- Hi, I'm April, this is Kai,
my Derbyan parakeet,
he's about five months old.
My main issues with him is
he's still a baby,
but he's very nervous.
I'd like to really just work on him,
get him more comfortable with hands,
with people in general.
Mainly just getting him to step up
when I need him to step up,
without trying to bite my fingers.
That's about it.
(April chuckles)
(upbeat music playing)
- [Jamie] At the beginning
of our master classes,
we ask everyone to just
kind of take their bird out
and let's just see a basic interaction
and as you can see,
she's having a little trouble
getting her bird out.
- Do you wanna step up?
- [Dave] Can I,
let me help set you up for success.
- [Jamie] So, it's really
natural for birds to feel
quite vulnerable on the ground,
especially in a travel carrier.
So, lifting them up
can sometimes make all the difference
in asking your bird to come out.
- [Jamie] Maybe try showing a treat
to help them along?
He's already like, "Yes."
- [April] Oh yeah.
He really likes them.
- [Jamie] You found a winner Mama
I will go for that.
Nice, there you go.
- So this may or may not have been
obvious to some of you guys,
but setting up the environment
is really, really
important to making sure
that your bird's successful,
especially when it comes to
one of our master classes.
- And this could mean putting
the cage on the ground,
it could mean if the cage is on the ground,
lifting it up.
It could also just simply mean
using a bird's favorite treat.
- So, just remember when
you're in a brand new environment
like this,
you can't have the same expectations
as you would with your bird at home.
He might be willing to come out
without any sort of food reward at home,
but in a brand new environment
you cannot have the same expectations.
So, you might have to modify
or change that environment
in a way that makes your bird
have a little bit more
confidence in that space.
- And something I always tell
my free flight students
is if you're experiencing failure,
go back to where
it was last working well
and slowly rebuild it from there
and the reason that
that's relevant here
is that there's failure, right?
It's also, if there's a new location,
we usually are set up
for not a ton of success,
unless we go back to the basics
and do something simple,
like a target or again
just moving something
to set yourself in a better position,
so you have a higher likelihood of success.
- Nice.
- There we go
and sometimes he will like,
he's doing it now.
He's hoarding them in his beak,
(Jamie laughs)
- [Jamie] So he can eat two at once
- [April] Yeah, so he'll hoard it
and make you think
he's done with it.
Then you go to give him
another one and then I watch him.
- [Jamie] He's just like, "Whoop."
Okay.
So I would do the same thing with him
that we did with the other one.
As far as when he's done eating,
just ask him for a few targets.
You said you target trained him?
- [April] I have just started.
- [Jamie] Just started.
- [April] He'll follow the stick.
- [Jamie] Okay, cool.
- [April] So, that's as far as I've got with him.
- Awesome.
- [April] He will not, like I said,
he won't turn his back to you.
So he is like, "No."
- [Jamie] Okay. Yeah,
Move it now to the other side.
(device clicking)
Nice.
- And if I can get the treat past him.
So he'll take the treat from me
Oh yeah, he really likes...
(device clicking)
- [Dave] So, make sure when you're done
with the target,
lower that stick.
- Oh, okay. Lower it?
- [Dave] So it's out of the way.
(device clicking)
Yeah. Perfect.
- [Jamie] Okay.
So show me what the,
you said you were working on the spin
and he won't turn his back on you?
- Oh yeah.
He will not like,
I try to get him to, and then
No, he's just gonna keep,
doing that
- Can I try with him?
- Yeah.
Go for it.
You want some of these?
- Yes, please.
Hi
- He really likes them.
- Can I work with you?
Some yum stuff.
That was a little bit taller.
You see this?
All the way.
Oh, you almost did it.
- [Dave] I'm gonna come
to this side to help.
If that will help or not.
(device clicks)
(Jamie chuckles)
- You almost fell off
bending yourself that much.
There you go.
(birds chirping)
(device clicks)
- [Dave] That right there
is something we call,
a behavior extension.
So you'll notice that once
she got halfway,
we, she clicked
(device clicking)
and then finishes by giving the treat
on the finished rotation.
- Okay.
- [Dave] So we're kind of getting
two reps outta one attempt.
- So like the first click
keeps his attention.
Second click for the treat.
Whoo.
Just messed that one up.
- [Dave] Yeah.
So can you explain that?
