Parrot Freeflight -- the Real Issues and Training Involved in Flying Outdoors
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- There are lots of myths and misunderstandings associated with training outside freeflight for birds. This video shows how Neena, a non-professional, works with her pet parrots on outdoor freeflight. She has recently moved to California and adopted two Blue and Gold babies.
Her birds don't want to "escape" or "run away," and hawks aren't the biggest danger outside for pet parrots...
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For those who are inspired to have flighted birds...this video states the facts...
If you want your bird to fly outside, it takes a lot of time, work, and you SHOULD HAVE AN EXPERIENCED MENTOR!
If you are impatient to get started, then do get started with INDOOR flight training.
If you are serious, then watch my videos...
Parrot Training - Indoor Flight Skills
• Parrot Training - Indo...
Parrot Training - Indoor Free Flying - DUCK!!
• Myth-busting! Parrot ...
Those skills are needed before going outside.
flychomper, I do want to say good job. You have done all the work and have trained your birds very well. Keep it up. All birds should have their flight wings, even if they are not flying outside. Indoor flight is fine but birds are meant to fly, and not to have their wings clipped.
Xander Pander True
Nothing is a better feeling then when your bird comes back on the first lesson
This video is great. It reflects how strong bonded a parrot can be to his/her human companion. It also shows the owners dedication and passion towards her birds. It is really amazing.
I do breed different amazon parrots and African greys and do practice indoor free flight with some of the babies before they move on to their new homes. I have always wanted to do the outdoors free flight but I honestly don't have the courage or the skills needed for that. I therefore admire your accomplishment and would be like your comments on the initial steps you use to train for free flight. I noted that you use clicker training and never repeat your command but wait patiently until the order is carried out. Elaboration on these fine tuning techniques would be appreciated.
Again, thanks for sharing with us these great moments and accomplishments.
Aww beautiful birds!
My little jungle chickens love flying around as well, i even have a little camera Korra wears to get a birds eye view haha
Lots of us European flyers are subscribed to you....I’m in Ireland 🇮🇪 I just started to upload recently...your birds are gorgeous as well...
That 's true.
It was a great time seeing them free. We let our birds fly every week so they flock together. Hope you are doing well too.
Every time I watch this video I stop breathing from fear! I am however training my bird the recall!
Maybe one day in the future I will be able to achieve a safe free flight!
This lady is damn good with these birds and after years im sure only gotten better
what an interesting video! It was so scary when the hawk came!! I am so glad Ingrid is fine
I found a group , that was pretty hard 'cause in France there are not a lot of fans of birds but the group is meeting every week end . Even if it's hard for an adult I still have a hope :) Thank you for your help !
I always wanted a Macaw but two things I fear. The bird flying away and a hawk attacking the bird. nice video.
Macaws are too big for hawks, imo. Anything other than a Macaw then yes you should always be worried about hawks, but that's my opinion.
@@scottporter4524 We have hawks, falcons, and eagles in my state. Every day that I step out of the house , I see them. I would love to free fly but, they are all over the place and a macaw just new at flying doesn't stand a chance against an eagle that's been a predator bird for years. We also have crows with an incredible wingspan.
to clarify...i only fly indoors--it's neena who freeflies outside. but either form of flight is still flight--very important to birds.
the reason i don't fly outside is because i have mostly small birds. people made sure to let me know...a single small bird is much more at risk. they're quite safer flown in a flock, where more than one bird can be looking out for danger. therefore, you definitely have the right idea to try to get another bird flying.
i love watching your bird--so cute!!
Bye the way, love what you are doing, and I know how much you spend time with your feather friends. They belong to the sky and nature.
Neena is an active member. it's one of several valuable resources for freeflight, as there are different methodologies. FF list is one of the better ones.
re: dogs...Neena has dogs, but has been training her new baby birds to NOT interact with strangers--and that seems to extend to strange animals. when an intrigued stranger's dog came too close while watching her birds fly, her birds flew off their perch to avoid the dog. maybe training and/or instinct but it seems to work well so far.
I can't agree more. What you have mentioned is the same here. We are doing a free fly pet parrots as well, and the real danger is human (Stranger). Not even a hawk.
I started watching the video and I sat through the whole thing with a smile a mile wide, watching you work with your beautiful macaws, I think its absolutely wonderful that you allow your birds to indulge on their natural instincts, but where would I find people experienced in flying parrots outside? I want to fly parrots outside, but prefer to have as much training as possible before i own one so i can start training from the first day they come home in gradual steps.
yes, it's very sad. we try so hard to get our birds to be nice and social with people, and then we have to fear for their lives because we have taught them to go to humans. *sigh*
i love your " Wings of Parrots Club." so much fun!!!
what a great video you have--it's wonderful to see so many people in your club with such skilled flyers :)
OMG the hawk had my almost crying Ingrid was close to the hawk and the way she said oh my god I thought there was some real danger
Great job. Just looks a bit chilly out for the birds. I was surprised to see them be so active.
+joseph kelly - the short answer is that several parrot species do like to fly in the colder air -- some even fly in snowy areas. i covered this topic in a long post about 5 months ago, so rather than crowd the comments with a repeat, just search down for my reply to Gandalf TheWhite to get the 'unabridged' version. ;)
also for your reference...here is a flock of conures that have a choice to go outside, or not, to their aviary (and even out for longer flights) in the snow...yet they do:
th-cam.com/video/56yodltcjMA/w-d-xo.html
I disagree with having to work with a mentor.. Yes it would be helpful but there are many articles written to show you how to do this. If you are smart and know your birds then you most certainly do not NEED a mentor at all..And like falconry it has been in practice for hundreds of years. Free flight is actually a lot of common sense. Idk maybe it's just me but people always will say get a mentor or tutor. I have always been able to teach myself anything. I've taught myself Organic Chemistry for fun without a professor...But that's how our society works today. If your toilet is clogged people will hire a plumber instead of just doing a little research and fixing the problem themselves. Books and the internet are the MOST powerful resources available EVER, but very few have the ability to comprehend it...
Xander Pander - while i agree with your overall assessment of our society, i must disagree with you regarding outdoor flight. there are several cases where people have tried to freefly based strictly on what was written or what was in videos, and they lost their birds. anyone can lose a bird, but having a mentor is an important piece of insurance because the mentor can notice things that a novice never would. and, teaching yourself anything isn't the same as putting your bird's life at stake. would you be eager to ride shot-gun with a person who decided to teach themselves how to fly a plane based on what they read in books?
there is a very famous example of this right here on youtube--check out this video of someone who tried to teach his bird outdoor flight without a direct mentor...
th-cam.com/video/OKlxjZQUueQ/w-d-xo.html
Amazing but I was nervous watching the outside flights. I could never do it with my birds. Great job! Scary though. I love that yours can fly - how wonderful for them.
