Last summer I had the opportunity to work with some amazing people at Cockatoo Downs on training techniques.  Since then I've been putting that to good use by orking with quite a few of the birds in the adoption program and wanted to share some of the results we're getting from this training.

This month's student is Buddy, an Umbrella Cockatoo who's in his 20's.  Wild has always been an apt description of Mr. Bud. He wasn't allowed out of his cage at Parrot U because he was so unpredictable. I had no intention of starting his training by sticking my hand in that cage, so I had to think of things we could do with both of us safely on the opposite side of those cage bars!

I began with target training. Target training involves teaching the bird to gently touch a target with its beak (notice I said touch, not chomp!). In return, the bird receives a reward. In this case, I used a nice long chopstick for the target and a tiny piece of walnut for the reward. It fascinates me that the birds are willing to take the reward gently and respectfully from you.  They do NOT want to run the risk of losing their treat!

In some cases birds have to be desensitized to the target, but Buddy was  unafraid from the very beginning. Once he understood the behavior, he readily moved up, down, side to side and all over his cage -- he really wanted his treats!

Buddy's Manicure

I still wasn't willing to let him out of his cage, so I had to think of another behavior that he could learn while in the cage. So I decided to try filing his toenails. I substituted an emery board for the chopstick and changed the "touch" command from his beak to his feet. I eventually moved my finger farther down the emery board until it was touching his toe, too. Buddy picked this up very quickly so we went to the next step -- moving the emery board. I just wanted him to feel the texture, so I only made one slow pass over his toenail. Once he was accustomed to that (didn't take long), we started counting repetitions as we filed. He let me do it once, twice, three times, with me counting out loud as we did this.

As a result of regular training and interaction with a few of Buddy's favorite people, he is now allowed out of his cage. He loves hanging out on a play tree and can now be trained from there.

I can't tell you what a joy this training has been -- for me, for Buddy, and for anybody who's been around Buddy. Lynda Rettew, our Volunteer Coordinator, says it brings tears to her eyes to see what this wonderful bird has learned. I've seen people literally skid to a stop and look wildly around the big bird room, thinking there must be a new Cockatoo they haven't met because they're sure that bird can't be Buddy.

I want to encourage you to learn about training techniques and incorporate them with your birds. You'll be amazed how it deepens the relationship between you and your feathered family member.

[Ed: Positive Reinforcement Training classes are offered free at Parrot Univeristy -- next class is January 30. Click to go video of Buddy's Manicure and others.]

Our happy ending story this month is proof that wishes do come true. Chico, our boisterous Yellow-nape Amazon, had his dream come true during Christmas. Although he had spent his life of 24 years as the beloved companion of a woman (with a man present in the household), he joined us and soon made it clear he preferred a man for his next companion. He joined two homes of married couples who thought they were prepared for his strong preference to the husband, but it was more than they could deal with.When Chico rejoined us for the second time, we started telling him that he needed to find an all male household.

Enter Casey Ballard and David Ghent. Casey had come upon the CPR website and was reading the birds' biographies when he came to Chico.  He decided early on that Chico needed to become part of their family.  Chico was thrilled to meet them and urged them to hurry up and complete the classes required for adoption.

Casey and David work different schedules so Chico is able to receive individual undivided attention from his men. Not only does he have two adoring dads but grandparents that love him too! The only member of the family who refuses to adore him is Miss Eve, an 11 year-old, highly pampered Pekinese. The fellas actually live with her rather than she with them! Chico and Miss Eve are getting used to each other now, acting like brother and sister by paying one another very little attention!

[Ed: Click to watch Chico shower at Parrot U. Click for another video of Chico]