Hi from Shanlung, Tinkerbell and Riamfada

[shanlung]

Hi folks,


Some of you might have known of us in the past.


For those who do not know of us, my apologies if we come as a shock to you. Words can be a bit difficult to use and photos might be better such as below.

Tinkerbell of Taiwan

This is a love story of me and my Tinkerbell, a free flying Congo African Grey parrot CAG , as we roamed about the mountains and forests and cities of Taiwan. She loves to go riding with me on the motorbike as she sit on a perch on the handle bar.

Later on shama Yingshiong joined me.

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Full details of that and more are in above webpage, together with URLs to the relevant Webshots folders of hundreds of photos. Without those photos, what I wrote will never be believed

Now I am in Oman and taking care of Riamfada, a wild caught CAG who was rescued and given as a frightened ball of grey into my care.

She learned to trust me and be friends.



shanlung: Oman won 19th Gulf Cup//Riamfada outing to Yiti/Seifa beaches // Katie's first 'present' to us

shanlung: Harry Potter // Rustaq // 1st overland into Lhasa




As with all love story, it is happy and sad.

I live a life with fully flighted birds. Perhaps you might
like to try that too.

Warmest regards

Shanlung
[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]


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[Beilana]

Welcome to the forum! I am new here as well I love the pictures of your birds.

 

[Aussie Ben]

Welcome,
Wow amazing! You must have a great relationship with your birds. I can see from the photos that the level of trust you have between each other is incredible. My birds are flighted, but only indoors at this stage. It will be a long time before I can dedicate enough time and have a strong enough understanding to fly them outdoors. I applaud your hard work and dedication, good stuff mate.

 

[antoinette]

Wow those pictures are mind blowing.
You sure have a way with birds.
Thanks for sharing

 

[shanlung]

Thank you very much for the warm welcomes.


Folks, old friends and new friends,

Riam at Wadi Maih

Outside home

I do believe the fundamental reason why I could do what was done with my birdies is that I extend to them the dignity and respect due to sentient beings of equal standing. What they did/do for me was/is done as friend to friend .

The training is a joint effort, and there have been times I was not certain who trained who.

Perhaps I have been lucky in knowing people, a giant that I like to introduce you all to. When you read of our encounters, you understand that he , the birdwhisperer of Tsaoling, is one that I aspire to reach but know I never will.

The letters on that bird whisperer of Tsaoling are below in chronological order. They are all in Part 1 - Early Period of Tinkerbell.

wTsaoLing1

wTsaoling2

Tsaoling bird whisperer revisited

From: shan lung <shanlung9@y

The visits covered a period of time as can be seen from the date of the letters. You can see in between the 2nd and 3rd visits the additions to the birds of that bird whisperer.

He, that bird whisperer of Tsaoling, is the man that inspired me the most.

If you have time to read only one letter, read that tsaolingrevisit


In Oman, there are two cats with me.

It was a delicate process of getting my cats to be friends with Riamfada. During the first 2 weeks, the cats were not allowed in the same room as Riamfada and could only watch us through the window.

They are all very good friends now.

The first time the 2 cats allowed into room with Riam



I hope I do not shock you all too much that the cats joined us when we go outside and far away. The cats come when I called them. So I decided to let them join our neighbourhood walks with Riam in
shanlung: Taking Dommie & Katie out for walks // Riamfada accepted the new cat carrier

doing our neighbourhood walks



I think it was my living with cats and understanding cats that help me with understanding of birds.

You have no hope in hell of 'alphaship' over cats. Neither do you have hope of alphaship over a flighted bird. Trying to 'alpha' them make you look only if they 'obey' you and you miss looking at their nuances and mood that you need to understand them to mould them to doing the things you liked as the things they liked.

The understanding of birds then help me with the understanding of cats even more.

And the better understanding of cats help me with birdies from the time with Tinkerbell.


I do like my cats too. That is why they join us all in our walks where we lived. When it is safe for the cats, we take them with us to far places too.


It started with Dommie in Wadi Fanja early this year. He was the first to be taken out with us far away.

