Love Flyers!!!
Plus you get a roof inspection for no additional cost!
Great photos!!!
Plus you get a roof inspection for no additional cost!
Great photos!!!
January 2021 POTM Contest!!!
- Thread starter Anansi
- Start date
Here is my and Salty's entry, we just shot this tonight.
Hard to pick just one.
Hard to pick just one.
Salty never seems to fail!
Truly great video good friend!
Truly great video good friend!
Here is my and Salty's entry, we just shot this tonight.
Hard to pick just one.
https://youtu.be/kCzm9Ew5ny4
And for extra bonus points he packs his toys away as well. Even better than I do! You're both awesome, Al and Salty! :smile015:
Ellie777Australia
New member
- Apr 12, 2019
- 1,280
- 98
- Parrots
- SI Eclectus Female, Ellie; RS/SI Eclectus Male, Bertie (both adopted as rescue/re-home)
What a clever boy Salty! Such a neat boy compared with my Destructo Gal LOL.
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #46
Roof Launching Made Easy!
Missing flight feathers are prominent.
The profile lines in this one reminds me of the NASA concept Northrop Grumman flying wing.
Entry Classification: Montage / Funzies
Wow! Thank you for all of these! What breathtaking shots of Meisha! Beautiful! Just beautiful!
Here is my and Salty's entry, we just shot this tonight.
Hard to pick just one.
https://youtu.be/kCzm9Ew5ny4
Awesome entry, Al & Salty! Stacking boxes? Impressive. Promptly leaning up afterward? Priceless.
Last edited:
- Aug 20, 2020
- 237
- 28
- Parrots
- Meisha: Umbrella Cockatoo | Female | 03/09/1989 Hatch Date
Amazing Wrench. Salty has the interaction figured out. Fluid without hesitation. Well done!
Truly excellent Al!
just an FYI WhiteFlight; Anytime you're beautiful Too lands on the roof, please take the time to closely inspect the legs and feet as the fine, sharp stone can easily cut their skin. Great flight photos!!!
just an FYI WhiteFlight; Anytime you're beautiful Too lands on the roof, please take the time to closely inspect the legs and feet as the fine, sharp stone can easily cut their skin. Great flight photos!!!
Doesn't take him long to get most tricks, just a time or 2 showing him or doing it with him and he gets it.
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #50
Another JFF! Jolly attempting to get two treats for the price of one. This was back when I was first teaching him the difference between colors.
[ame="https://youtu.be/-i84_jXn00c"]Jolly Double Dip - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://youtu.be/-i84_jXn00c"]Jolly Double Dip - YouTube[/ame]
- Aug 21, 2010
- 32,673
- 9,797
- Parrots
- Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /
RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Love this! Jolly knew just how to extract another treat from Dad. Who could resist?!
They cheat if they can!
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #53
Hahahahaha! Yes, they do. And yes, Jolly knows me well. That bird would move mountains for a treat! Lol!
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #54
Hey all, only a few days left to get your entries in! Let's see those epic fails and shining triumphs! Those training firsts. Those training moments that lead to deepening of the bonds. Let's see all of it!
Why We Train
I wanted to explain why I think trick training with Salty is so important to me. It’s not for developing some kind of show, or anything to do with a performance, ie Americas Got Talent or the like. Its not to have a Youtube channel that generates money. Its not to have some sort of ‘bona fide’s’ and do parrot behavior consulting. Its not to have a Guinness record for the most tricks learned. None of those.
I train with Salty every single night, and if I am out of the country on business or out of town with my band doing a concert, my wife, Geri, does the training session with him. If I skip a session ( rare), Salty will be grumpy the next day and let me know in no uncertain terms that he is displeased about it. I have to get back into his good graces all day. We train from 8:45Pm to maybe 9:10, and if 8:50 rolls around, and I am not getting the training area ready, and sorting out the nights tricks and props, Salty lets me know that “Hey you’re LATE”.
In my opinion only -
So why trick training? Our companion parrots depend on us not only for food, water, safety and maintenance, but also they depend on and need the interaction that parrots in the wild have with their flock members. We have to provide that. And they are smart, make no mistake about that. Folks talk about how parrots have the development of a 3 or 4 year old human toddler, but I think that is just the emotional development. I think they are much smarter when it comes to cognitive abilities, and I can’t really put an age on that. That meant, to me, I had a responsibility to engage Salty in a challenging environment, to hone his mind. Teaching him tricks seemed a good place to work from.
And after 5 years of training sessions, call it 350 nights a year, I am constantly amazed at his cognitive abilities. Salty comes to each session ready to not only run thru the tricks he knows already, but to also learn new things. It is not unusual for him to learn a new trick in one or 2 tries. We have a rapport when learning new tricks; I will show him what I want him to do by myself, and then we will do the trick together and then I let him try it by himself. By the next training session, he usually does it correctly by himself (which makes me think that he has been pondering the trick).
