An in-depth guide to overcoming common problem behaviors in parrots.

Parrots are among the most highly intelligent creatures kept as pets. They are capable of forming very close and rewarding relationships with their handlers. However, it takes a lot of time on a daily basis to ensure that the parrot is content and mentally stimulated. Otherwise, the unhappy bird may develop a repertoire of problem behaviors, such as biting, screaming and feather-plucking.

In this definitive reference book for the hundreds of thousands of parrot owners, a top parrot behavioral consultant explains how best to keep a captive bird in a domestic environment so that the pet will thrive, and reveals what to do to overcome and prevent problem behaviors.

This authoritative book is organized into the following sections:

Parrots in the WildParrot BiologyDifferent Types of ParrotsAcquiring a BirdUnderstanding BehaviorTraining Your BirdYour Parrot's HomePreventing and Solving Behavioral Problems — overcoming behaviors such as biting, screaming, self-mutilation, nervousness and destructivenessProblem-solving.(20080331)

This highly visual guide is written by an expert on cockatiels and provides concise yet complete coverage of key subjects like cockatiel biology, feeding, housing, and training. An invaluable chapter of frequently asked questions offers expert advice on this most popular species of bird. The full-color photos, sidebars, and tip boxes deliver the information in an easy-to-read format. The author thoroughly discusses solutions to various behavior problems and offers advice on finding an escaped cockatiel.

From how to choose the ideal bird to building a rewarding relationship with your pet, here is the complete guide to having a pet caique. This heavily illustrated book avoids technical language while offering sound advice and reliable information to current and soon-to-be pet owners. Written by animal specialists, veterinarians, and trainers, the titles in this series focus on pets of all kinds—different dog and cat breeds, birds, fish, reptiles, small animals, yard animals, and even exotic pets. All Pet Owner's Manuals are filled with high-quality photos and instructive line art.

I don't know if people will ever be able to talk to animals the way Doctor Doolittle could, or whether animals will be able to talk back. Maybe science will have something to say about that. But I do know people can learn to "talk" to animals, and to hear what animals have to say, better than they do now. —From Animals in Translation

Why would a cow lick a tractor? Why are collies getting dumber? Why do dolphins sometimes kill for fun? How can a parrot learn to spell? How did wolves teach man to evolve? Temple Grandin draws upon a long, distinguished career as an animal scientist and her own experiences with autism to deliver an extraordinary message about how animals act, think, and feel. She has a perspective like that of no other expert in the field, which allows her to offer unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas.

People with autism can often think the way animals think, putting them in the perfect position to translate "animal talk." Grandin is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense and will forever change the way we think about animals.

*includes a Behavior and Training Troubleshooting Guide   Among its provocative ideas, the book:
argues that language is not a requirement for consciousness—and that animals do have consciousnessapplies the autism theory of "hyper-specificity" to animals, showing that animals and autistic people are so sensitive to detail that they "can't see the forest for the trees"—a talent as well as a "deficit"explores the "interpreter" in the normal human brain that filters out detail, leaving people blind to much of the reality that surrounds them—a reality animals and autistic people see, sometimes all too clearlyexplains how animals have "superhuman" skills: animals have animal geniuscompares animals to autistic savants, declaring that animals may in fact be autistic savants, with special forms of genius that normal people do not possess and sometimes cannot even seeexamines how humans and animals use their emotions to think, to decide, and even to predict the future reveals the remarkable abilities of handicapped people and animals maintains that the single worst thing you can do to an animal is to make it feel afraid

From two noted experts-the first in-depth book on teaching your bird to talk

Teaching a bird to talk isn't as difficult as it may seem. In this easy-to-follow guide, avian experts Diane Grindol and Tom Roudybush reveal how you can communicate with your parrot far beyond "hello" and, in turn, understand what your bird is trying to communicate to you.

