(electronic music)
- [Woman] Can you give me a touch?
(clicking)
Touch.
(clicking)
- [Man] So I don't know if you did it instinctively,
but you were saying it was aggressive,
and so you came in from really far
and slowly brought it closer,
and that is the solution.
- [Woman] Okay.
- [Man] The more you can barely allow him
to touch the stick,
the better off you're gonna be,
because basically, if you,
We joke that unless it's a gang gang,
their lower mandible doesn't stick out in front,
so they can only reach with the tip of it,
and just barely touch,
versus an aggressive bite.
So if you're too close, you're gonna get the bite.
If it's just far enough, you're gonna barely get the touch.
So try to capture the timing,
just further away and barely coming in,
so they can barely touch it.
That'll help get that aggression out.
- [Woman] Touch?
- [Man] Good.
- Now, has he done any of this for Addy?
= [Woman] Yeah, he's done touch training.
Yup.
- [Man] Can I see you do it?
And you keep the clicker?
- [Woman] Mm-hmm.
So, probably the only other major difference is
Adaline's right handed and I'm left handed.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Woman] Do I get the treat as well?
- [Man] I'll have you start the treats, yeah.
So, whenever you're ready, Addy.
(clicking)
- [Woman] So hold it up a tiny bit higher.
- [Man] Now, is he aggressive with you?
- [Woman] He can, um,
- [Man] He can be for treats and stuff?
- [Woman] Yep.
- [Man] And he looks pretty heightened and the moment.
- [Woman] Yeah, yeah, yup.
- [Man] So I'm going to help you with the stick for a sec.
Go ahead and hold it up.
We're gonna just barely bring it in,
just barely.
(clicking)
There, okay?
The difference being I want you to start
with it further away, and slowly bring it in.
If you approach really close,
then he can bite in on the stick,
and we wanna try
to get a really calm and not aggressive bite.
Just gonna hold it up again,
and slowly bring it towards him.
So you gonna start far away,
and, when he's done eating,
slowly approach, slowly approach,
slowly approach,
and, just he's barely in reach.
There.
- He's ready to go.
- Can I have you hold the sunflower seed in you other hand?
And the stick in your left hand?
So I'm gonna go ahead and, lemme see,
can you hold it at the very tips of your fingers
so he can't get your fingers?
Perfect, okay.
So go ahead and ask him to target.
Remember, starting far away,
coming in close, slowly.
Little faster.
Right there.
(clicks)
Good and slowly give him the treat.
Excellent.
So, just like you're doing the target stick,
you're starting far away.
Feel free to do the same with the treat,
so that he can only get the treat,
instead of being too close,
he can get your fingers too.
So that speed feels about right.
You might be able to go slightly faster,
so he doesn't fall off the perch with anticipation.
(laughter)
All right?
So let's get you prepped with the seed real quick.
Since the seeds are his number one favorite treat,
mom doesn't get to feed them anymore.
Okay, so when you're ready,
slowly approach with the stick.
Good, good, good.
(clicks)
And the treat.
Good.
See how much control you had on not getting bitten
by having it just slightly out of reach?
Now, if you go too long, you'll start to irritate him,
so you wanna make sure you find that right speed
where you're safe, but you're still giving him the treat.
He looks pretty willing to do this.
See if you can get him to target over to this side.
(giggles)
(chuckling)
- You're not comfortable at all, Capri, are you?
(laughing)
(clicks)
Good.
(squawks)
And,
what's the cue for the wings?
- Wings.
- Just two fingers?
Will he do it for you?
- Wings.
Wings.
- Want me to try?
- Okay, so here's how we're gonna do this.
I'm going to have you switch spots,
and let mom do the wings a few times.
- You show me wings?
(clicks)
- Oh that's quick.
- [Woman] Wow, yeah.
(laughing)
I was like, wait what?
- I blinked and I just saw him come down.
- So they don't stay up.
That was one that I cued quite early.
And,
only when he was kind of learning to clap.
(chuckles)
Show me wings?