It is great that you free fly your birds. They deserve to be out of a cage and enjoy what they (most of them) were born to do. I also free fly my lovebird (vids in my videos) and I can tell you that it is a JOY to see them outside. I'm glad you take risks with predators and strangers, and so do I. Of course, and SKILLED bird can avoid predators. I believe the quality of their life is a lot better when they can be free compare to a plucking, self mutilating, misbehaved parrot!
Just thought you would like to know I am citing you in a paper for school for critical and creative thinking as a source for training for my cockatiel. Awesome
How can I tell when my macaw is ready to fly without a harness? She's 10 months old and can fly to me when I call her and goes back to her perch on cue. I take her outside with a harness and long lead and she always keeps an eye on me and doesn't ever try to fly away from what I can tell. If I set her on the ground, she always flies back to me. I don't know when she'll be ready to fly without a harness, I don't want to lose her. I know you should also train them to fly down from high places and there's nothing in my house that would simulate the height of a huge tree if she landed in one
@Jane Le - it sounds like you've done a great job with your macaw! :)
question... If she is flying so well on a harness, is it imperative that you fly her without one? have you considered flying her indoors in a large space (like a barn or auditorium)?
if you are committed to flying her without a harness, then yes, you should try to simulate flying down from a high place. even putting up a perch at ceiling level and then having her fly to something directly below--where she has to drop *straight* down--is an important exercise. that shows her how to control a direct, quick descent. it's not that they are incapable without practice (they can do it)... it's just that they will sit (exposed) in a tree or on a roof for a long time pondering it, if they aren't yet used to, or skilled at, flying down from heights. and, the longer they sit exposed, the more danger they will be in as a new flyer. but, if you have a VERY safe place to fly outside, you don't have to get height training in advance--it's just a really good idea.
NOTE - one issue i need to mention... this is for everyone-- not just you -- regarding putting a parrot on the ground. i was instructed about this by a falconer who also freeflies parrots... while parrots will forage on the ground in flocks in the wild, it's *not* a good idea to encourage a parrot to be on the ground outside. there are many more dangers from the ground--which even include domesticated dogs and quick, high-jumping cats.
also, most birds will step up or fly up readily when on the ground, so that isn't as reliable for determining outdoor recall. do you take a perch outside with you? if so, excellent. if not, get a perch you can use outside to practice your recall.
finally...you should work with a mentor. I will put you in touch with Neena.
...and i LOVE your videos!! :) you are a very skilled trainer.
He has been flighted before. But is currently molting out clipped feathers. I don't expect to free flight him for years, or even at all. Just thought free flying looked cool :)
conures are great indoor flighted birds!
if you can take the noise, the larger conures are surely amazing.
green cheek conures are smaller, quieter, and some of the best flyers of all parrots. they are little jet fighter pilots! lol they're so much fun to watch zipping around -- they make the most use of the space, they are so smart, and they learn VERY quickly.
whatever you get, please do your research, try to get him a birdie friend, and please train him for safety, skills, and harness :)
WHEN she flew across the street to my neighbors roof ,I screamed her name and told her to turn around .in mid flight she turned around and flew to my roof, She was soo happy she started dancing on the roof and talking. I went in my garage and got my ladder . she would come towards me then go away from me still dancing. within a few minutes she did just walk over to me on my arm.. Thank God.
how do you keep a bird from flying away? ive had two birds fly away before (both by accident, and not by me)
Irina Vitruk recall training for birds is like dog training. if you want your dog to come when called and to be responsive to you, you work with the animal. birds that are recall-trained are much less likely to just fly off...and much more likely to eventually come to you if they get out by mistake. of course, that recall training should also include some time outside on a leash or in a carrier or cage, so the bird finds out what the outside is like before an accident happens. there are many places to learn recall training online. it should be done in the house.
i'm very happy you want to work with your birds!
since you need help with the basics first, i will contact you privately and give you some references, who can show you how to start working with your bird indoors.
it's like swimming...you can't learn how to become an olympic swimmer until you learn how to float and do proper strokes and build up your muscles through practice. and, if it was easy, everyone would do it. but like the swimmer, people need a personal trainer for outdoor flight.
There are definitely dangers in free flying birds but it is worth the rewards. As for the hawk it is difficult to deal with them but I would purchase a hawk call (screech) for about 10 dollars and that will scare away any other hawks in the relative area. or a wolf whistle will work too
My two sun conures chase me bedroom to bedroom. If downstairs they cling to me like spoiled brats. They always want to play on the bed with me. FUN! Getting a Green wing 4 month old soon. outdoor recall...no issues! Soon I will see if they want to graduate to free flying. Basically the Birds have their own room and just sleep in cage. We take them in travel cage many times when going to a park to Jog or to eat here in Thailand. No snow and Ice with plenty of Vit D and fresh foods for us all!
if i ever get a big bird i will teach it free flight. there are so many amazing videos now of free flight. because of hawks and other things i dont think i would do it with a smaller bird
hard to answer from just the info in your post...
1- there are famous freeflight greys and amazons
2- as said in the video, always find an experienced mentor to work with
3- answer differs depending on age of bird--babies MUCH easier
4- is your bird already recall trained?
5- if trained, have you been drilling recalls constantly?
6- eagles can be much more dangerous than hawks
7- no need to fly a pet amazon outside if you can provide space indoors--
see the vid
'Parrots Flying Free In the House'
in portugal, there are freeflyers who have flown amazons, although they were trained as babies. even so, you may be interested to see amazons freeflying. look up Isabelle's youtube video of her amazons. search on...
Amazon parrots free flight
as you watch, note that she and Raz have both had problems that i made a big deal about in my video here. they had issues with their birds socializing with strangers. it's probably the worst threat for trained freeflyers (not a worry for you now).
that's the point...as you saw, they don't have any desire to 'fly away'--any more than a dog wants to run away. but just like with dogs, they need to be trained to stay close and to come when called. as you saw, even a hawk won't necessarily scare off a trained bird.
but, like a dog, something can happen and the bird may spook and take off instinctively.
so...TRUE 4 ALL PET BIRDS-1st thing is to break that focus by yelling to them. otherwise, follow them...find them...they want to come home!
I greatly appreciate your video. I had never thought about free flight but when I heard about it, I wondered if I would ever hear someone address these issues. You bring up many valid and important points, and I think this video could help so many people prepare for these issues if they desire to participate in free flight.
I'm preparing to adopt an African Grey. Of all of these issues, my biggest concern would be hawks as there are a lot where I live. I trust your opinion since you seem to have had a lot of experience with hawks during free flight. Do you suspect, due to the size of an African Grey, that I should have a problem with this? This would be with the expectation that the bird is well trained.
