Taming an older bird?

[jess_hawk]

I'm currently working at the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, MO. We have three big outdoor aviaries: one has a colony of thick billed parrots, one has a group of sun conures, and one had six ringnecks (two green, two yellow, and two blue). I say had because the ringnecks have been under attack. Despite increased anti-predator efforts (mostly directed at racoons and cooper's hawks, the two most common culprits of bird attacks on site...), we've had three killed in the past week. Another one had the end of its wing torn off. This is the bird I am here about.

Obviously this bird is no longer suited to living in the aviary with the others (the aviaries will be getting a major overhaul soon, so hopefully there won't be any further attacks), but he is doing well. The plan is to set him up as a pet, but the poor guy has always lived in a flock, with minimal human interaction. He's really nervous when we're around.
Is there anything I can do to help him learn that humans aren't so bad, while he is still in the rehab center? I would adopt him myself, except I have to move home for a few months when my internship is over, and my mom has a strict no-pets policy. From what I hear, he's kind of an old man, and I believe I've heard that the whole group was confiscated from pet smugglers, so I'm not hoping for him to miraculously become cuddly and talkative. I'm just hoping for not scared of humans, and if I'm really lucky, comfortable interacting some.

Any advice is appreciated,
Thanks!

[Ringneckmom]

The first thing to do is just to go slowly. Talk to him and don't try to handle him. Bring special treats to him and just let him get used to things. It is going to take some time for him and it may even be a long time for him to adjust. It will depend on the bird and the person working with him. One of his best chances to become more familiar with people again will be to be in a okace where there is activity going on. They do like to be in the middle of activity when they are pet quality. I would not put in any place that has a real high traffic load until he is more comfortable, but he needs to have the daily interaction with humans even if it is just in a room where someone is just sitting and working.
The one on one and in your face will not go over well if you do it all the time. Better to have short spurts where you go up and just say Hello and hi pretty bird or something - just a minute or two. Leave a small treat like a nutriberry or small piece of fruit or something each time. And then just go about and do your work or whatever and let him observe. you can talk to him as well while doing your work at times but do not force anything on him.
It will take baby steps to start and then as you get further along it will be one step forward and two steps back. Just be persistent and ti should get better.

Oh, my guys really like the rolls of Shredders that you can buy giving him stuff like that might also help and keep him busy as well.



The fact that you are having so many problems in the aviaries is very concerning - can they not find a way to bring the birds in until they can fix the problem? That is such a heart breaking thing to hear. :(

[rewki]

Is it at all possible for you to post a picture of the aviary? Also to post a picture of the injured bird? I am really curious as to how the birds are being attacked and killed if in an aviary. When even a cat enters our yard you have to hear the noise the birds make and how they all get up as high as possible to be safe. How bad is the wing?

[jess_hawk]

I don't have any pics at the moment, I will try to get some.
The aviaries are all large, wire mesh enclosures out on a display line. they are checked regularly, multiple times per day, but are not directly supervised.
We are very confused as to how the predator is getting ahold of them, as they have many safe (as in, out of reach of the sides) places to sit, but it seems that the predator is grabbing them from outside the cage. It seems that they have had problems with Cooper's hawks in the past, in the ringneck and conure aviaries, but never so many at once (usually it is birds migrating past, and they are deterred by reflectors hanging around... we have more reflectors than birds). It has been suggested that the culprit may be a mink, which explains the types of injuries sustained by these four birds, but not why they didn't move away from the threat before they were hurt/killed. In this case, it does not appear that the predator got inside the enclosure. The cages are inspected regularly for potential safety hazards, including areas where a predator might be able to enter or a bird may be able to escape. Also, only the ring necks have been attacked. Nobody has been injured or killed in either the conure or thick-bill enclosures. The ringnecks and conures come inside in fall when it gets cold, but were not brought in after the first day of attacks because the culprit was assumed to be a Cooper's hawk migrating through and spotting an easy meal. Three days later, one more bird was killed, and we started thinking mink and re-thinking our predater-deterring strategies. They try to keep the birds out until after open house, which is next weekend. After that, all of the tropical birds go indoors for the winter, cages get a major overhaul, and so on.

The survivor's wing was torn off at the 'elbow' joint. The wound is clean and is checked almost daily by one of our vets. Which unfortunately means he has to be handled daily, and it is not a positive experience. Other than that, I have been trying to do just what you suggest: When I walk past, I stop and say 'Hi' or 'pretty bird' or 'how you doing?', and if he doesn't have any peanuts or nice treats in his food dish, I put a big one on top for him. I try to do it from a distance or position that he doesn't feel the need to rush to the top corner of the cage, but where he can see me.

Thanks!

[rewki]

I hope that bird gets well, I would take it on in a minute if it were here but I am on the other side of the world and only hope that it gets well and that you have the patience and steady reassuring voice in a constant tone so that it will recognise you. Also each time you come up to where you are keeping it say "God Boy" if male or """Good Girl" if female and give it a treat anyhow. Don't change the pitch of your voice. At first avoid direct eye contact some birds take this as a threat. Check out my posts to see how my birds interact with one another and there are 13 of them in all.
Rebecca in Israel

[jess_hawk]

Thanks. I'm still trying to decide if there is a way for me to take him. My mom won't let me have a bird at home, BUT...
IF I get into grad school next semester and
IF the people here would be willing to keep him safe and healthy until I'm ready to move to grad school
I could take him. I was planning to get a bird or two at that time anyway. He's too special to not tug my heartstrings. He's had a rough time!

In a related note, I think he needs a name, because "the ringneck" sounds a little morbid and impersonal. Does anyone have any suggestions? he's yellow, in case I hadn't mentioned it.
I've thought of
Icarus
Luck
Aten
Ra
Kamadeva
Soma
Vayu
Dyaus

Thoughts?

[Kathy]

Nur...Noor... means light in Arabic.
If I ever get a lutino IRN I will name her/him this.

[rewki]

Or how about "Ness" it means miracle in Hebrew. Kathy how is miracle said in Arabic? "Or" is light in Hebrew A lot of Arabic and Hebrew words are quite similar, Salem- Shalom
Bukra - Boker and so on.
Salem Alecoum- Shalom Alechem

[Ringneckmom]

Well of course the typical name for a yellow bird -
Sunny or Sunshine
I named one of the male lutinos that I looked after Saffron - had named him Dasiy at first cause I just wanted to call one of them that name.
Then he was sexed... so his name became Saffron Daisy. LOL

I would say to make a list of the names you like and just keep doing that and the right one will make itself known to you.

Since he is getting a second chance at life....
Chance
Lucky



Like Rewki. If he was closer he could come here in a heartbeat. Now only would he have the flock setting but he would get the care needed to take care of his injuries. I have a big soft spot for special needs and physically disabled ringies and Tiels. They are just really special.

I hope this little guy keeps doing really well and you are able to gain his trust.

[jess_hawk]

Thanks for the suggestions - keep them coming, I haven't decided what I like best, yet.
I like Luck rather than Lucky, because first off, Lucky is so typical, and secondly, Luck can be good or bad. It's good that he's doing well, he survived all of the things he's been through, but he hasn't had all good luck. But words for light, miracle, luck, sky, air, and so forth in other languages are a favorite of mine. Does anyone know how to say miracle, luck, or light in Hindi?