Where he saw a much much bigger world than he could have imagined. You see for yourself if he liked it, even the water in the wadi. And the videos will show you his coming to me when asked nicely 'Dommie Dommie come come come'

Report in
shanlung: Oman weekend 12-13Feb09 Wadi Fanja with Dommie and Siefa Ah Sheik

Then Katie, the one who tried to kill me in shanlung: Why I am in the office in flipflops today
joined us as well.

2 kitty at Wadi Fanja

You might like to read


shanlung: 19-22 Feb 09 //Radwanski visit & Nizwa // Katie & Dommie to Wadi Fanja

shanlung: 5Mar onward - and 2 kitties at Wadi Fanja again

out to faraway places

getting unsolicited advice where to go to and how to drive

Wadi Fanja

I was a lot more detailed in my livejournal diary of Riamfada and me, as to how the training was done and the thoughts behind all that. I hope you find that if not useful, at least amusing to you all as to life here in Oman.

All the photos above were from events recorded and described in livejournal starting here
October, 2008 - shanlung

Tell your friends of us should you think our stories can help them , or amuse them




Here are a few entries that might bring a smile or two to you as you read the mishaps of my life in Oman.




Oman snorkelling//Dommie threw tantrum or mad dogs & Englishmen // Riamfada takeoffs
shanlung: Oman snorkelling//Dommie threw tantrum or mad dogs & Englishmen // Riamfada takeoffs

That recovering IRN // Riam not so cooperative on her take-offs
shanlung: That recovering IRN // Riam not so cooperative on her take-offs

That rescued IRN// If you think your summer is hot // Cargo Cult// I saw Riam flying backwards
shanlung: That rescued IRN// If you think your summer is hot // Cargo Cult// I saw Riam flying backwards


Shots of Riamfada's take offs// Riamfada in a huff
shanlung: Shots of Riamfada's take offs// Riamfada in a huff


Dimaniyat - Swimming with dolphins// Rescued Black Naped Oriole // Desecrating work of art rod/reel
shanlung: Dimaniyat - Swimming with dolphins// Rescued Black Naped Oriole // Desecrating work of art rod/reel



Riamfada - Overnight with her to Turtle Watching at Raz Al Jinz
shanlung: Riamfada - Overnight with her to Turtle Watching at Raz Al Jinz

A horrendous episode with Riamfada


Jebel Akhbar with Kat //Seifa Al Sheik - the Great Escape and recovery
shanlung: Jebel Akhbar with Kat //Seifa Al Sheik - the Great Escape and recovery

Replies & thoughts of Seifa Great Escape // Cyrus Oriole // An iftar meal
shanlung: Replies & thoughts of Seifa Great Escape // Cyrus Oriole // An iftar meal

Mash Batch 6 // Flying in Shangrila Muscat // Seifa Al Sheikh Revisited
shanlung: Mash Batch 6 // Flying in Shangrila Muscat // Seifa Al Sheikh Revisited

Warmest regards



Shanlung

[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]

http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

 

[Erithacus]

Nice to meet you here Shanlung. You knew me by my CAG, Cocoa.

HCL.

 

[HRH Di]

What a wonderful story and exceptional pictures!

 

[Spiritbird]

In am awestruck by your stories and photos. I have a 14 month old TAG name Rosie. She is wing clipped so I guess she will not know the freedom of flight. Do you have any advice for cage agression? Thank you very much for being an active member of our forum.

 

[shanlung]

Spiritbird,

I have no idea of 'cage aggression' so I cannot reply. Riamfada , being a frightened wild caught and a rescue given to me was bitey at the beginning though.

I took a day to persuade her I am friend and as friend, she should not be bitey to me.


All that I do is to extend to them the courtesy and the dignity due to fellow sentients of equal standing, be they birds or beasts.

No sane person can go for walks with a parrot and followed by 2 cats around neighbourhood and in wadis.

Riamfada and kitties

shanlung: Riamfada and kitties

Including into the ocean.

