PETCO Foundation Steps Up To The Plate

Normally I wouldn’t post anything about the place I work on my blog.  However, an article came through our intranet news that struck my heart and made me realize WHY I support the PETCO Foundation and WHY every event I do at my store goes in support of this non-profit organization.  The PETCO foundation is a great organization that caters to assisting adoption agencies and stepping in when disaster strikes.  Aside from the Red-Cross and the ASPCA, the PETCO Foundation has made more contribution then any other humanitarian organization in the United States.   There web site’s definition is as follows:

The PETCO Foundation was established in 1999 to promote a wide variety of nationwide educational and charitable activities. PETCO Foundation has grown our partnership to approximately 5,700 local animal welfare organizations who save and enrich pet lives at the grassroots level. Through the years, the PETCO Foundation has raised more than $53 million through a combination of fundraisers including the well-known Tree of Hope, Spring A Pet, Operation Alteration and Thanks Fore Giving. In addition, the PETCO Foundation is always prepared to launch immediate fund raising efforts in the case of natural disasters and emergencies such as the California Wildfires and the southern hurricanes.

  

In recent news we heard of a canary/saffron finch fighting ring going on in the Northeast.  Last month in Shelton, Connecticut 19 (so-called human) individuals were arrested and 150 birds were taking into the custody of the local animal control.  At that time, there was no housing available for the birds until PETCO Store #760 stepped in.  Tom Page, District 44 Manager made a call to Paul Jolly, our Executive Director of PETCO Foundation and explained the situation.  Paul immediately sprang into action and arranged for 60 cages to be delivered from our New Jersey Distribution Center to Store #760 to aid in the relief effort for these birds of misfortune.  While we are supplying food and necessary items to keep the birds happy and start their rehabilitation process, PETCO Foundation will also be on hand to assist in the adoption efforts for the birds.  With some of the birds being very badly injured, PETCO is also helping out with the medical assistance needed for the birds.  Unfortunately while the investigation is still going on, the birds must remain in the custody of the state…but PETCO and animal control will be working side by side to ensure the safety and health of the birds while they are there.

 

This is the kind of story that makes me proud to work where I do.  Alot of hear-say and such has spread over the years about PETCO and other pet stores and while some of it is true with other stores, I am extremely honored to be part of the PETCO Foundation and all it stands for.  The achievements of this company and it’s mission is by far the most relevant in the Nation aside from the rescue organizations that we are partners with.  This includes alot of high profile rescues around the globe as well.  PETCO stores have already reduced their live animal sales by 33% Nationwide and every store in the Tampa Bay market does not even sell birds anymore.  Our vision for 2010 is to “Take Back The Leadership of The Pet Industry”…this does not mean just sales and profit…this refers to finding loving, forever homes for every unwanted, abused, neglect or in need of assistance animal we can.  PETCO’s leadership in an industry that has so much heartache can turn it around 150 birds at a time and present a positive outcome for some of the most horrific situations.

 

So when someone starts ragging on the company I work for (and doesn’t know I am the Companion Animal Department Manager)…I always refer them to stories like this.  This tends to shut them up sometimes and if it doesn’t, then I have no use for that person.  We are doing our part and everything we can to help fight with the cause…not against it!!  If one organization can do so much…can you imagine what the world can do if they would stop ragging on companies like mine and actually worked side by side with us…hummmm…what a logical concept!!  But, the world is cruel sometimes and those people feel it more necessary to try and degrade a company that is raising $53 million to help animals in need instead of praising them.  Put your negative efforts into a positive motion…whether it’s the PETCO Foundation or another organization.  Channel your energy to help…not condemn.

The PETCO Foundation is responsible for coordinating the donation of in-kind goods and services through our partners to animals in need of assistance.  The PETCO Foundation dedicates its programs to serving the Four R’s- Reduce, Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rejoice. We strive to achieve our mission by creating responsible pet owners, reducing the number of animals euthanized, rescuing animals in crisis and rehabilitating undesirable behaviors in pets to keep them in a loving home.

