Behavioral Consultations from The Birdbrain

"Pajinka"
Palm Cockatoo
Probosciger aterrimus
Photo By: Greg Duran / Imageworks Photography

Biting Sometimes parrots bite if they don't feel secure on your hand or if you make the experience uncomfortable. For instance, I had a client a couple of years ago whose young Grey started biting soon after coming home from the breeder. Knowing that this was a breeder who weaned and socialized the babies in a thoughtful, loving manner, I suspected that something had changed in the new home. The bird only bit when it was on the owner's hand and as soon as it was asked to step up to the hand. It turned out that the new owner had the bird sitting on her fingers, with the palm of her hand facing upward, so the baby could not wrap its toes around a finger or fingers as it would with a perch. Adding to that, the owner held the parrot's foot in place by pressing down against the toes with her thumb. When the parrot could not wrap its feet around a finger and had to stand flat on the owner's hand, not only was it insecure and wobbly, but uncomfortable from its toes being hyperextended from standing flat footed. As soon as she changed to holding the bird with her first two fingers outstretched and held vertically, rather than the palm facing upward, the Grey stopped biting.

Jane Hallander
Animal Communicator
(d. February 12, 2002)

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Behavioral Consultations

Having problems with your bird? Do you need help understanding what makes your bird bite or scream? Are you the only person that your bird trusts? Many of us fail to understand the behaviors that our companion parrots respond to with their human social flock. Sometimes, educational intervention is all that is needed to change the human/parrot relationship

into a win-win situation for both bird and human. It may be difficult to remember that your bird has virtually no choice in the standard and quality of his care with you - all of the responsibilities fall to you as its human caretaker. Often, the bird's only means of communication to the humans in its life cost the bird its home because of our failure to provide it with appropriate guidance for positive results. Physical and emotional punishment is cruel and abusive and will never prove successful. In fact, it can destroy the relationship between parrot and human, and can cause irreparable harm and injury to a parrot. Parrots are not yet domesticated animals, and though raised domestically, they retain most of their instinctive behaviors necessary for life in the wild.

Please understand that a parrot behavior consultant is a highly experienced professional who has worked with psittacine birds for a lengthy period of time. These professionals do charge for their time and efforts, though fees may vary. Each consultant will require you to complete a lengthy history questionnaire about your bird prior to scheduling a consult with you. Some professionals work with a variety of species while others may specialize in one or two.

These professionals have spent many years studying and gaining the knowledge essential to improve the well-being and lives of parrots. Most all consultants will require some indication that your bird has been seen by a veterinarian with a special interest in avian medicine to rule out health problems that may be contributing to a parrot's behavior problem. Remember that birds mask signs of illness, and many behavior problems are a direct result of a bird simply not feeling well.

Please contact these professionals directly to arrange a consultation regarding your bird.

Recommended Parrot Behavior Consultants listed in alphabetical order:

Mattie Sue Athan, OK Tel: 918-447-9911, emergency mobile: 918-812-1099
www.positivelyparrots.com
E-mail: msathan@aol.com
Companion Parrot Behavior Consultant since 1978 works with all types of parrots. Special interest in Poicepahlus, Quaker Parrots, African Greys, Amazons, Cockatoos, and Macaws.Author of eight books on parrot behavior. Special interest and experience in recapturing flown away parrots.

Shari Beaudoin, MN Tel 952.928.9985, www.parrotislandinc.com
E-mail: Parrot@integraonlin.com
Conures, Caiques, Amazons, Macaws and Pionus

Sally Blanchard, CA Tel: 510.523.5303, www.petbirdreport.com
E-mail: sallypbr@ix.netcom.com

Pamela Clark, CA Tel: 805.466.9023, www.parrotsteward.com
E-mail: Clark.exotics@thegrid.net

Chris Davis, IL Tel: 815.467-9492
E-mail: ChrisDavisBirdLady@earthlink.net

Carol (Sam) Foster, FL Tel: 352.686.5753, www.parrothouse.com/sfbio.cfm E-mail: cockatoos@tooinfo.com
Primarily cockatoos

Greg Glendell, United Kingdom Tel. 0870 757 2381, www.greg-parrots.co.uk
E-mail: greg@petparrot,freeserve.co.uk
I work with most species of pet parrots, but have had more experience with greys, Amazons, macaws, cockatoos and poicephalus parrots than with others. I am based in the UK and am able to offer advice on a range of problems. I believe I am the only behaviourist who can advise on how to maintain full-winged birds (not just clipped birds) through basic obedience training which includes flight commands. I can also advise on imping to repair damaged wings. I can offer my book at £4.90 ($10.00) email and phone consultations and (in the UK) home visits.

Sheri Goldych, TN Tel: 651/738-7709, fax is 651/731-2627
www.The CatBird Lady
E-mail: Sigicat@hotmail.com.

Krys Langevin, TX Tel: 817-244-7035
E-mail: frootdog@swbell.net
In-home consultations in the DFW area of TX; all other areas limited to E-mail and phone communication. I do not have a species that I specialize in, but I do love working with the Amazons.

Phoebe Greene Linden, CA Tel: 805.969.1895, Contact: www.santabarbarabirdfarm Visit Phoebe's website to read testimonials from Phoebe's existing behavioral clients. All types of psittacines (parrot and parrot-type) birds.

Andrew Luescher, DVM PhD DACVB, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Purdue University
1248 Lynn Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1248, Tel: 765-494-1107
E-mail: luescher@vet.vet.purdue.edu

Julie Weiss Murad, CO Tel: 970.963.2060, www.thebirdbrain.com/html/behavioralconsultations.cfm
E-mail: jools@thebirdbrain.com
Visit either www.thegabrielfoundation.org or www.thebirdbrain.com to learn more about Julie and her 30-year experiences with psittacine (parrot-type) and related birds.

Parrot Education & Adoption Center, CA Tel: 619-287-8200, www.peac.org
Email: parroted@peac.org
Information through our seminars on all species of psittacines

Joanne Oliva-Purdy, CO Tel: 877-590-8828, www.PurdyBird.com
E-mail: JOlivaPurdy@PurdyBirdPetBehavior.com
Animal Behavior Services, "Behavior modification for animals...Education for people"; Purdy Bird Pet Behavior - pet behavior counseling for parrots and other companion birds

Liz Wilson CVT Tel: 215.946.5964, www3.upatsix.com/liz/
E-mail: lwilsoncvt@att.net

Sophia Yin, D.V.M., M.S. , CA Tel: 530 757-2383, www.nerdbook.com/sophia E-mail: sportydoc@aol.com or Sophia@nerdbook.com For more information about me, bird owners can check out my behavior web site.

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