+Christina Cassell ahhh... greys are NOT the best candidates for freeflight...
a) yes, african greys are much more of a hawk target.
b) greys tend to spook more easily, and they are not as psychologically bonded to their home base--esp when they become hormonal. there are greys that freefly, but generally, greys tend to freefly better when with other birds--prob because they instinctively fly in huge flocks in the wild.
c) if a grey does go up into the trees or get lost, greys tend to keep very quiet. therefore, between their (mostly) muted colors, smaller size, and tendency to be discrete, they are almost impossible to spot... whereas someone almost always spots a stray macaw. lol
therefore, the question you should ask yourself is... are you getting a grey that would like to offer flight...or do you want a freeflighted bird and happened to choose a grey? that will make a difference on whether you should be getting a grey or freeflying a bird.
+flychomperfly Thank you for your response. I want a Grey. If Free flight is not something that would make sense for the bird, then I would be very happy to avoid it. Once again, thank you for your reply!! I'll be very cautious and I appreciate your insight.
+Christina Cassell thank you for being so careful to know why you chose the bird you did--i'm sure you will have a great companion who will be well cared for! just to be sure...the term 'freeflight' is often used interchangeably to mean any flight vs. outdoor flight specifically. hopefully, you will be fledging your grey and training him/her for safe indoor flight.
if you haven't seen these videos yet, the first one will help you to get started training for good indoor flight skills. and if you have any reservations at all about the skill level and exercise that is possible with an indoor bird, the second video is a myth-busting video about flight inside a house. also, you will see that birds up to the size of a grey can get good flight exercise indoors. good luck with your new baby....
th-cam.com/video/M_D8Fwq_Q5g/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/NzyZGdMp9kM/w-d-xo.html
This is my dream!!!! Eventually I want to free-flight my Quaker :)
as it says in the video, this is Neena's macaw--not mine. the answer she gives is that she spent so much time with daily training that she wore out a pair of shoes from all the walking! LOL it was several hours a day--as the training isn't just the outdoor training--there's tons of indoor work 1st.
i assume you are asking because you would like to do the same? if so, it makes a diff whether it's a baby or adult. many adult birds can never fly outside safely. need more info to ans properly.
The skies around here are teeming with macaw pairs. That's good enough for me. If a pair wants to set up housekeeping in my backyard, I'll be happy to feed them occasionally. Isn't it a little cold up there for them?
***** that's really cool. where are you that you can see that?
sorry to take so long to reply (i wasn't able to post, but i'm back now, catching up). yes, it can get too cold, but macaws do live in cold weather. there are native flocks up in the Andes mountains. plus, people who have outdoor aviaries where their birds have a choice of moving outside in the cold (and snow) vs. staying inside where it's warm...will see their birds typically go outside for a while each day.
If they are healthy and flighted (so they have the strength and stamina to beat their wings to get warm), they usually love the rush of cool air.
there are parts of Africa where African Greys live in higher altitudes (on the eastern side) where it's frequently 40 deg F outside. Also, African Greys do not tolerate high heat very well. in some rescue aviary enclosures with mixed species, cockatoos can be seen basking in the sun while the greys are panting and heading for the shade. did you know that parrots can get sunburned in direct sun? additionally, the eyes and feet of wild conures will turn black (presumably as a protection) after a while in direct sun.
Many people with indoor birds will discover that their birds prefer to bathe in very cold water (some get excited about jumping into ice water and playing with the ice cubes).
It depends on the bird. generally, the Sun Conures (and Jendaya) do not like it as cold. they prefer room-temp. but every bird is diff-- just like humans. some people will go outside in just a sweater when it's below freezing...while others will start to shiver at anything less than room temp. the diff is that birds have their down feathers to help regulate temperature -- the very same down that humans have used to stuff into parkas and bed comforters to stay warm.
so, while we normally think of parrots as tropical/hot-weather-only birds, the reality is that they are well-adapted to a wide range of temps.
Miami Beach. After the last active hurricane season lots of parrots, among them macaws, were left "homeless" but really they were now free to multiply! The tropical weather and ample food supply has helped them thrive.
Hello there. I have a flock of 5 parrots; 4 conures and one big Alexandrine parrot. The conures are all babies that I have bought to train for outdoor freeflight. Three of them are just staring to fledge now. The older one I have started flying outside, I have taken him out 4 times now. We just work on very simple A to B flights. I was wondering how the transition works between A to B simple recall flights to the big freestyle flights like in this video. How long does it usually take before they are ready for this style of flying? Do they just gain more confidence and start flying like this when they are ready? Or do you need to teach them?
Thanks :)
They will experiment on their own little by little.
I will probably end up getting a conure instead and flying it indoors. There is a large gym where my friend takes his. I see a lot of hawks in my area and I would never feel safe taking my bird out in my city. I've always wanted a macaw since I was a kid though!
I lovvvvve birrds and u r doin a nicee job 🙏🏻 looking for a sulphur cockatoo 2-3 months old baby, then I ll educate like this.. Thank you a lot Miss😋👍🏻🙏🏻😊😊
ahh... but most people who freefly in usa don't have any mentor nearby either, so they hook up with a mentor or group on the net. and many who freefly internationally hook up with some of the usa trainers for mentors.
babies for freeflight would be pre-fledged, so 4 yrs old is adult for flight. also, the amount of time spent outside, plus flight skills, plus location all matter.
there are subtleties specific to each bird--i would suggest you join a flight group to help you evaluate yours :)
You have excellent skills with your birds!
You are absolute correct with "NEED to work with a mentor"
I am in progress to train my female Golden Macaw of out door free flight, presently still with a harness and 50m flight-line.
One question...: did you ever lost a bird?
With best regards,
Rudi
These free flight videos are amazing but how do you freeflight bird owners deal with Hawks? Do you not see hawks often in your area? Are attacks unlikely? Every open space I can think of near me I have seen hawks before.
did you watch the video? NOTE--you should never fly your bird outside unless you're experienced or unless you have an experienced mentor to work with you. and unless she's a SKILLED indoor flyer, she should NEVER fly outside!
having said that--it's really good that you brought her stand, or she may have tried to land on something dangerous or spook.
is she trained to come down from a tall height? she may be lazy, but a true scare could cause her to go up and then be too afraid to come down.
What happends if your bird fly away and not coming back??
it's a wonderful dream for a pet bird. a great thing to want to offer a flighted creature :)
since single small birds are at great risk by predators, it would be better to ensure your bird is fully trained for recall and a skilled indoor flyer. has (s)he ever tried flying indoors? is (s)he recall trained?
small birds can get good exercise indoors. look up these 2 videos...
Parrot Training - Indoor Free Flying - DUCK!
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Parrot Training - Indoor Flight Skills - Bobo-Zorro-Grasshopper
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Do I have to give my bird a treat every time she fly? what are the best treat ,she is picky and she doesn't eat when she is tired or nerves ?
I’d love to get a horse used to my bird flying up on him, I don’t have a horse at the minute but it’s something I’m never closed to..my last horse was stolen so I’d have to figure out safer place to keep one..