Last time to beach for Dommie // Cats at home //3 days 2 nights at Turtle Beach Resort

shanlung: Last time to beach for Dommie // Cats at home //3 days 2 nights at Turtle Beach Resort

More of how that was done with the cats here

Last Footfall in Nepal// Sharon & kitty advice // Riamfada over weekend 18-19 March
shanlung: Last Footfall in Nepal// Sharon & kitty advice // Riamfada over weekend 18-19 March


Greys are not the best candidate to take outdoors for free flights. For that matter, no parrots are good candidates to do any free flight with.
I strongly urged people here not to do free flights with any kind of parrot as
FREE FLIGHT IS LIFE AND DEATH PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU DO KNOW.
NEVER EVER FREE FLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO LOSS AND DEATH OF YOUR BIRD.

Riamfada was a wild caught, and likely to be 4-5 years old when she came into my care in Oct 2008. She was very bitey , refused to step up and a frightened ball of grey.
She flew to me on cue within a couple of days. I never ever starve my birds and creatures or use that euphemism of 'weight management' as excuse.

Riamfada willingly do this for me, as an equal to another equal.

Idiot kitties // Riamfada free flights at home and outside villa
shanlung: Idiot kitties // Riamfada free flights at home and outside villa

Buwah Free Flight 2 // Wadi Harban // Riamfada with Jabris again

shanlung: Buwah Free Flight 2 // Wadi Harban // Riamfada with Jabris again

Chile // Riamfada free flights at the edge of Rub Al Khali
shanlung: Chile // Riamfada free flights at the edge of Rub Al Khali

Reflections on Riamfada at edge of the Empty Quarter and some rants
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/112576.html


Free flights at Edge of Rub Al Khali Revisited

shanlung: Free flights at Edge of Rub Al Khali Revisited





There are folks that advocate taking baby parrots from their parents with the idea of 'taming' them that way.

I MUST URGE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DONE.

Who are we to deprived the fledglings of the time with their parents and deprived them of knowing that they are parrots?
To gain some imaginary advantage? To forcefully attempt that artificial imprinting into their mind at early stage?

Are we that weak in our self confidence that we must resort to forcefully taking parrot babies from their own parronts?

Because self styled 'experts' advise you to do so?

I am just an amateur with quaint moral values, and a student and will always remain a student.

When the buying stop, the selling of unweaned baby birds will stop too.

Yingshiong my shama above was wild caught at 3 years old and given to me at 5 years old.
Riamfada is a wildcaught as can be seen by her open quarantine ring.

I never trained them. Starting withTinkerbell, and then Yingshiong, and now Riamfada,
THEY WERE THE TRAINERS. I AM THEIR TRAINEE.

I hope you all will enjoy the photos, and the stories behind the photos.

DO NOT DO FREE FLIGHTS JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE THOSE PHOTOS, JUST AS YOU DO NOT DO SKY DIVING YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU SEEN PHOTOS OF PEOPLE DOING THAT.

If you have cats , and your cats follow you into the ocean, then perhaps you can also do free flights with your parrots too.


Warmest regards

Shanlung
山 龍

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[shanlung]

Friends, and especially old friends who might vaguely remember me still,

I have left the Sultanate of Oman and a large part of my heart and soul there.


Riamfada came to being on our planet in Oman and not just in David Gemmell's Rigante world. Just like the original Riamfada, my Riamfada was a magical being who added eldritch delights into my life and all who touches us.

I had to leave her behind. But I spend the last 9 months training the family who took her in with love and understanding.

Together with Riamfada, there is also Dommie left with another family in Oman.

Dommie might look like a cat and at times heard to meow like a cat. I do not think Dommie is a cat. More likely, Dommie is a changeling masquerading as a cat.

Who ever heard about a cat that go into the ocean and very good friend with a parrot?

In the evening, Dommie love to stay on top of the wall of the graveyard nearby as a gargoyle before eventually joining me and my wife in bed. Shedding graveyard dust onto us.

Here are some of my writings of those times



9-11//Dommie final visit to ocean Ramadan 2010 & unsheduled Riamfada free flight//The Day Approaches
shanlung: 9-11//Dommie final visit to ocean Ramadan 2010 & unsheduled Riamfada free flight//The Day Approaches

Pakistan//mind of parrot//Tinkerbell Mash Batch 9//Riamfada pulling up cup//Villa walkabout
shanlung: Pakistan//mind of parrot//Tinkerbell Mash Batch 9//Riamfada pulling up cup//Villa walkabout


Riamfada flying into home//Neighbourhood hide&seek
shanlung: Riamfada flying into home//Neighbourhood hide&seek



Last few bitter sweet days with my creatures of Oman.

