraid of a hawk getting him.
I loved these videos..and wish we all could do the same with ours...but of course realize we probably cannot, and also realize we make our parrots as happy as can possibly be, and even more.
STill...couldnt help buy smile while watching these videos.

[asurademon]

I've always found it really cool that people can train their birds so well, but I'm too paranoid to try to do that anymore, and have never ever been comfortable enough to try anything like that with most of my birds.

When I was a teenager and not as experienced or quite as paranoid with all my birds I used to take my unclipped ring neck doves out of the aviary. Surprisingly none ever went flying (so I can't call them free flying, but it's the closest I've ever had any of my birds get to that), they just perched calmly on my hand or arm until I returned them to the aviary. If I had done that with any of my budgies, or cockatiels, they'd have been off and gone for ever I'm sure.

[huntress]

Oh now see my ringnecks flew free everyday and came back to the coop at dark. They are easy - they act just like pigeons and chickens. Once they know where home is they will always come back at night. My problem with them was the coop wasnt safe and a weasel got in twice. I had a few white ones too. Next time it MUST be weasel proof.