How did you train not to land on strangers, my bird did it last week except they had a huge dog on a lead..I’m thinking have someone I know try put a towel on him if he lands..
Just LOVE your'e video! :)
Your video is fascinating, but you should never, EVER, underestimate red-tailed hawks or goshawks. One of my fellow bird owners had his yellow-nape amazon taken right off his porch by a red-tail. Red-tails are opportunists, and while some won't take anything larger than a rat, some of them will go for larger prey (even kestrels and sharp-shinned hawks!) if they can do it. I happen to live in a raptor mecca, and I get to see goshawks, red tails, bald eagles, sharp-shins, as well as falcons daily.
I have a 4 years old gold and blue macaw, she flights from my kitchen to her cage with is 13 meters maybe around 35 foot, I took her to a big far no trees so she can fly and of cures I brought her stand with me, she flow from my hand to her stand fine , but when I point her to a different direction from her stand she cant find her way and she lands on the ground after flying fir 5 or 6 seconds, is she 2 old to flight ?
She is a smart bird but I think she is 2 fat 2 fly sometimes
I suppose it all depends on where you live, but for myself, my pet birds would never fly out here. Heck, I've already seen one red-tailed hawk almost nail a cat who just barely escaped under a garbage bin. And frankly, I'd be more concerned of goshawks and falcons than anything--they are far faster than Buteo genus hawks and have evolved to pursue other birds.
Hey, are there any groups or individuals who free-fly their birds in New Jersey? I would like a mentor of sorts, actually, even if it's just meeting up to fly our birds and getting advice.
I have an Amazon but I don't know if I should let him fly cause there are a lot of eagles and an Amazon isn't as big as an Ara , what should I do ...
flychomperfly....Will a mentor stop a hawk from swooping down on your parrot? If you know exactly what to do, have practiced vigorously flying indoors and prepared for dangerous situations, then what will a mentor really do for you?? If you need a mentor then you probably shouldn't be free flying to begin with. This isn't Quantum physics people...
Whats the difference between indoor training and outdoor training?
indoor training comes first no matter what. it helps you to train the bird, it helps you to learn about the bird and body language and to prepare for what you will be doing when you go outside, it helps the bird to learn what you want him to learn and to improve his skills, and it helps to establish your bond with the bird. once you have a skilled, trained, responsive flyer, then comes the outdoor training. and in some cases, there may be an intermediate training inside a large area before going outside. for those who do not want to go outside, they get a much better pet that can fly like nature intended.
Cool
That's so badass
so beautiful .are you using a harness. I have a baby Queen of Bavarian Conure and I would like to teach her to fly.. any helpfull hints you can provide
linda
+Linda Ditroia
Hi - thanks for asking. i need to mention for your sake and the sake of anyone reading this...that a small bird, like the golden conure you have, is not very safe to fly solo outside. it can be done--there are some solo conures that fly outside--but small birds are best flown in a flock, or with a large companion bird (aka macaw). one very experienced cockatiel freeflyer (great youtube video of the bird's skills) was eventually taken by a hawk. the small birds need to look out for one-another by having many sets of eyes. they can usually out-maneuver a hawk if they have warning, but hawks can be stealth-jets. and, the bright color of your QB conure would make her a very visible target.
also, conures of your size can normally get great exercise and good flying experience from indoor flight. is there a reason you want her to fly outside? are you living somewhere that it makes sense?
as to harnesses... the normal and best training method is to train recall and skills indoors...and then, either go to a large indoor facility, or outdoors directly if the bird is showing excellent recall and flight skills (which includes flying down from a height and flying to you when out of sight, etc.). and, when going outside, it should be a remote rural area (not even suburban) to minimize risks.
in case you were not aware...harnesses have inherent risks that include harness malfunctions (i've had that happen to me even), errors by humans due to forgetting to hold or attach the harness (or not tightly enough), the bird getting tangled in the harness or tangled into something else (including you!), etc. so, harnesses aren't all that safe either...just a different kind of method.
I'm not putting down harnesses in general--just sayin that harnesses don't solve the issue of safety when freeflight training. of course, it IS important to be able to harness your bird, in order to be able to bring the bird out in more congested areas safely. all my birds are harness-trained. I take them into stores and places with ceiling fans, on streets with traffic, and in places where there's lots of people i can't always be watching. so, i like harnesses for those purposes.
NO MATTER WHAT...you should *always* have a freeflight mentor to help you one-on-one if you are going to freefly your bird. let me know if you are truly interested, and if so, i will put you in touch with Neena.
I love it parrot
have you ever heard it said how each parrot is an individual? some are more daring...some are more shy...some are more independent...some are more clingy...some are more athletic...they really do have different aptitudes, so they learn at diff rates. you may have seen with your own bird.
that--along with a million reasons--is why you would have to work directly with a freeflight mentor if you want to freefly. it's not something you can learn from a formula. as the video says...find a mentor. :)
Magnificent. Can you explain why they never want to land in the surrounding trees?
jigglymig TheMighty just so you know, most of us don't put our birds back into the cage for failure. it's true that we only reward for flying to us, but going to the cage would only be used if there is a problem with keeping the bird out of the cage. so yah, it's based on rewards--and there are all sorts of rewarding things to motivate a bird.
Ashley Spivack
actually, freeflying pet parrots do land in the trees if they are in the mood to just hang out. however, there are 3 things going on that usually keep them from going to the trees (or elsewhere)...
1- the bond that the bird has with his/her human. it's not different than a dog, whose instinct is to stick with his human
2- the training -- where the bird is drilled to stay close and to return when called. that's no diff than a dog as well... where tons of untrained dogs get lost every day, while a well-trained dog can go off-leash and stay close.
3- the fact that birds (like dogs) are athletes. in the wild, they will fly miles a day. therefore, when these free-flighted pet parrots go outside, they are excited to be getting up and flying about. they know this is their flying exercise and they take advantage of it.
flychomperfly To be honest i'm really scared of my bird flying away and getting lost while I take it outside to fly. I don't have my bird yet but a family member is going to give me a bird. I'm also scared if it's a small bird (I don't know yet) A hawk will eat it. Also even if i had a fully trained bird I would still be terrified. Even as the birds in the video were flying far away my stomach dropped. Is there a way I can stop being so scared?
Stella and Bella it's always good to be at least a little apprehensive...otherwise, you can get too inattentive and careless. however, if you are really scared, then you should NOT be doing freeflight, as fear and nervousness can also cause you to make fatal mistakes. there are lots of ways of giving birds flight and exercise without the risk of freeflight. in fact, if you get a small bird...small birds generally should NOT be flown solo outside anyway. most of the experienced freeflyers will fly the smaller birds either in tandem with a large bird, or within a flock of small birds. it's not a good idea at all to fly a small bird outside alone unless you really know the area and the dangers very well. plus, small birds can get plenty of exercise flying inside a house. it may not be the same, but it's good enough to keep them healthy and happy.