Now I ask you…does that really sound like an organization you want to turn your back on?…I know I wouldn’t!

CHOP…The Concept

“CHOP is a feeding concept. It is like you’re making two lasagnas and you cook one for dinner that night, and put the other in the freezer because you’ll be able to pull it out some evening when you don’t have time to cook.”

- Patricia Sund

CHOP is the brainchild of Patricia Sund.  A fantastic columnist for Birdtalk Magazine and the author of Parrot Nation.  CHOP is the concept of making up a bunch of food and pre-packaging it to serve later…And what a great concept it is!!!  I recently held a “CHOP Party” at my home with 3 of my close friends.  To describe a “CHOP Party”…it’s kind of like a Mary Kay party with vegetables instead of cosmetics  (although at the end of the bagging process, cosmetics could come in handy).  We had such a good time and prepared 1800 healthy meals for our birds!!  That’s right…I said 1800 meals!!!  Everyone always asks me to send them the recipe and well…there is no recipe for for it…just ingredients.  It is a process though and you have to get it right so it doesn’t come out soupy.

There is a huge selection of ingredients for CHOP.  Just go to your local Whole Foods Store, organic market or Farmers Market, go into the produce section and pick one of everything!!  Do your research though…not all veggies are good for your bird…here is a list of ingredients that went into the mixture for our “CHOP Party”… 

Veggies

 

Broccoli Florets

Cauliflower Florets

Asparagus

Sweet Peas

Sweet Corn

Butternut Squash

Yams / Sweet Potato

Collard Greens

Tri-Colored Pepper Mix

Jalapenos Peppers

Kale

Mustard Greens         

Zucchini

Carrots

Celery

Romaine Lettuce

Spinach

Yellow Squash

Bell Pepper

Chard

Parsley

Cilantro

Ginger Root

Dandelion Greens

Escarole

Endive

Arugula

Bib Lettuce

Bok Choy

Water Cress

Cranberries

Basil

Oregano

Dill

Banana Pepper

Radish

Broccoli Slaw

Snap Peas

Black-Eyed Peas

Yellow Split Peas

Green Split Peas

Cabbage 

Red Cabbage

Parsnips

Turnip Greens

Okra

Rosemary

Thyme

Nori – Japanese Seaweed

 

 

Grains

Muesli

Celery Seed

Hemp Seed

Wheat Germ

Brown Flax Seed

Unsweetened Coconut

Red Quinoa

Wild / Brown Rice

Spelt

Whole Grain Pasta Spirals

Higgins Leafy Greens & Herbs

 

To start off with, all the grains that need to be cooked should be cooked ahead of time, drained real well and cooled.  This will prevent the mixture from getting soupy.  Next, invest in a food processor!!  This will save so much time as far as the chopping up of the vegetables.  I personally have 2…a small one for the little stuff and a big one for the big stuff.  Be sure to get at least a 5-gallon bucket to mix everything into.  If you are making a huge batch where a 5-gallon bucket is not going to cut it, I suggest cleaning out your bathtub and mixing it in there.  I have found this to be a great method on mixing because as you are adding the ingredients, all the excess water drains out.  It may sound insane but trust me…I know what I’m doing here! 

 

Here is a little video on mixing in the tub!!

 

 