Members on here will know that I often suggest to new members or members with a problem parrot that they start their own training sessions. It is because I believe it is a great way to start or strengthen your bond with your parrot. Working that closely with your parrot, you will learn a lot more about him, what he likes to do and doesn’t. Keeps their minds sharp. Piques their curiosity in a constructive way. Gives them a sense of accomplishment when they learn a trick successfully, I think they do have that ability to feel proud of themselves, when they get not only the treat but our own applause and appreciation. You will see how smart they are! Salty will take a trick and morph it into something else, something he came up with; I’ve seen this a number of times. Or he will try to cheat! An example – we have a set of 8 stacking cups which we use for several different tricks. The latest one is to lay all 8 in a row, and Salty has to put the stack back together correctly. He gets a treat only after all are stacked up, ending with the smallest. The other day he ran to the end of the line, grabbed the smallest one and put it into the largest first cup and waited expectantly for his treat! Only a cognitive mind would think to try that.
In short, trick training with Salty has given me so much appreciation for the sharpness of the parrot intellect, a much better appreciation for his abilities to reason and apply himself, and most of all strengthens our bond immeasurably.
AL & Salty, hard at work.
I wanted to explain why I think trick training with Salty is so important to me. It’s not for developing some kind of show, or anything to do with a performance, ie Americas Got Talent or the like. Its not to have a Youtube channel that generates money. Its not to have some sort of ‘bona fide’s’ and do parrot behavior consulting. Its not to have a Guinness record for the most tricks learned. None of those.
I train with Salty every single night, and if I am out of the country on business or out of town with my band doing a concert, my wife, Geri, does the training session with him. If I skip a session ( rare), Salty will be grumpy the next day and let me know in no uncertain terms that he is displeased about it. I have to get back into his good graces all day. We train from 8:45Pm to maybe 9:10, and if 8:50 rolls around, and I am not getting the training area ready, and sorting out the nights tricks and props, Salty lets me know that “Hey you’re LATE”.
In my opinion only -
So why trick training? Our companion parrots depend on us not only for food, water, safety and maintenance, but also they depend on and need the interaction that parrots in the wild have with their flock members. We have to provide that. And they are smart, make no mistake about that. Folks talk about how parrots have the development of a 3 or 4 year old human toddler, but I think that is just the emotional development. I think they are much smarter when it comes to cognitive abilities, and I can’t really put an age on that. That meant, to me, I had a responsibility to engage Salty in a challenging environment, to hone his mind. Teaching him tricks seemed a good place to work from.
And after 5 years of training sessions, call it 350 nights a year, I am constantly amazed at his cognitive abilities. Salty comes to each session ready to not only run thru the tricks he knows already, but to also learn new things. It is not unusual for him to learn a new trick in one or 2 tries. We have a rapport when learning new tricks; I will show him what I want him to do by myself, and then we will do the trick together and then I let him try it by himself. By the next training session, he usually does it correctly by himself (which makes me think that he has been pondering the trick).
Members on here will know that I often suggest to new members or members with a problem parrot that they start their own training sessions. It is because I believe it is a great way to start or strengthen your bond with your parrot. Working that closely with your parrot, you will learn a lot more about him, what he likes to do and doesn’t. Keeps their minds sharp. Piques their curiosity in a constructive way. Gives them a sense of accomplishment when they learn a trick successfully, I think they do have that ability to feel proud of themselves, when they get not only the treat but our own applause and appreciation. You will see how smart they are! Salty will take a trick and morph it into something else, something he came up with; I’ve seen this a number of times. Or he will try to cheat! An example – we have a set of 8 stacking cups which we use for several different tricks. The latest one is to lay all 8 in a row, and Salty has to put the stack back together correctly. He gets a treat only after all are stacked up, ending with the smallest. The other day he ran to the end of the line, grabbed the smallest one and put it into the largest first cup and waited expectantly for his treat! Only a cognitive mind would think to try that.
In short, trick training with Salty has given me so much appreciation for the sharpness of the parrot intellect, a much better appreciation for his abilities to reason and apply himself, and most of all strengthens our bond immeasurably.
AL & Salty, hard at work.
Well Stated Al!!!
Parrots are Amazing!!!
Parrots are Amazing!!!
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #57
Perfectly said, Al! I agree wholeheartedly. I've always felt that training is the closest thing to full on conversation we can have with our parrots. It's communication, which is why it does so much to strengthen the bond between bird and parront. And intelligent as our feathered companions are, it's a good way to keep them mentally stimulated and happy.
OP
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,216
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #58
JFF - Maya revealing who exactly is in charge of these training sessions.
[ame="https://youtu.be/JvuB3-AYGuw"]Tricky Maya - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://youtu.be/JvuB3-AYGuw"]Tricky Maya - YouTube[/ame]
- Aug 21, 2010
- 32,673
- 9,797
- Parrots
- Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /
RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Lovely pirouette by Maya! Ah, the treat was just a prelude to the shoulder!
- Aug 20, 2020
- 237
- 28
- Parrots
- Meisha: Umbrella Cockatoo | Female | 03/09/1989 Hatch Date
Impressive talent. Our feathered companions are limited in someways to what we, are able to teach them.
Thank you for the comments and concerns.