I'm getting the idea that macaws are more suited for freeflight than other parrots, I've got an eclectus and he will sometimes fly to me but when outside he'll just fly to a tree top.
He's on a harnas with an extended cord 7.5 meters total.
I also have a baby macaw now about 8 weeks old and i cant wait to do free flight training with him.
Also what is the recommended age for training freeflight
@martin ouwehand - your observations are correct--macaws are indeed more suited for freeflight. however, it is not as much due to their responsiveness for recall. it is more due to their size and colorful bodies. while some species tend to be less responsive with recall (african greys can be like that), each bird is an individual, and when started young on a well-defined training program, almost all birds of any species can sustain good recall, while some will always be more independent.
the reason that macaws are best is mostly because it's natural for new flyers to investigate their surroundings--just like human children will investigate theirs (which is, of course, why we have to child-proof our houses). the difference is that we can run after our kids to keep them out of trouble, and birdie parents can run/fly after their chicks to keep them out of trouble...however, we cannot fly (3-D) after our pet birds, so we are at a disadvantage when our birds go wandering off. sadly, most people don't realize their birds would come home if they could, but like all the pet dogs and cats who get lost, parrots who wander too far may not find their way home. :( so, recall-training is how we compensate.
since it's part of their natural development, we know our freeflighted birds will most likely go wandering at some point, so a big, colorful macaw is safest. they are much easier to spot, and tend to get more public notice if the birds stay lost for longer than a few minutes. big macaws also have a bigger advantage with the predators. small parrots should be flown in flocks for safety, while a single large macaw can usually handle the small and medium predators well enough on their own. even non-predators, such as crows (which are not true predators), will bully and injure smaller parrots, while large macaws are generally not endangered by them.
and then there's the "human predator" -- who can much more easily overpower a small freeflyer who comes to visit. many more small birds have been taken by humans. it's not as easy to manhandle a large macaw :p
now having said all that... there are many freeflighted smaller birds. but, their owners are always vigilant about their surroundings and some have had very close calls with hawks and humans. :(
How long should the indoor recall training go for parakeet species like conures?
we had a sparrow (handbreeding) which was on a natural way flying outside. he was fixed on us, so he first flew just close... and later he started to leave mornings and came back evenings (till he not came back). never let fly a couple with each other- and never to far. the parrot should know the around--- so that he have a picture about his home. so u fix the points he may fly. i would not let fly a parrot everywhere- one day he maybe get he i can fly to the end of the world.
I have 2 macaws that are flying outside in Liberty life everyday and they visit our neighbours and they return before sundown every evening
Line katrine Naley How did they start doing that?
You can see my macaws on facebook and on youtube ;-) But i startet after they had been loving me en their life at my home so they wantet to come home
i lost a NON-freeflyer. that bird was NOT trained for outdoors. it was a small conure and she was taken by a hawk. so that's why i push indoor flight with lots of TRAINING for smaller birds...and learning how to train for outside emergencies is crucial.
Neena did lose her blue-throat overnight once--a HUMAN took her. thankfully, she got her back. try to train away from strangers--esp yours!
that is why i so strongly recommend now that birds are *trained* for flight and get truth re DANGERS.
Wow, this would scare me to pieces. What do you do if they keep on flying away from you?
my cousins parrot goes on my chest and lays on it and cuddles which shows effection. Though we cant bring her outside or else it will fly away so we let my cousins parrot fly around in our house.
get a harness and then maybe you can let him go outside with you
Otto the otter Its my cousins choice. I think she will still be happy free flighting.
very sorry 4 being harsh, but it doesn't seem as if u watched my video if ur asking these questions. i make it VERY clear that u NEED to work with a mentor if ur going to try flying outside.
a bird w/ no flying skills not only can get lost, but is a quick fast-food takeout lunch for a hawk.
would u go into a boxing ring without being in condition?
OUTDOOR FLIGHT IS ONLY FOR SKILLED FLYERS
ck my video to help with training to build muscles and skills...
Parrot Training - Indoor Flight Skills
How long did it take you daily to get your macaw fully trained to fly outside? Thanks
What precisely IS an anchor bird?
MrMadness an anchor bird is a bird (usually a close member of the same flock) that stays at the 'home base' with the human, while a bird is out freeflying. the reason for having an anchor is if something scares or distracts the freeflyer bird, the anchor bird will call to the freeflyer and help the freeflyer to focus on coming back. also, the sound of a loud parrot call will carry much farther than a human voice in case the flyer gets out of range.
birds are prey, and are prone to just take off when they sense trouble. that is why trained birds can get lost- -not because they want to fly away, but because their instincts tell them to RUN! but the anchor bird keeps them grounded. the training is the most important...however anchor birds, and favorite perches, and flying with experienced birds also help a lot.
Can you give me a vid of how to train your parrot to free flight step by step bcoz my cockatiel don't listen to me when I put him on the sofa and I tell to come to me, he is just interested in my other cockatiel. Plz help me
in some cases it's getting them to break away from mommy a little bit isn't it? everyone keeps telling me my wquakers gonna fly away when he gets his wings back but I've left hin outside by himself before just to see and next thing I know he's on my door step screeching for me lol
+Gabriella Brunet - while it's surely true some birds will do that, it doesn't always work--it depends on the personality of the bird and the species. some birds will just take off in a panic if separated from their 'mommy.' so, what you describe would be a dangerous practice for those whose birds are not as closely bonded. training recall and drilling the recall is the safest and best as a general rule.
How did you teach her to fly down from trees?
training starts indoors -- where the birds are trained to respond to coming when called like a dog would be. for birds it's called 'recall training.' you would reward the bird (with a scritch, a fave toy, or food reward) for coming to you at any distance. you would then gradually increase the distance--including having the bird fly to you in other rooms and around corners, etc.
as part of that, learning to fly down from ever-higher heights is important. even birds are a bit wary of dropping down because they are unfamiliar with how to use their wings to break their fall until they have a bit of practice with it. they can do it...they just don't know they can, and they need practice to do it in a controlled manner.
Thank you for answering me :) Unfortunatly I am the only one who has a bird in my village , no mentors . My Amazon is 4 years old I don't know if he's still considered as a baby . I trained him in my house , when I whistle he comes to me from any rooms is it enough? I've never tried but I think he would be very happy if I let him fly out door.
but, this isn't for everyone. as it says, it takes a lot of work. plus, it's esp not safe for one small parrot--small birds need to fly in flocks.
also...older birds can be more difficult. is your quaker already flighted? it looked like your bird is clipped. clipped birds--esp small birds like quakers aren't really very good candidates. there have been some (like Leo the conure), but leo was trained from birth by a falconer. it's really not safe for a single small bird due to predators.
thanks for sharing . My Queen of Bavarian conure is only 3monts old. she put on her harness yesterday for the first time . purchased from parrot university... any helpful hints u can provide would be appreciated. I Also have a blue & gold. I had her for 24 years and my african grey i had for 26 years and my cockatoo i had for 22 years. My cockatoo flew to my neighbor's roof so I clipped her wings. My new bird i woold like her to fly
+Linda Ditroia interesting...what happened when your cockatoo flew to the roof? how did it happen...what did the bird do when outside...how did you get her back?
