Pepper

Recently, I was cleaning out closets at my house when I got an idea for this month's column (weird, huh?). You know how we hang onto things, even when we can't use them and they're not useful to us? We do that with our birds, too!

For example, have you ever used one or more of these excuses? "My bird is too old, young, set in his ways, stubborn, hormonal, phobic, cage-bound, or aggressive". Or maybe, "My bird hates me!"

We need to clean out our emotional closets too. None of those things matter when it comes to training. As I say in the Positive Reinforcement class, ALL living organisms can be trained. Excuses only offer a way out for not stepping up to the responsibility of caring for our companion parrots.

Do you have a bird that won't come out of her cage? Target train her in the cage. You can run the equivalent of a birdie marathon up, down, back, forth and side to side with the bird in the cage. The bird gets exercise, is challenged and gets to earn a reinforcer for this. And you get to feel good about yourself as a trainer and caregiver. You can also use this exercise to redirect undesirable behavior.

This same exercise allows you to interact with your bird if you're worried about being bitten. Proper positioning of your hand and the treat outside the cage means both of you will get what you want. I use this technique at Parrot U when I'm getting to know a bird and we haven't established our trust relationship yet. It usually takes only one or two tries before I see the bird soliciting attention when it sees me -- because I have become the source of fun and treats.

So, I'm challenging you to clean out your closets. Toss out those labels and get rid of those excuses. Learn the joy of training your bird.

Remember that we'd like to use this column as a tool to help you with behaviors that you're experiencing in your home. Please send us an e-mail with a request to cover a particular issue and we'll address it in the newsletter. And, of course, you're always welcome at our free Positive Reinforcement training classes -- again and again.

Train away!

Gabby

Many thanks to Val Vajay and Stephen Platte for attending the Lake Wylie UMC Good Samaritan Pet Adoption event in May, to represent CPR. It is always terrific to go to new places and meet new people who don't know about us. Val reported back that it was well attended and we made some new friends.

A special thanks to all our Saturday volunteers, and most especially to Connie Thompson, who has spent many of her valuable Saturday afternoons helping at Parrot U. Others due thanks: Pam Rose, Frank Atwood, Jenn Feagans and family. Apologies if I missed anyone.

We are still looking for more people who can help on Saturdays. The only requirement is that you have attended Parrot 101. Come spend an afternoon helping while getting to know our new feathered residents.

We will be seeking special volunteer help for Bosley's Big Birdie Birthday Bash on July 28. Watch for your email request to arrive soon.

Please contact me if you would like to help CPR and the birds. Thank you.

Lynda Rettew, Volunteer Coordinator

volunteer@companionparrots.org