All the veggies get chopped.  You can use frozen or fresh, but fresh is preferred.  If you are using frozen veggies, be sure to thaw them overnight.  Cook the Quinoa, Pasta, Rice, Spelt, Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash.  Once you have everything chopped, cooked and drained, mix it up really good and add your dry ingredients last.  If you are using the bathtub to mix, I suggest you scoop it back into the 5-gallon bucket after mixing to be bagged up.  This will enable you to sit in front of the TV and sort of take a breather.  When bagging the CHOP, I like to use a 1/2 cup scoop.  I have 4 big birds and this allows me to get 4 meals out of a baggie.  Each baggie consists of 6 tablespoons of CHOP.  Make sure the baggies are SNACK size…or better yet, if you have a vacuum sealer, this would be the ultimate course to take as suggested by Patricia!  Once you have all the CHOP bagged, put those little baggies into a 1-gallon freezer bag.  This prevents the mixture from getting freezer burned.  When rolling the baggies and sealing them, it is extremely important to get all of the air out of the baggie.  This also prevents freezer burn.  If you have help in the kitchen, it’s great!  One of you can bag it, the other can roll it.  Hence, this is why I host “CHOP Parties”.  First of all it’s a great way to get birdie friends together, enjoy a FEW hours with each other and get ideas as well.  Make sure you develop a list of ingredients, then split it by how many people are coming.  The list is so nobody brings the same thing as someone else.  Give each person their own list, agree on a date, time and where to meet.  Give everyone a specific job to do one person could chop stuff in the food processor while another cuts it up and prepares it for the processor…someone else can be in charge of cooking the grains and another can be in charge of chopping up the small stuff (like herbs)…the possibilities are endless!  Count how many little bags you have at the end and split it up amongst yourselves.  Just think of all the free time you and your birdie friends are going to have to play with your birds after this!  I am personally off the hook for the next 81 days after our last “CHOP Party”…Now my friend Missi and I have time to hangout together and play with our birds!!

 

EndNote: Last but not least!!!  When serving your birds CHOP be sure to add a nice nut mix such as Higgins Boca Nut Mix as well as a pellet food.  I personally like Hagen Pellets, they are small enough that the chop gets deposited on them nicely so with every bite I know my bird is getting complete nutrition.  My personal feeding regimen consists of 1 tablespoon of Chop, 2 tablespoons Hagen Pellets, and 1 tablespoon of Higgins Boca Nut Mix.  This gets eaten up completely by noon if I feed at 10:00am. and then again at around 9:00pm.  The other thing I like to do is place my birds food bowls in different parts of their cages.  This provides a sort of search and reward enrichment excercise.  This provides excellent foraging skills as well as excercise without them even knowing it.  It will help build muscles and provide total climbing throughout their cages.  Be sure not to put your birds favorite treat into the CHOP (such as sunflower seeds, pine nuts, etc.).  These must always be saved for the training!  Trust me…you’ll make a bigger impact with your bird when he’s focused on getting done what he has to do to get what he wants!

For more information on the concept of CHOP, please visit Patricia Sund’s “Parrot Nation”.  There is tons and tons of information there.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions as well…they are always welcomed.

Happy Chopping!!!

2009 Animal Education Foundation Symposium

                                      

“In A Nutshell” The 2009 AEF Symposium will be one to attend this year!  As Patricia Sund says “…don’t let the word SYMPOSIUM twist your noodle”.  While some of the most celebrated trainers and educators will be attending, it is a huge get together to learn, acknowledge, and revisit.  Although I will not be able to attend I recommend this training to anybody who wants to learn more…you never can learn too much!!

The 2009 Animal Education Foundation Symposium brings experts in the fields of behavior, enrichment, husbandry, welfare, and conservation to the Washington, DC area. Come join us and learn as they provide valuable insight into their life’s work!

Saturday, July 18, 2009 ~ 8:00 AM to 6:00 PMDoubletree Hotel Crystal City ~ 300 Army Navy Drive ~ Arlington, VA 22202

Approved for 6.5 hours of CEU credit by the CCPDT      This is the: Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

AEF’s discounted room rate has expired, but you may still click here to make your room reservations. AEF benefits from each room booked, so please email us if you plan to stay at the hotel.

Download a registration form here!

~ Behavior Analysis ~

Susan G. Friedman, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University. She pioneered the application of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis to companion parrots, which she teaches to caregivers, veterinarians, and other professionals in her on-line class Living and Learning with Parrots and in her telecourse Living and Learning with Animals. Susan lectures all around the world to a wide variety of audiences and is an accomplished and prolific author in professional and popular journals and books.