+Linda Ditroia while any given person's specific circumstances are going to be different from other people...i need to state this publicly so everyone knows my stance on this...
as a *general* rule, it's a very bad idea to clip a bird's wings if they fly off and then are retrieved--especially if they come back down on their own. once they show they aren't going anywhere and will stick around for you to retrieve them (or esp if they make their way back to you), then they deserve to keep their wings. from your post, it sounds as if your cockatoo sat on the roof and that is all...but maybe there was more to your story.
no matter what, i need to make it clear here that it will not be possible for someone to handle freeflight if he/she will be cutting wings just because their bird flies up to a roof and sits there; *trained* freeflighted birds will do that. they also will sometimes sit in trees for an hour or more.
so, if anyone has a bird that is UNtrained and that bird just sits until retrieved, or comes back on his own, then that bird has proven his right to his wings. the bird should be *rewarded*--not punished--for doing what birds do (flying) but staying put or coming back down. yes, we humans will panic, but why punish them because we are stuck on the ground? if they stay near or respond well, then they have earned their wings.
there are tons and tons of lost cats and dogs every day (check craigslist)...and no one ever suggests they be crippled in any way--only leashed. they run away because that's what they do--they run. birds fly away because that's what they do--they fly. just because birds fly in 3 dimensions where it's hard for us to follow them doesn't mean they should be treated worse than a dog or cat. if they stay close and are good about coming home, then they should be praised and allowed their wings...PLUS also *trained* for better recall so they can fly safely.
several issues here...
there isn't a simple set of instructions--only general guidelines. as it said in the video...if you want to do it yourself, you need to find an experienced trainer--a mentor--just like falconers do, and just like Neena did.
also, small birds--like conures, cockatiels, and love birds--are safest if flown in flocks. even skilled flyers (like the famous patagonian here on youtube) was attacked. small birds can fly fine indoors.
also, adult birds are harder than babies.
what happens if the bird runsaway?
if the bird is properly trained, he should not run away--any more than a properly trained dog would not run away. however, you are right--just like dogs, something can scare the bird or get the bird so excited that the bird does fly off...and then get confused as to how to get back home. most birds (including parrots) are not like homing pigeons--they need to see what their home looks like--and esp to see their home from high in the air--in order to know what it looks like so they can find their way home again. if the bird flies off before learning what home looks like, then they usually will get lost.
and ad added info... if they get lost, it does NOT mean they 'escaped.' in fact, they are probably quite upset that they are alone and separated from you and your home. therefore, you need to look for them--just like you need to search for a dog that ran off. and, the search methods are very much the same as they would be for a lost dog or a lost cat. most lost birds are still in the same neighborhood.
the biggest problem with a bird is if the bird is not trained to come to you when called, then the bird will just sit there waiting... "Come get me, come pick me up like you always do."
that is why recall training is important for all birds. i often have to help people rescue birds with clipped wings. clipped birds can fly up when outside in the wind. therefore, it's even harder to help a clipped bird to fly down from a tree (note -- they cannot fly straight down). but, if they are not trained to come when called, they often don't even try. that is the biggest problem!
Really awesome video... I have question. I own a baby alexandrine parrot which is around 6 to 7 weeks . I want to train this parrot freeflight but I am really afraid because it's little expensive in our country or comparing in my budget. Now it's small it's coming to me easily but I would like to know if there is any steps I have to do starting from now so when it start flying it will be easier to train it indoor and outdoor.
Actually I train 2 love birds and one cockatiels freeflight but indoor not outdoor because I am afraid that they will run away. So I am planning to give more time to this parrot when it grew up. So please advice me for me new Alexandrine ;)
Hussain AlMarkhi thank you for your comments. just as it says in the video...the most important thing you must do is to have a *mentor* -- that means someone who can *personally* guide you through the process. there are lots of very subtle things about freeflight that are not obvious from just observation, and a mentor would be able to give you all those details. you should search online to see if there are people in your country who freefly, who can help you.
as to how to get started...yes, you would start indoors as you have with your other birds. drill the bird as the military drills their soldiers--so the bird knows that coming to you is what he does--you want it second-nature because flying outdoors has so many dangers that you want your recall to be solid. you also have to train for flying down from heights and for recalling when hidden from view. also, it is better to train early rather than waiting until the bird is an adult--but you can wait if you have to.
please note that an Alexandrine is still a fairly small bird. the reason most people freefly large macaws is because that's so much safer. smaller birds are indeed in danger of predators--which is why they fly in flocks in the wild...and why experienced people who freefly little birds tend to fly them in flocks. is there a reason you want to fly that bird outside? if you do have a freeflight group there, then that would be great for your bird to fly with them. however, a smaller bird on his own is not all that safe.
as to running away... when a trained bird flies off, it's usually due to something that causes the bird to focus on something other than his human. the bird becomes distracted or stressed and then his instincts kick in. if his training and desensitizing isn't strong enough, then the bird won't be able to stay focused on the human, and will go where his instincts tell him to go. by the time the bird calms down or the emergency is gone, the bird doesn't know how to return to the human. the bird wants to come back to his flock (his human), but is unable to figure out how to do it. you have to give him the skills to do that.
there are several mentors and freeflight groups throughout the world if you really want to freefly that bird. otherwise, you can get a macaw or fly your Alexandrine indoors. no matter what...it's great to hear you are keeping your birds flighted!
flychomperfly I'm really happy to read your such informative comment ♥ .. Thanks so much for your advices and your video ;)
Warmest Regard ..
just wondering how do we find a mentor to help??
sorry! i did not get any notification you had left a comment. that sometimes happens, and i haven't figured out why. okay then... are you personally interested? if so, i can put you in touch with a mentor.
I am but I'm from Ausralia...
check out www.libertywings.com , all people that free fly their parrots that I know of have taken the online course Chris Biro offers. He has more than 20 years of experience free flying parrots
I really want a bird as a pet. My whole family are dog owners so I have no idea how to care for a bird. I wouldn't dare try a parrot as a first bird pet, but I'm kinda interested in doves. I assume a dove would be good for a beginner like me but even that might be too much for some who has 0 experience with birds.
