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Post by biteybird on Jan 7, 2018 20:42:02 GMT -5
This morning my worst nightmare actually happened. Bonnie got out - as in OUTSIDE via the back door. I was outside cleaning up a bit, when I heard what sounded like her falling off her perch. When I came inside and went over to her cage she fell off another perch and seemed to be struggling to keep balance. I opened her cage door to pick her up, but she wouldn't let me and seemed to be panicked about something. She flew out past my hand and went tearing around the house crashing into things. I then rushed and turned off the ceiling fans in case she flew into them. I tried to pick her up with the beanie, but she wouldn't let me. But...the back screen door was open a few inches and VOOOM, out she went. I've never seen her fly so fast. I got such a fright I nearly dropped dead on the spot... Of course I raced outside and couldn't see her. I rushed back in and grabbed her sleeping cage and put it in the backyard so she'd see it. After calling her name non-stop for about 5 minutes I heard her reply squawk coming from next door's backyard and I could see her sitting on their gate on the other side. I knocked on their door and asked the guy if I could go in his backyard, but he was in the middle of a business phone call and wouldn't let me in (he said I needed to wait until his call was finished). OK. I went round the corner behind my house (where there is lawn and a fence) and stood there in front of the three apartment blocks looking up into the trees in my neighbour's backyard. I could hear Bonnie squawking, then I spotted her high up in a tree. I must have stood there for about 20 minutes calling her and trying to get her to come down. She managed to take off from one branch but just flew upwards onto another. I could tell she was stuck and didn't know how to fly down. I told her to stay put and went back and grabbed my phone, some seeds/treats, the beanie we use to transfer her from cage to cage and a tea towel. I made sure she could see the treats, hoping she'd work out how to come down...no. After another 20 minutes I decided drastic action needed to be taken, so: I climbed up the wire fence (backing onto my and the neighbour's house) then balanced on the top and put my feet over the two rows of barbed wire at the top. I stepped onto the main sheet metal fence and from there onto the tree, then looked for footholds & handholds (not many there) and inched up the tree a bit at a time. I was about 6 feet from Bonnie and she wanted to come down to me, but she didn't know how. The next fork in the tree was at about my shoulder height and I knew I'd have to get into it to have any chance of getting Bonnie back. I managed to get my shin in the fork and found a tiny projection to stand on to get my foot in the fork. Then I stretched along the branch and held out the beanie to Bonnie. She walked along the branch until she was about a foot away from the beanie. Normally she dives straight into it, but not this time. I had to get just a bit closer. I manoevered a bit more until I could hold my finger in front of her - and she stepped up onto it! From there I put her in the beanie. Then I had to work out how to get back down whilst holding Bonnie in the beanie. I closed the top of the beanie and folded it over, then put it between my teeth so I had both hands free. Then I just retraced my steps a tiny bit at a time. The only nasty moment was when I was climbing back down the wire fence, where the openings weren't quite big enough for my toes to fit in. So I just jumped backward off it for the last 5 or 6 feet - landed on my bum on the grass, which hurt my back, but at least I didn't drop the beanie with Bonnie in it. I've never been so relieved in my life to get her back in her cage in the house. By the time we got back to the house I was soaked with perspiration and my hands and legs were shaking. My hands are still shaking while I type this! I still can't believe I didn't close the back door properly. We're absolutely manic about that sort of thing in our house. At least I didn't give up and managed to get her back.  I made a big fuss of her afterwards and gave her some treats. |
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Post by cnyguy on Jan 7, 2018 21:28:32 GMT -5
That was quite an adventure the two of you had! Glad that the story has a happy ending. |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 7, 2018 23:26:47 GMT -5
Thanks, Gary! I still can't believe she's OK and I got her back - particularly as we have lots of hawks and predatory birds outside. Luckily the tree she chose to sit in had lots of leaf cover around her, so the big birds wouldn't have been able to see her from above. I had to sit down for quite a while after we got back home, I can tell you.  My husband came home for lunch (his work is only a 5-minute drive away) and I almost didn't tell him, but I decided I should. Also I couldn't hide that I'm walking a bit differently because my back is sore. He was as relieved as I was. |
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Post by PaScuba on Jan 8, 2018 13:51:41 GMT -5
Great job on the rescue. Hopefully the bum/back will heal completely. 'Cause loosing your fid like that will never heal.