Jebel Shams -Mountain of Sun // Jabreen Castle // Change of flight plan
shanlung: Jebel Shams -Mountain of Sun // Jabreen Castle // Change of flight plan

A slice of the Artic//Riamfada again around neighbourhood // Riamfada cage// round the mulberry bush
shanlung: A slice of the Artic//Riamfada again around neighbourhood // Riamfada cage// round the mulberry bush



Riamfada free flights in villa // And around neighbourhood
shanlung: Riamfada free flights in villa // And around neighbourhood

Riamfada freeflight hide&seek // When I am with her, am I with her? // Handing over sequence
shanlung: Riamfada freeflight hide&seek // When I am with her, am I with her? // Handing over sequence




Riamfada last few neighbourhood walks //Riamfada at home on perches// Dommie last neighbourhood walk
shanlung: Riamfada last few neighbourhood walks //Riamfada at home on perches// Dommie last neighbourhood walk

Paw prints in the sand
shanlung: Paw prints in the sand

Final handover
shanlung: Final handover

Warmest regards


Shanlung

[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]

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[Pheonix Rising]

I am totaly awe struck by your pictures

I belive you in yourself know it or not are a bird wispher of sorts
not many on here could have that type a bond with their birds ( not outside the home and free flighted anyways ) and the cats to

Truley awesome

Ps : if it takes an insane person to walk the streets with a bird and 2 cats then consider me nuts

On the bike 2 kids in the trailer , 2 dogs running along beside us and a parrot on the handle bars lol
I often wonder to myself what people think when they see me but then I think hey who cares this is my life with my animals I'm going to enjoy it

 

[shanlung]

Pheonix Rising,

LOL !

So you are another one with birdie on handle bar of bike!

I used to be riding a motor scooter in Taiwan with wifie behind me and Tinkerbell in front of me. The bike was too fast for Halftail the Bimbo (kitty) or Zorro (ferret) to be running alongside, even if Tinkerbell and Halftail and Zorro were all very good friends.

During the times when we were first together in 2002-2004. And in all subsequent visits to Tinkerbell in Taiwan made yearly in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Warmest regards


Shanlung

[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]

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[Ecclipse]

Your pics are stunning - thank you for sharing and welcome back

 

[antoinette]

Your pic's are always so stunning, a pleasure to browse through and enjoy
One question WHERE IS TINKERBELL'S HELMET ? Just joking
We love traveling along with you all

 

[bogo1]

Your pictures and commentary are stunning and thought provoking both. I also have Cats, Dogs and Birds who have developed a friendship that transcends the expected friction between their species and it is always in awe that I watch them tease and play with each other and the innate gentleness especially of my 120 pound Rottweiler. He is the most careful of all to protect the little guys from harm. My old conure who died this summer used to ride around on the backs of the dogs, clinging to the harness and talking up a storm. I wish the people of the world could forget the "rules" so well and develop such cross connections.

 

[Chris Winkler]

Shanlung,

I have met you before on other forums and will never tire of your pictures. Both of your birds and your beautiful country! Thanks for sharing!

 

[triordan]

WOW what a special relationship you have with your animals!

 

[shanlung]

Friends,

Thank you.

I cannot reply much as I am just about to go off to the airport.

Living life again after Riamfada
shanlung: Living life again after Riamfada




Warmest regards


Shanlung

[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]

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[antoinette]

Thanks for always sharing, enjoyed it.
You have such a great trusting relationship, with your birds, high five to you
Have a safe

 

[shanlung]

My latest entry, no energy to update as no birdie with me. And if you known what happened before first with Tink and then with Yingshiong and last with Riamfada, not in hurry to add birdie to my life.

Hopefully, none of you ever have to use what I wrote in here. But just in case, you might be glad you have read it.

shanlung: Angkor Wat & stuff// Wife to say hi to Domdom and Riamfada// Search & recovery of your lost birdie



Warmest regards


Shanlung

[FONT=&quot]山[/FONT][FONT=&quot]龍[/FONT]