'cause she was saying
the first one gets attention,
second one gets a treat
and that's not,
I didn't explain it clear enough.
- No. So I'm clicking
for the behavior of him turning
versus touching the stick.
- Okay.
- I'm using the stick to get the turn
and then I'm continuing
the momentum that
everything going this way.
So it's more likely
for him to follow through
all the way around
because a lot of the times
people will ask for spin
and they'll be like, okay, cool.
I got halfway and they unwind the bird.
- Oh, okay.
- Whereas here I'm trying
to be like
and continue to make it
as comfortable as possible for him.
You want to try again?
(device clicks)
Good job.
Do we wanna pass it off yet?
- [Dave] Yeah. Pass it off there.
- Okay. Let's pass it off to you.
Since we got him over his hurtle.
- [Dave] He's looking at you
like, Hey
- Where did you? go
- Okay. So it's
- Nice and up high behind him
and wiggle it a little bit
to get his attention.
(device clicks)
- Keep going.
- There we go.
- Nice
and just wait for him to be done.
- Yeah. I can see he's sticking it
under his tongue.
- He definitely tells you when he is ready. So
- Oh, yeah.
He said he,
he really likes these things.
- Yeah.
(bird squeaks)
Keep going.
Perfect.
- [Dave] Are you clicking
or is she?
- She's clicking.
- [Dave] Nice.
(device clicks)
- [Jamie] Nice
So on this one,
because you have so much momentum
when you get him to turn
and then you go the rest
of the way around,
just like have this completely
out of the thing.
So like instead of going here
'cause you're going like
right back in front of him just.
- [Dave] Can you show her
what you mean?
- Yeah.
(Jamie chuckles)
All right,
can I have one treat?
These are awesome sizes.
Oh, so we're just there already.
- [April] Just, okay.
- It's a spin now.
- [April] So now he's just getting it?
Now he's getting it.
- He's fast.
Go. Yes.
Perfect.
What a cool species.
I like this guy.
- He, he love these treats.
(Jamie laughs)
Once I found him,
I was like, all right,
that's the one
- [Dave] The bird trick
story of our life is
never trust what they say.
- Can you try this next one
with just your finger,
and not the target stick?
- Yeah.
- Just stick your finger out.
See if he'll follow.
- [Dave] Oh, oh, oh.
- Oh, click.
(Jamie laughs)
- Do I still use the,
the clicker?
- Yeah, still use the clicker.
- Okay.
- So you would just hold it
around,
there we go.
Yeah.
- Oh you dropped it.
(device clicks)
- [Jamie] Sweet,
should we give them a break?
- [Dave] That was a good one to end on.
- Yeah.
- [Dave] Keep in mind in the wild,
they communicate
with little flicks of the
of their eye flashing
or their three feathers going up
their subtle communication in the wild
is just that it's super subtle.
So when our body language changes,
they read that as
oh crap, what's coming;
and so we need to have that
same intention that we do
in a training session
as we do when we put 'em away
'Cause keep in mind
every interaction's a training session.
So if you want to see a good step up
treat it as a trick, always.
Now in the future,
you may not need to always
click and treat for every step up,
but you may want to
once in a while to clean it up
and remind them,
Hey, it's a trick
'Cause they don't.
Why would they want to step on a human?
Nothing in their
evolution development has ever
made them want to be on humans
except for what we're conditioning them
through. Now
- Okay.
- 'cause we're Awesome.
- [Dave] Yeah. 'cause you're great
- It's critical during a training session
where you have lots of breakthroughs
to end on the high note.
And typically when we experience this,
whether it's in a masterclass
or even with our own birds
when we have the little voice
inside of our head
that says that was perfect.
Let's do one more.
That was the one more
we need to stop there
because we want to make sure that we end
on a super successful note
that leaves anticipation
for the bird wanting to do more
the next time that you train.
- And as you could tell
'cause Dave was the one
that called that session.
I think myself, April and Kai
the bird,
we all wanted to keep going
'cause we just had this crazy,
amazing momentum.
We were having these
breakthrough moments
and he was so receptive
to training that
I think I was on a high note
of just like, yes we can keep going
and I think we all kind of felt that
which is why Dave's like
- 'Cause how often have we
tested this theory? Right?
We'll be in the batting cage,
we're flying the birds.
And I was like, that was great.
Let's end there.
Okay but what if we had decided
let's do one more.
