Bird training at the zoo

--Random Photos of the Bird Training.

I have many photos so I just picked out some. I have one
of a dove. We are having a hard time figuring it out. Has the Dove got his head

twisted all the way around to eat or is it upside down, if so why are his legs on the wrong side? I took the photo and do not remember this.

I must say we are having a very enjoyable time and putting in lots of hours doing this. Thank you to all for helping us learn so much first hand about the world of birds. Everyone we are working with is so nice putting up with our questions.


Notes on training Birds,,,, Ask Bob or Ellie what the

three biggest "dangers" are to Bird Training and I am sure you think they

will say # 3- - - getting pooped on,,,,#2 Getting bit [thought

that was #1 did you?] and #1 - - drum roll here...... Getting

locked in the cage as Mary rushes out when her group arrives

for a walking tour. Keepers are working in another area, no one

is around, only solution is having to call the office to get

someone to find the keeper to come to the rescue.

Moral of this story is - - -Always keep your phone

with you. And - - - "Mary, keep hands off the

lock"!

 
 

Bob and Jessie getting ready to "capture and release" into the Aviary.

And finally this is what we were working towards.  The birds interacting with the people and all the smiling faces.  Job well done..

Ellie Dillon with a budgie [parakeet]

 
 
 
 

Getting our new batch of trainees..

Doves are so friendly and quick to learn.

After lots of patience, all 49 parakeets come to eat. We decided that 49 are too many at one time to train as you do not have enough hands to hold all the cups of seed so we had to use a large tray and work into cups and sticks after that.  We love that we can use the time to train basically as we want.

Bob with his favorite bird, Tex, the Vulture.