Sounds like NOW would be a great time to start teaching Bonnie how to fly to you on command. There are lots of YouTube videos on training. I personally use clicker training. You might also invest in a harness and go outside with Bonnie so she can learn where home is and what it looks like from outside. If possible - even climb onto the roof of the house with her so she can see it from up high. Just don't let Bonnie climb where the lead could become entangled. But definitely teaching Bonnie how to fly "down" to you should be a priority. I know eventually Bonnie would learn how if alone outside - but with the dangers out there - lurking in the shadows could overcome her before she learns.
I personally strongly believe that all birds should be free flighted. I do admit that I trim the flight feathers after fledging until I have the time to teach it how to fly - in the house.
My biggest scare was when Lola flew a couple hundred yards across the lake behind my house - with only 2 flight feathers on each wing. We were in the process of learning how to fly down to me. Per normal, we had been out in the gazebo overlooking the lake and returning back to the house - when something??? frightened her and off she went. Instead of flying to her play area nor landing on the ground, like she had done probably a hundred times or so already she started flying back to the gazebo. As I watched her fly up and over the baluster and then 20 feet down to within inches above the water - wings touching the water a couple of times, my mind started racing on how I could possibly swim to rescue her. But she did manage to get across and it looked like she could land in the trees on the opposite shore close to a boat ramp. I drove around the lake to find her. I asked the people who were there if they had seen or heard her. I was extremely worried because there was a feral cat walking around the parking lot. There was also a gallareta cackling as though danger was close. After calling for almost 15 minutes, my fear was that the cat got her or perhaps she couldn't fly up to the trees and drowned. As I was already late for church - while I was walking back to the car, I heard Lola squawk. So I started walking up and down the waterline calling to see if she would answer again. I finally spotted her on a low branch just over the water. She was still panting very hard and clutching the branch hard as it was swaying a bit. I couldn't get her to move. So I called my wife and asked her to bring the baby bottle with her treats over to us. Lola jumped up to a larger branch which was connected with branches that she could walk all the way to us. But no - she had to do it her way. She hung upside down on the branch - then let go with one foot - and a few heart pounding, seemed like a minute later - but in reality was just a few seconds - she let go. Flipped over and flew to me. Still panting - she said "I wanna treat" which was given to her immediately.
Lessons learned - even if you clip your birds wings - even just leaving only two feathers for show (got to see the blue) a bird can fly - and if need be - fly a long way.
Hope this helped a little. Have a Great day today and a better one tomorrow. Remember that 10 minutes of training today will bring hours of joy later.
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Post by biteybird on Jan 9, 2018 1:40:24 GMT -5
Thanks, PaScuba! Haha, thanks, my bum is fine (lots of padding there!), but my back is already stuffed from the Army, so that doesn't really matter anyway. Today I woke up so sore I could barely move! When I had to go down the steps at the shops my legs were so sore I had to go down one step at a time, shuffling each foot onto the step like an old person - although I guess I'm no spring chicken anymore, regardless. But the whole thing was worth it to get my little girl back. I am not very knowledgeable in clicker training yet...I can tell from your comments about your experiences that you are WAY more advanced than me! I actually have a flightsuit and harness that I've been trying to get Bonnie used to seeing. I got the harness on her after acclimatising her to seeing/playing with it (a couple of years ago, this was), then some noise freaked her out and she won't even look at it without panicking. So then I bought a flightsuit from Avian Fashions/diapers for birds(?), which I think may be better for her. I like their design more. I am taking it REALLY slowly, because