- Always sucks.
- It's like 99% of the time.
It's a fail.
- Yeah.
- and so we've really learn
to trust that inner voice
and having that high success,
that huge breakthrough,
has definitely become
the trigger for us
to be..
(Dave Exhales)
- When you don't wanna stop,
- Yeah.
- Stop.
(Jamie laughs)
- [Dave] But as he gets older,
there's less patience for that.
He's ready to work.
You gotta work him.
Awesome.
- The other thing I was trying to do with
from watching your videos
is put my finger
or my thumb on his foot.
When I log you, let him step up.
- [Jamie] Okay.
- [Dave] Will he do
a short hop to you there?
- I've been trying
- [Dave] Okay.
So hear me out before you do it,
do a spin, click
and then offer your hand
in a little distance
for him to jump to your hand
to get the treat.
A short distance.
- Okay. How do I
- [Dave] You want me to click?
I'll click.
- Yeah, you may have to click.
- [Dave] So does that
concept make sense?
- Yeah.
- [Dave] You'll need to hold it
like four to six inches away.
She's just gonna hop.
'Cause you,
look at that anticipation.
- Yeah, You usually
- [Dave] So let's take
advantage of that.
So do a little spin
and make them pop your finger
for a treat.
Show the treat.
A little closer.
Yeah.
Give him the treat that's okay.
- [Jamie] She just pull her hand?
- Yeah.
- [Dave] So this time
just hold your hand a little lower
and see if you can make him
hop, to here for the treat.
- Okay.
- He may or may not. We'll see.
- [Jamie] I'm gonna move real quick.
So there's a sweet spot
and getting him to turn around
that's right in that area.
Yeah. Go, go.
- [Dave] I think he's got,
looks like he has to poop.
- [Jamie] He has to poop?
- He wants to try and go around me
to get the treat.
- [Dave] So lower your left hand
so the treat isn't so exposed.
He's looking at it right there right.
He's more interested in your left hand.
- So there's a spot
that's right here
to get him to turn
and then you continue it.
Does that make sense?
- Okay. I'll try.
- So instead of in the front,
it's here and then it continues.
It's like a sweet spot.
- Okay. So, we start behind him.
Okay.
- Right there.
Wiggle, wiggle wiggle.
- [Dave] It's almost like
I'm gonna touch your back.
- Come on.
He's really looking,
like I know where those treats are.
- Go go go go.
- [Dave] All right.
So we're failing.
So what do I say?
- Restart
- [Dave] Whenever. And so now
- Take a step back.
- [Dave] Yeah. So actually here,
so this one you can do it like here.
- Okay.
- [Dave] Yep.
- Okay. So move your hand down low
- [Dave] Exactly.
So go ahead.
(device clicks)
Offer the treat. Yep.
and now choke down the stick
a little further.
Yep. Same thing.
Now sneak it into your back pocket
if you have one or
off to Jamie.
So yeah.
(device clicks)
- [Dave] Awesome.
- Are you finished eating?
- [Dave] Still eating.
- [Dave] How do you explain it?
I like, I see it.
And it's like,
I'm not clicking that you can treat it
just cause you wandered on it.
- And you're trying to get a hop still?
- [Dave] I thought
we'd get a little more me momentum.
So let's go back to where
there's like this much
of the stick showing.
- Okay.
- [Dave] Do the stick a few times.
- Well, do we want it,
are we trying to get a hop?
- [Dave] We'll get a hop after.
- I wonder if we should.
(device clicks)
- [Jamie] So I think
because April saw such quick results
with getting her bird to
turn its back on us
and learn the spin so quickly,
that she immediately jumped to
the next goal which was
a little bit of flight.
And so we're working on this
and we're really trying to entice him
to make this flight
with targeting in all the ways.
And eventually I work with him.
So the first thing I do
is just work on
some basic step ups and
allowing the bird to step back
off of me
as soon as he wants to.
So as you can see,
he's pretty eager to step right back
off of me pretty early on.
But then he also becomes
more eager to
step onto me
and he even wants to stay
on this rep.
So that's pretty cool
to see that happen so quickly.
So all I'm trying to establish
is some sort of relationship.
I don't reward here
because he used his beak
to pull my hand close
and then step onto it
and I don't want him using his beak.
So I change my posturing a little bit
to hopefully change his posturing.