Teaching Your Bird to Talk compiles an impressive amount of background, training, and research regarding bird vocalizations, walking you step by step through the behavioral mechanics of training parrots to talk (as well as starlings, mynahs, and other birds). Whether you want your bird to mimic words, talk on cue, or have some understanding of what you are saying, this guide shows you the type of training you need to do with your bird. The book also takes a close look at the work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg-the world's foremost authority in the field of parrot intelligence and trainer of Alex the African Grey Parrot.
* Identifies which species of bird are likely to talk and which aren't
* Explores field research on regional languages and dialects of parrots in the wild
* Features true stories from owners of talking birds
* Explains how to handle problems with vocal parrots, such as screaming and using inappropriate language
* Offers tips on feeding and housing birds, and finding an avian veterinarian

This book offers exercises, instructions, jokes, stories, pithy quotes, and—most of all—encouragement to anyone interested in exploring Zen but who may find traditional presentations severe or intimidating. Hamilton writes with an easygoing, friendly style that invites readers of all backgrounds to sit down and give meditation a try. But don’t be fooled by her puns and checklists—this is serious Zen.

Drawing on three decades of experience as a Zen practitioner and teacher, Hamilton explains how to meditate and how to maintain an ongoing practice. From there, in her clear, lighthearted, and humorous style, she moves right to the heart of Zen, showing us how we could move beyond our concepts, expectations, and emotional reactivity to touch the reality of our lived experience with openness and simplicity, thereby finding freedom.

Untrain Your Parrot includes simple instructions to clarify and elucidate the basics:

   • 

how to establish a beginning meditation practice
   • 

how to develop physical, mental, and emotional awareness
   • 

how to experience "open" awareness—observing one's practice while allowing for a sense of spaciousness with whatever occurs

For more information on the author, Elizabeth Hamilton, go to www.zencentersandiego.org.

An easy to read step-by-step guide that uses positive reinforcement for teaching parrots acceptable behavior. Professional advice from animal behaviorist that will help you deal with screaming, biting, feather-picking, bonding and other difficult behaviors

When not properly trained and socialized, parrots are prone to developing a number of behavioral problems, including aggression and self-mutilation. Many owners face these problems and need guidance on solving them. Barbara Heidenreich arms her readers with the information they need to turn their pugilistic parrot into a feathered friend. Some of the topics include: -Wild bird behavior and how it affects the bird/owner relationship -The best and worst ways to modify pet bird behavior -Understanding bird body language -Sidebars on the myths and misconceptions of keeping pet parrots.

Find out just how smart, affectionate, and fascinating birds can be, with clicker training.

* Depressed birds regain their joy in life
* One-person birds warm up to other family members
* Scared birds learn to cooperate with simple care such as nail clipping
* Undesirable behaviors such as screaming and biting fade away
* Baby birds grow up to be outstanding companions
* Rescued and older birds learn to trust, love and play
* Birds win new friends with appealing tricks and games

Noted authorities and aviary operators Rick Jordan and Jean Pattison examine the many facets of the aviculture of these widely kept birds including: speciation; breeding behaviour; basic husbandry; suitability as companion birds; record keeping; hand rearing; incubation techniques. The authors share their insights and experience with African parrots making this book a necessity in any bird lover's library.

This is the first book created primarily for the field identification of parrots, one of the most familiar and colorful groups of birds. From the mighty. macaws to the diminutive pygmy parrots, the 350 species of parrots include cockatoos, parakeets, lovebirds, and Budgerigar. Most are brightly colored or even gaudy, but a few are drab, and some are nocturnal and flightess. Parrots, found throughout most of the warmer regions of the world, occur in greatest numbers in Australasian and South America.

This book includes 88 superb color illustrations of every species and most identifiable subspecies of parrot, as well as range maps of their locations. It offers many firsthand insights into the ecology of each species, vocalizations, life cycle characteristics, and geographical variation. It also provides up-to-date information on the conservation status of those species of parrots that are threatened or endangered.

Finches are relatively easy for hobbyists to keep in both indoor cages and outdoor aviaries. Here is advice on housing, feeding, and general care. Books in this series are designed and illustrated much like Barron's Pet Owner's Manuals, but have more pages, even more photos, and more fully detailed pet care advice and instruction. Pet owners and people who plan to acquire a pet will find information on health care, feeding, and housing—and where applicable, on grooming and training. All photos are top quality and in full color. Many of the titles in this series also feature instructive line illustrations.