I don't want her to be spooked like she was with the Aviator harness...although I think it would have been fine if she hadn't freaked out about some machinery noise that started up at the time. I have a clicker and started to use it with her - then we moved house, including getting our stuff out of storage and I have to admit I haven't continued it yet. I suppose I just need to be consistent and set aside 10 minutes or so each day after getting home from work, to do it. Mornings are out because I am a teacher and here in the Northern Territory (Australia) I get to school around 7:15am because the kids arrive at 8:00am. We normally have a meeting after school and get to leave around 4:30pm. So it doesn't leave a huge amount of time before cooking tea & getting dark, etc. Anyway, thanks for the great advice....you've inspired me! |
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Post by PaScuba on Jan 9, 2018 11:56:46 GMT -5
I have been training fids for many years. I especially enjoy training birds and horses. I took Dr. Susan Friedman's LLA Professional certification course in 2010. It's an expensive course ($800.00) but to me it is well worth the time required and the money spent. Working with the animal's natural behavior and shaping those behaviors into what we want is very rewarding. Example - playing basketball, playing dead, putting colored rings onto matching colored posts, stepping up and down on command, overcoming fears, flying to you and free flight outside. My grandfather started teaching me how to train horses when I was very young. He taught me the three rules of training. I feel blessed that I have been able to learn from some wonderful trainers - John Lyons reinforced my grand dad's training - working with horses from the horses perspective. I got into training birds after I rescued my first parrot (double headed amazon) back in the early 70's. I'm not a full time trainer any more - and because I live in Puerto Rico and my Spanish is very poor, it's difficult to teach people how to train because of the language barrier. I do still teach people how to clicker train, but it's mostly friends and their friends. lol.
I suggest that people do dedicated training for 10 minutes at a time (you can train throughout the day, just keep the sessions to 10 - 15 minutes) so 1. the animal doesn't lose interest and/or get board, 2. The fids behavior suggest's they look forward to being trained, 3. It is very easy to end on a very positive note.
I also suggest that people start getting into a training habit of first thing in the morning - before they get fed. Even if you need to set the alarm 10 minutes earlier. That way you start the day positive and happy. Once you study (watch a few YouTube videos) clicker training, the two most important things to remember are: 1. ALWAYS treat when you click. Even if you click by mistake. It's very important that the fid knows that the click means reward is coming. And 2. ALWAYS end the session with your fid doing a behavior that you ask your fid to do - that they know very well and can perform it correctly every time. They get clicked and rewarded, I suggest they get a little extra treat and your behavior shows them that you are happy. This can seem to be difficult sometimes if the training session was not productive to you or you get bit.
I'll share the three rules grand dad taught me:
1. Humans never get hurt.
2. The fid never gets hurt.
3. The fid is calmer after training then before.
My definition of "fid" is Feathered/Furred kid. I do call pet fish fids also. Feathered refers to birds, chickens, ostriches, turkeys, etc. Furred refers to cats, dogs, horses, cows, goats, and other furred pets.
Hope this helped a little. Have a Great day today and a better one tomorrow. Remember that 10 minutes of training today will bring hours of joy later.
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Post by julianna on Jan 9, 2018 14:27:24 GMT -5
OMG Biteybird.... I was reading your post and all I could say... is OH MY GOD!!!! over and over. Wow... that was quite the experience for sure... and one you do not want to have again. I am so relieved that Bonnie is home safe and sound. Now to work on that back door to make sure it closes on its' own every time it is opened... whewwwwww.
PaScuba... you have a lot of good experience with Quakers and I am totally happy that you have become a member of this Forum. Welcome and keep up the good advice.