But as you can see,
he just goes for me
and he's getting a little aggressive
and frustrated
because he really doesn't want my hand
at a certain distance
that requires more effort from him.
So this is a pretty big step
for him to take
versus just an easy step up
where I have my hand really close.
So it's kind of frustrating him
that I'm asking this.
So as you can see,
I just go back to these big step up
trying to get consistent,
but then I'm thinking about it
and I decide to change my game plan.
- [Jamie] I'm just wondering
if he's a little bit anxious to jump.
Actually, maybe I should have him jump back.
- [Dave] That's a good idea
- He'll definitely jump back.
- He'll definitely jump back to the perch.
Okay. That's what we'll do.
- [Dave] Well, there's how you get
your flight training started.
(device clicks)
I'll click for the return.
(device clicks again)
So why don't you give him the treat
on the way back this time?
- Okay.
- [Dave] It spins.
(device clicks)
- Good boy
She could probably do that.
- [Dave] Yeah.
- So let's have you do that.
So it's just a step up and a turnaround.
He flies back
and you give him the treat on the perch.
So then,
do you wanna just push
and see if we can get a hop?
I mean, sometimes
he does get really close.
So hold your hand far enough away
that he can't pull it.
- Can't pull to him.
- [Dave] You can even
show the treats closer.
- [Jamie] Yeah.
We could have an open hand
to show the treats.
What I really wanna point out here is
how important it is to work
with what the bird is
currently giving you.
So we were unlikely
to get a flight to me
but we were very likely to get a flight
from me since this bird doesn't know me;
and so we decided to just work
with what the bird was willing to offer.
When it came to flight training
- [Dave] I feel like
so close to jumping to her.
- [Jamie] She could try
extending it this time.
You didn't give him a treat.
- Oh, well let's try it again.
(device clicks)
- [Dave] Hold it a foot away,
see if he'll jump
to you.
- Hold my
- [Jamie] Hand
- [Dave] Yeah.
- Here you go.
- [Jamie] A little higher
Oh, yeah, yeah
Jump buddy, jump.
Jump, jump, jump.
- He just, he's just like
just give me the hand.
- [Jamie] So hold your hand
far enough away
that he can't pull it.
- Can't pull to him.
- [Dave] You could even,
- [Jamie] A little higher
- [Dave] Could even show him the treats,
closer.
- [Jamie] Yeah,
you could have an open hand
to show him the treats.
- Come on. Come on
- [Jamie] You can do it.
- I know when I rolled it around
he's more interested.
- [Jamie] Yeah. Go, go, go
Come on.
So the interesting thing is
when we gave Kai a break
and we left him out on top of his carrier,
we thought, okay
he's just gonna take a break.
It's all gonna be good.
We're gonna work with Marvin.
The green wing Macau,
who also came to this class
and we were working on
flight training in the background
and Kai suddenly looked so
interested in flying that
I kept telling April,
Hey, just offer your hand.
Just be there in case he looks
like he might want to possibly fly to you.
Like give him the opportunity to do that.
He would put his wings out a little bit,
seemed kind of anxious.
Like he was really going to fly.
There were points where
he would even flap his wings.
He would hold them
further away from his body.
We just thought,
oh my gosh, he's going to fly
and I think a lot of that was created
by the dynamic of him
watching Marvin, the green wing
constantly recalling to his owner.
So then this happens
and I have sped this footage up for you guys
but you can see how excited Kai is
about the idea of flying
and we're trying everything
to entice him.
We're offering him a handful
of his favorite treats.
We're doing a really short
offering of a flight.
So it wouldn't take a lot of effort.
We're changing hand positions.
We're offering targeting
doing so many things,
and then this happens.
- [Dave] He's got another one
of them, I think.
- [Jamie] Marvin.
- [Dave] That was better.
That's a better one to end.
- Oh, there he goes.
- [Dave] Treat him for that.
Yeah.
- I was gonna work on socializing him
getting him better
with my kids, my boyfriend
making our training sessions
a little bit better.
Calmer,
getting a better stand, Obviously.
I think is gonna be a main thing
for the most part.
Probably still just
watching up on videos
reading your guys' stuff
and really with the food conversion.
That's still my main goal.
- [Jamie] I'm so done.
Hi.
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Like this video,
comment on this video
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- You could also subscribe.
That'd be cool.
- There's that.
[Jamie Laughs]