(clicks)
(chuckles)
- I want you to come stand right next to mom.
- [Woman] It's a very different cue, though.
- Yeah.
(squawking)
- When you're ready,
go ahead and give your daughter a sunflower seed.
- Other hand.
- So, mom's gonna give the cue,
you're gonna give the reward.
- Wings.
(clicks)
- Okay, give her another sunflower seed.
- Wings.
- Do it again.
- Big wings, Jimjim.
- Show the treat briefly.
Do the cue one more time.
- Wings.
(squawking gently)
- Give the cue again.
- Jim, wings.
- Mm-mm.
- I think,
- [Woman] I think it's a different cue.
- It's a very different cue, yeah.
- [Woman] It's a very different cue.
- So, I'm, like flashing him the peace sign.
Can you do that real quick?
Nice and strong.
Yep.
- Yep.
And, the difference is, here, if the bird's head is here,
you're kinda doing this,
and your mom's doing it here.
So try to do it above the head.
- Wings.
- Nice and strong.
- Wings, Jim.
- We'll have mom do the cue again.
- Wings.
Whoops, wings.
(clicks)
- Treat.
Okay, so just like we do with the sticks,
start slow and then come in.
I want you to try to do it at the same time,
so go ahead and give the count.
- Mm-hmm.
- You'll go "three, two, one, wings".
And I want you to try to do the cue at the exact same time,
just from a distance,
so don't do it quite as close as your mom is.
- You ready?
Three, two, one,
wings.
- Good, give the treat.
Okay, we're gonna do the exact same thing again.
(bird squawking)
(chuckles)
- [Woman] He's like, "This?
"I got it".
- Talk up my language.
Give me some treats.
(laughing)
- [Man] Everybody just try to keep, stay calm.
Everybody, just stay still please.
- Two, one,
wings.
(clicks)
- Okay.
Now we're gonna do that exact same thing,
but just before you would flash the signal, stop,
and you keep doing it,
just as you did.
- Do you want my vocal?
- Mm-hmm.
- (bird squawking)
- Does that make sense to you both?
- Yep.
So you're gonna do the sign.
- You're gonna do the exact same thing.
Mom's just not gonna quite flash the sign.
- Okay, ready?
- Three, two, one, wings.
(clicks)
- [Woman] Yeah!
- Three, two, one, wings.
(clicks)
(woman giggles)
- [Man] Okay, now let's do it this time
without mom counting down.
- Still want my vocal?
- [Man] Nope.
- Nope, nothing.
Whenever you're ready.
- Wings.
(clicks)
(chuckling)
- Sorry, I almost missed it.
- [Man] I want you to be aware
there's a perch right behind you,
but I want you to slowly try to take about a half step back,
even if the perch has to be moved slightly.
You're gonna do the exact same thing you just did.
- Wings.
(clicks)
- [Man] Cool.
And we'll pause there.
- [Man] Awesome.
- [Man] You gotta see the big difference.
- [Woman] Good job, guys.
- He got cuter, is that what you said?
(laughter)
- So, you can see how important it is
to have clear communication.
If Addy isn't doing it exactly the same,
we have to let the bird know what is that
that we need to achieve.
That's actually the first time we've caught that transition
on video, but it's really powerful to see.
There's the technique we just used, it's called,
we call it the Simon Says Effect.
- [Woman] Mm-hmm, makes sense.
- The way you play Simon Says,
the way you win Simon Says, you get a rhythm,
and then you trick the person
into still doing whatever you want them to.
So we just did the same thing with the bird,
and if you give it one last cue,
I think you're gonna still get it.
Looks like he's wanting to work, so,
(laughing)
- Oh, he'll work all day.
Doesn't matter how much feed he's had.
- Wings.
(click)
- Perfect.
Cool, did you guys learn a little bit from that?
- Mm-hmm.
Are you happy with that?
Yeah, cool.
- So the more focus you put
on transferring your mom's cues to you,
you'll be able to have that clear communication
that we're really striving for.
So your relationship with the bird will be better.
(light happy music)