+Poison Ice Blade it's great that you are interested in birds. however, without knowing more about you personally, it's very difficult to advise you about what kind of bird is right for you. the trouble with birds is that they live so long that there are not very many birds that could be considered a 'beginner' bird. even more than dogs and cats, a bird is truly a 'companion' animal.
a dove is very different from a parrot. there are people who like doves who have no interest in parrots and vice-versa. if you are truly just interested in caring for any avian creature, then a dove would be a good bird. however, if you are more interested in parrots, then you may grow bored of your dove, and that wouldn't be fair to the dove.
if you are saying that you eventually would like a parrot, you might want to consider a parrot from a rescue. the reason that would be a good idea is...
1- the people at the rescue would be able to spend time with you and then advise you which bird would be best for you
2- you would be able to interact with a large variety of birds to help you learn about the different species-making it much easier for you to know which particular bird would be a good match
3- the people at the rescue would be able to educate you about how to care for your bird and would be there for you if you ever had questions or issues
4- if you are interested in birds, then helping a rescue bird get a good home is a very cool thing to do for a bird
I hope you find a good companion!
+flychomperfly Great video, Is it possible to train any species of parrot to fly outside?
+Stingray Ocean all species can be trained. however, some are safer than others. african greys have a reputation for being spooked easily, so they can get lost more easily if they get scared. cockatiels are very sensitive and very flock oriented, so they can be easily distracted or over-stimulated by the outside and need a higher bond or higher incentive to stay focused on the human and the home territory. all species have different quirks that will make them easier or harder...but as with everything about parrots, each bird is an individual, so there's no hard rules...only guidelines. my personal advice is to NOT fly a small bird except in a flock--due to predators.
the critical guidelines regarding SPECIES are...
* the bigger and more colorful the bird, the better for keeping track of the bird and reducing the problems with predators
* the smaller the bird, the more dangerous...so flying small birds together in flocks is highly preferable
* macaws and cockatoos are the most successful freeflyers, but there are conures, amazons, eclectus, and even greys, cockatiels, and lovebirds that freefly based on hard work and dedicated training
* FIND A MENTOR BEFORE ATTEMPTING ON YOUR OWN *
+flychomperfly Thank you for your advice. One of my friends said that he trained his Canary to come back when called. Does that work?
+Stingray Ocean that works great for indoors :) congratulations to him!
there's a diff between training for recall and training for outdoor freeflight. indoors, recall doesn't have to be perfect...but outside, the bird needs to be totally focused. that is not something most people can judge without prior experience, so careful questioning about training techniques, body language, takeoff-flight-landing, flight skills, and the bird's response are what a mentor would use to evaluate. plus, going outside is much more than just bringing the bird outside...the location, weather condition, wildlife, time of day, etc. are also key considerations.
so yah...that's excellent how he has trained his canary. but, that's not enough for outdoor freeflight.
@flychomperfly first day in the group and my Amazon has already 2 friends he cant stop playing with a conure and a hyacinth Oo he is still training but meeting other birds is looks apparently great. Haha my english isnt that good I have learned it by watching series and films in english ;-) I was born in France but I am half vietnamis too .
oh god i was terrified at 4:15 did the parrot scream because the hawk hurt it or something??? I got so scared I mean yeah the parrot is a big bird and can maybe fnd for itself but a hawk was born to kill
@LizardMane- funny you should ask....
first, parrots often scream alarm calls when they spot a predator--even indoor birds will do that when they see a hawk outside. also, this parrot was fine--you saw that she came right back and landed calmly, eating her treat.
but then, the interesting part... those of us watching live weren't sure who was chasing whom! and, when we reviewed the video, it did indeed look as if the macaw ended up chasing the hawk. there are several known examples of free-flying macaws being the aggressor and chasing hawks and vultures. obviously, that's not something we like to take a chance on, but the point is... it's not automatically dangerous or fatal to a parrot outside.
now, having said that...please keep in mind that these are macaws--some of the largest parrot species. they are big and bold and unfamiliar to the hawks.
unlike macaws, the smaller parrot species are in much bigger danger--which is why it's recommended that they be flown only in a flock. the small parrots are great flyers, so they can fly solo, but it's nowhere near as safe. they are safest either flying in a flock or flying only indoors--where they can get plenty of exercise, unlike the large macaws.
yes, it is always scary because it's life or death, but that is why a freeflighted bird needs to get plenty of experience and skill BEFORE having to encounter a hawk. and, that is why practice, training, and a mentor are important when freeflying.
flychomperfly
Wow I feel almost honored that you replied! I plan on getting a male ringneck indian parrot! and I want to hopefully train it to free fly even tho I know it will take many of months but I am patient I have trained my big dog! I hope to have as much fun as you are!!! Fly safely!!!!
flychomperfly
One last thing the parrot I plan to get already looks like maybe 3 or 4 years old cute little guy amazing colors, if the bird is already an adult will it be hard to gain its complete trust and teach it to talk and etc??
LizardMane
parrots are such trusting and adaptable creatures. think about all the poor wild-caughts (*adult* parrots ripped from the wild) that became close companions with their humans. it is astounding to me that those parrots could forgive enough to do that. so, gaining their complete trust is up to you. it is surely possible at any age...under any circumstance. it is very common for adult rescue parrots to become a close companion. in fact, it can be preferable to get a rehomed parrot rather than a baby--because the bird's personality is already established, so you know if you are compatible. you mentioned the colors and being cute--what about how well you interact with the bird?
as to training...parrots usually love to participate in training. and, the process of training is not only enjoyable for the parrot...it actually helps to reinforce that bond you wish to establish. if you aren't already experienced with training animals, i would highly recommend that you start now learning about it. also, in spite of their size, indian ringnecks can be fairly aggressive (esp toward other birds). it's very important to keep working with the bird and socializing him. in addition to giving him lots of enrichment in the cage, it's imperative that you get him out of the cage every day for play and interaction with you (assuming he is able to come out already).
as to talking...as you prob know...indian ringnecks do tend to be good at it.. but, please be aware that many birds don't talk...or do limited talking. teaching talking is possible, but never guaranteed.
it's great you are reading and viewing and learning. keep learning as much as you can...and enjoy your baby. :)
j'aime la france. j'ai passe' deux etes en france--rambouillet et juan-les-pins. mais je ne parle pas francais comme vous parlez anglais!
your english is amazing! are you native french?
if you are totally committed to flying an older bird outside, it's surely been done. but much harder to do.
read up on the grey, Carly Lu, on Raz's carlylusflightblog site--most of all... read the article called 'Carly Gets Her Wings' -- you can google it directly.
bon chance! keep us posted, svp ;)
Or you could put a harness on them and lunge them like a horse if you really feel like you don’t trust your bird lmao.
hi, uploader or anyone please help me find a bird
size: size of the bird should be around electus or indian parakeet thats bit more than average
social: yup but calm i cant play all day but keep him with me all day
so birds like umbrella cockatoo arent my type
smart: bird should be smart enough to outdoor fly
that is it, my last bird flew with me while i cycled at my valley so you can understand my wants
a budgie I a pretty good one they are small and very smart and cute
Either a cockatiel or an eclectus because they're both quiet but very social
+sam82154 Cockatiel or a Budgie But my Best Advice is a Cockatiel Budgies Are a Little Hard To Tame Than Cockatiels Depends on their Age and Personality
+Martin Legaspi can it be tamed and able to fly independently
sam82154 Yes But Make Sure That it is atlest 80% or better 100% tamed so you would not have a problem when your free flighting. Get a Young Bird thats atleast 2 - 4 months
again...did you watch this video? just like it says...you honestly should NOT be trying to fly your bird outside unless you have a mentor to work with.
yes, you do have to treat each time--it doesn't have to be food. but the very fact that she is TOO NERVOUS to eat, should tell you she is NOT comfortable enough to be flying outside!
if you train indoors, as you should be, you will learn how to reward them *before* you go outside.
also...ground is dangerous place--usually train to keep off.