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Post by biteybird on Jan 11, 2018 1:56:19 GMT -5
I suggest that people do dedicated training for 10 minutes at a time (you can train throughout the day, just keep the sessions to 10 - 15 minutes) so 1. the animal doesn't lose interest and/or get board, 2. The fids behavior suggest's they look forward to being trained, 3. It is very easy to end on a very positive note. I also suggest that people start getting into a training habit of first thing in the morning - before they get fed. Even if you need to set the alarm 10 minutes earlier. That way you start the day positive and happy. Hi again! Thanks for the advice. The only problem for me doing the training in the morning is one of logistics - it is only just getting light when I leave for work. Do you think it would matter if I put the light on in Bonnie's sleeping room and did it that way, or should I just try to get home from work a tiny bit earlier and do it then? |
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Post by PaScuba on Jan 11, 2018 6:54:52 GMT -5
In nature, birds start to wake up at the first sign of light on the horizon. Since their eye sight is very good, they notice the light long before we do. My fids started chattering most mornings about 45 minutes before the sceduled sunrise time as posted in the newspaper - even when it's cloudy outside. Lucia (my wife) usually gets up around 0415 to 0430. Before she can finish getting dressed, they are talking to each other. In Puerto Rico we have approximately 8 to 10.5 hours of night from winter to summer with about an hour of twilight. All that being said, if Bonnie is awake when you get up, then training is ok. Even if for only a couple of minutes, before you put water and food in her cage. But don't worry about the time of day - really, it's great that you spend some time each day working on and/or training behaviors. If you are able, on your days off, get up with Bonnie in the morning and spend 10-15 minutes working on a behavior before you feed her. You can then go back to bed if you want. Most working folks spend more time with their fids on their day(s) off then on the days they work. My belief is that most fids know your schedule better than you. lol And most fids like to spend as much time with them as you can - and they actually want more.
As for turning the light on - again as long as Bonnie is awake - it's no problem.
Hope this helped a little. Have a Great day today and a better one tomorrow. Remember that 10 minutes of training today will bring hours of joy later.
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Post by easttex on Jan 12, 2018 5:09:11 GMT -5
My heart was in my mouth as I read your post, biteybird! I'm so glad it turned out well. I admire your resolve and perseverance. But what's up with the neighbor? I can understand him wanting to supervise if you'd asked to poke around his underwear drawers and medicine cabinets.
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Post by easttex on Jan 12, 2018 5:15:24 GMT -5
I took Dr. Susan Friedman's LLA Professional certification course in 2010. I took a course from Dr Friedman, too. It was very worthwhile. I was amused to see the behavior-shaping taught being used on me by the instructors. I was sorry to find the course is no longer available. |
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Post by PaScuba on Jan 12, 2018 10:16:27 GMT -5
That's great Easttex. I've used the behavior-shaping model on my children when they were young. Teaching/training with the positive reward system works great on all animals - which includes us humans, spouses and children. lol When I took her class, though decades after I studied with John Lyons (horse trainer), I quickly understood the principles/processes that John used during his training sessions. It was like you do a behavior for years and years, then one day someone explains the thought process behind the behavior and a light clicks on (no pun intended) and suddenly I get it.
You must be referring to the LLP course. I'm sorry that's not being offered any more also. After talking with Susan a earlier this week and because I lost all of my class materials in the flood after Hurricane Maria, I'm auditing the LLA class again this august. I refer to this material more than any other class I've taken in my life. I think that it is awesome when fid owners study and learn how to care for and train and play with their companions. I feel absolutly great after helping someone learn more about their fids.
Here in Puerto Rico - way too many fids are dumped on the streets by people who don't know how to work with them so they have a positive bond. I know they can't afford training classes and don't know how to stop/change the behaviors they don't like. But dumping these animals on the streets just adds to the over population of ferals. It is good that the government offers spay-and-neutering services free once a year here on the island. I just pray that more people would take their fids. Too many puppies and kittens can be seen at the beach without a parent around. The animals suffer greatly while they starve to death. I try to do my part by educating as many as I can. My Spanish just isn't good enough to teach, but I'm working on it. I apologize for the ranting - but I just can't help myself.
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Post by biteybird on Jan 13, 2018 0:48:35 GMT -5
But what's up with the neighbor? I can understand him wanting to supervise if you'd asked to poke around his underwear drawers and medicine cabinets. A couple of days later he called me through the fence and we chatted. He apologised for being abrupt on the day - apparently he had been on the phone for 3 hours with the computer 'fixit' people (trying to fix his work computer) and was just starting to get some results. It didn't help me at the time, but at least we're on good terms, which is fine with me. |
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Post by easttex on Jan 14, 2018 4:50:10 GMT -5
Well, okay, if you've forgiven him I guess I can, too.😉
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Post by easttex on Jan 14, 2018 4:52:14 GMT -5
How's the hurricane recovery coming in PR? |
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