Experiences at the kitchen table at 5:00 or so in the morning...
"Is She Always Like That....
Posted 11-05-2009 at 02:52 PM by NotEnoughTime
Or is it because she's just moulting?"
Gari visited my classroom yesterday. She does this on occasion both to give my wife some relief during the day and to give me the opportunity to work with her in a large (2000 sq ft) space and to talk to young people about the trials and tribulations of pet ownership.
So yesterday Gari went to work with me. Before class started I gave my speech about how it was OK to hold her if she would let you but not OK to force the her onto your finger - just a firm offerring. I also cautioned the students that she was moulting and was a bit sensitive if they tried to give her a "scritch." She has been known to draw blood - so I told them this in no uncertain terms.
Of course many of the students offered to hold Gari and she was just great with them. She would stand on an offerred finger for a few seconds - looking back at me - and casually flip back to my shoulder. We demonstrated her behaviours "to perch", "come" and "stay" and "dead bird", to show the students that even a small bird as intelligence enough to be trained in basic obedience. I talked about how interactions with the bird should be positive in nature and how negative interactions generate fear - although they may be successful in changing the behaviour.
Then it was time to get down to work. Throughout the day Gari had freedom in my classroom. She would fly from the cage to perch to me throughout the day. Then, towards the end of my six hour class, I had to sit at my computer (at the front of the classroom) to enter some marks while the students were engaged in labwork. Gari was persistant at coming to me. I would send her "to perch" and tell her to "stay" - but in her bird mind "stay" is not a permanent thing... At least I haven't taught it that way. So she would stay until I wasn't looking and then she would "flip" back to my shoulder, crawl down my arm and attack my computer's mouse.
This had happened several times when one student asked, "Is she always like that or is it just because she's moulting?" Ahhh - a flocking bird. I had failed to talk about the social nature and the absolute *need* for company of a flocking bird...
To me it is so much second nature now. Gari is out with us whenever we are home and she is always with either my wife or I - or at least in close proximity. She simply needs that closeness and it seems cruel to me to deny her that... So I don't.
"No, it isn't about moulting," I answered, "if you get a parrot then be prepared to have it with you as much time as you can - several hours a day. If not all day. Otherwise they will become unhappy birds and you can encounter behavioural issues." Which then lead me to a fifteen minute lecture on flocking behaviour and then pros and (mostly to my biased point of view) cons of wing clipping.
Oh - the responsibilities of companion animal owners...
Gari visited my classroom yesterday. She does this on occasion both to give my wife some relief during the day and to give me the opportunity to work with her in a large (2000 sq ft) space and to talk to young people about the trials and tribulations of pet ownership.
So yesterday Gari went to work with me. Before class started I gave my speech about how it was OK to hold her if she would let you but not OK to force the her onto your finger - just a firm offerring. I also cautioned the students that she was moulting and was a bit sensitive if they tried to give her a "scritch." She has been known to draw blood - so I told them this in no uncertain terms.
Of course many of the students offered to hold Gari and she was just great with them. She would stand on an offerred finger for a few seconds - looking back at me - and casually flip back to my shoulder. We demonstrated her behaviours "to perch", "come" and "stay" and "dead bird", to show the students that even a small bird as intelligence enough to be trained in basic obedience. I talked about how interactions with the bird should be positive in nature and how negative interactions generate fear - although they may be successful in changing the behaviour.
Then it was time to get down to work. Throughout the day Gari had freedom in my classroom. She would fly from the cage to perch to me throughout the day. Then, towards the end of my six hour class, I had to sit at my computer (at the front of the classroom) to enter some marks while the students were engaged in labwork. Gari was persistant at coming to me. I would send her "to perch" and tell her to "stay" - but in her bird mind "stay" is not a permanent thing... At least I haven't taught it that way. So she would stay until I wasn't looking and then she would "flip" back to my shoulder, crawl down my arm and attack my computer's mouse.
This had happened several times when one student asked, "Is she always like that or is it just because she's moulting?" Ahhh - a flocking bird. I had failed to talk about the social nature and the absolute *need* for company of a flocking bird...
To me it is so much second nature now. Gari is out with us whenever we are home and she is always with either my wife or I - or at least in close proximity. She simply needs that closeness and it seems cruel to me to deny her that... So I don't.
"No, it isn't about moulting," I answered, "if you get a parrot then be prepared to have it with you as much time as you can - several hours a day. If not all day. Otherwise they will become unhappy birds and you can encounter behavioural issues." Which then lead me to a fifteen minute lecture on flocking behaviour and then pros and (mostly to my biased point of view) cons of wing clipping.
Oh - the responsibilities of companion animal owners...
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