I WAS not aware of harness malfunctions. When you told me this I stopped using the harness. and having 2nd thoughts. I live about 45 minutes from Miami Florida. not a lot of open space. Thats why I wanted to use a harness 25 ft only.
I perform with my parrots. . www.lindatheparrotlady.com they do all sorts of tricks except fly..
I really would like to have a mentor. . note . I do have a parrotlet that is trained to fly to me. .she can only fly about 5ft her wings are trimmed.
wait till a hungry eagle see's this ...their gonna die even if it is on your shoulder that eagle and some hawks is going to go for it with such force that it may even damage your shoulder
Not necessarily, if the human is right there, but I suppose it depends on the area. We have hawks, but they are wary of humans. I heard of a macaw in a more rural area that was taken by a big hawk, and a day later, the macaw came walking back. I imagine the macaw's beak had something to do with it....but an eagle is definitely a scarier threat. I would be nervous if they were in our area.
I don't even let our birds out on the patio if predators are about,.....and if we are
out in the open, I take them under cover if they spot a "bad bird" (what Keikoa knows is predatory birds). I ask her if there are bad birds, and she looks up.
in nature bird of prey have white,brown and black,grey in their food list but these bright coloring on birds' feathers meens toxic and they will prefere birds without huge beak and claws :-)
@srice4u- it's true that an eagle would be a threat. and, that is why everyone who freeflies often enrolls in a class to learn about the predators...and why those people check the skies and watch their birds and the local wildlife carefully before letting them fly. that is also why most people who freefly parrots prefer large macaws.
however, the more time the birds spend outside, the more attuned they are and the more able they are to protect themselves. also, birds are born with an instinct to recognize birds of prey. there are tons of stories from people with pet parrots about how their birds will 'alert' when they see a hawk through the window--flying up in the sky (far away from the house). so, these birds do have their natural instincts to protect them--it's only experience that they lack.
but it's true that birds of prey are a big danger...and i can assure you that outdoor freeflyers do not take it lightly. the point that was being made in the video was to bust the myth that the hawks were always the primary danger.
statistically, the biggest dangers are still lack of training and other humans. but that doesn't mean hawks aren't a legitimate concern.
well my bird doesn't need to be freeflying , he needs to be right there hanging out on my arm picking up chicks
A bird of prey normally won't go for the parrot if it's on your hand or your shoulder. And even if it does and you see it coming, just hold your parrot in your hand. Honestly, a bird of prey can't do much to you
yah, just you. ...you'd rather see them clipped and stuffed in a cage their whole life? as it says, this isn't for everyone, and isn't for all birds--esp small birds. some can get plenty of exercise indoors, but the big guys take only two wing-flaps to get across the room--they never get enough exercise.
vets have declared avian obesity to be the top issue now. so, either birds die a perch-potato (like Alex grey) or they live like this--the choice isn't easy, but it's def NOT irresponsible.
Today I lost my beloved baby cockatiel
I will really really miss him I'm afraid he will die of thirst our hunger or a cat out traffic
Ahmed Albasha You lost him in a free flight?
Stella and Bella (No because I'm stupid) I took him out and trusted him I target trained him but once he flow away I freaked out and forgot to call his name to come back I thought he will get tired and I will follow him but I was wrong and the wind was strong so he didn't know what to do and kept flying !! 😖 .
Ahmed Albasha Oh. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Stella and Bella don't be sorry , 'Allah has decreed and what he wills, he does'
+Ahmed Albasha I hope that your baby bird is okay. If it makes you feel any better, my parents first bird was a cockatiel that landed on their deck. They had her for the rest of her life. I had a friend who acquired a pet cockatiel the same way. If your bird was friendly, its very possible someone did take care of him. I'm sorry for your loss...
I thought predator birds could easily snatch a bird that's flying.
no, not easy to snatch a bird in mid-air--even when the bird is small and a lot more defenseless. predator birds have to work very hard to catch another bird--esp in flight. there are many videos on yt showing misses by predators.
also, parrots tend to be incredible flyers. they have feint moves and can be very fast on the wing. the key is whether the bird being targeted has flight skills AND has *seen* the hawk coming. if the hawk can do a sneak attack, then it's very difficult for the bird to escape. but, if the bird sees the hawk coming, their chances are actually excellent. that is why it is so much better to fly multiple birds--esp the small birds--because that is multiple eyes looking out for hawks.
again - the bird needs to have those flight skills. a bird that just sits in the house is not usually up to the task of out-flying a predator. so, a pet bird needs to practice flying (even indoors) in order to keep them in shape and able to survive, in case they get outside by mistake. but even a good flyer just sitting on our shoulder outside is a target if our bird does not see the hawk coming. we have to be vigilant with them!
I think it's great that you have the knowledge and are making time to train your birds to freefly outdoors. Birds are meant to fly.
There must be more youtube vids showing birds escaping predators, but I was only able to find a couple. Yet I saw many vids of falcons and hawks catching flying birds. Those predator birds seem very skilled...falcons tend to dive from above that other birds may not spot them approaching. It made me uncomfortable taking my bird outside for a length of time, even though being out is great for birds.
When training pet birds to freefly, I wonder if it's possible to train them next to a flying toy (that simulates a predator) so they learn how to dodge predators in the air. However, it might frighten the pet bird who will then mistrust the owner.
Thanks for sharing.
yes, small birds should only be flown indoors (w/ rare exception).
hmm...you see your bird loves flying, but you still clip??
i only fly indoors, but mine are skilled and trained for recall in case of emergency. if your bird ever gets outside by mistake (it can happen...about 30,000 a year in usa alone get out by mistake), your clipped bird will be in much more danger than a fully flighted, SKILLED, TRAINED bird.
search this video for real info...
Parrot Training - Indoor Free Flying - DUCK!
Lol i stopped watching at 0:55. Sorry byt them first slides really made me bored
Jessica Birtwistle lol yep, them first slides is there for a reason...just like it said...if you bored, then you know it's definitely NOT for you. those who are truly committed to this have to study, learn, and practice before taking a single flight.