~ Avian Husbandry and Health ~

Michael Jones, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, received his DVM in 1992 at the University of Missouri-Columbia and went on to an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. From 1993 to1996, Dr. Jones held a residency at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine in Avian and Zoological Medicine. Since 1996, he has been an Assistant Professor in Avian and Zoological Medicine at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Jones clinical and research interests are Raptor Medicine and Surgery and Pharmacology of therapeutics in avian species. He is also a Master Falconer with 15 years experience.

~ Avian Welfare ~

Julie Murad, President and CEO of The Gabriel Foundation based in Elizabeth, near Denver, CO, has been at the forefront of avian welfare and education for over 35 years. She has published and presented at national and international avian conferences including the AAV, the AFA, and NAVC. She has traveled all around the world witnessing first-hand the importance of in-situ conservation programs for parrots, and advocating standards of care and education for psittacines and their human companions.

~ Enrichment ~

Gay Noeth lives in rural Saskatchewan, Canada with her husband Wayne, dog and pet birds. She has been keeping parrots as pets since 1993 and has been very interested in behavior and enrichment. Over the years she has taken and attended many parrot behavior and training classes and has attended numerous parrot conferences. She believes that by enriching a parrot’s life in captivity we can stave off many problem behaviors and give parrots a better quality of life in our homes.

~ Training & Behavior ~

Sid Price is the founder of Avian Ambassadors. He has more than ten years of experience of working with wildlife in public presentations. He is a professional member of the following organizations: International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators, Animal Behavior Management Alliance, Association of Professional Wildlife Educators, New Mexico Wildlife Association, Raptor Research Foundation, and the World Parrot Trust.

Sid is President of the International Association of AvianTrainers and Educators and also served on the board of the New Mexico Wildlife Association for several years. He is a charter member of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance.

~ Conservation ~

Mark Stafford, DDS, is the Co-Founder of Parrots International. A dentist with a conservation background, Dr. Stafford received BA degrees in both Environmental Biology and Environmental Studies. Dr. Stafford and his wife, Marie, donate their time and resources to travel into the field to visit and evaluate “in situ” conservation projects. They donate their photos and videos to Parrots International as well as donate their time to manage and organize Parrots International.

Mail-In Registration Form

Mail-In Dinner Registration Form

Online Registration

 

Additional Information:
Living and Learning Workshop
Fundraising Dinner

(c) 2008 – Animal Education Foundation

To Rescue Or Not To Rescue…That Is The Answer!

…And what an answer it is!!!

I have had the pleasure of rescuing three birds (Kacey, Chloe, and Sophie) and let me tell you…it wasn’t always a pleasure but one heck of a learning experience!!  Between the distrust, feather shredding, biting and what have you…let’s just say I have a few…ummm…”Enrichment Battle Wounds“.  Unfortunately, the knowledge I have today I didn’t have back then so, I’m making up for lost time.

The body language of a parrot can tell you a whole bunch of things.  I often sit and observe my birds with such great awe marking their body movements, listening to their vocalizations and watching the way they interact with each other.  The same goes for that rescue parrot you brought home last month that you still can’t get near because he lunges at you through the cage!  Hence…the rehabilitation starts!

Trust is a big issue when it comes to a rescue bird.  The first step is gaining their trust.  If you are fortunate to know of any trauma that went on in the previous home then you are one step ahead of the game.  One of the toughest rescue situations is the “unknown”.  Patience is a virtue when it comes to this…because of the unknown we have no idea what has happened.  Through trial and error we make our decisions on how to go about the first steps of rehabilitation.  I am going to use Kacey (my 11 year old Blue and Gold Macaw) for an example.  I was fortunate enough to know about Kacey’s background.  She was 10 when I got her and for the first 7 years of her life she had been physically beaten and abused, knocked off her perch in her cage by a water hose on a daily basis, on a diet consisting of nothing but peanuts and with all of this combined…untrustworthy.  I would be too if you treated me that way.  She didn’t trust strangers and that was exactly what I was to her.  I had to be careful feeding her…she would lunge at me through the cage.  So, I figured she loves peanuts, I will use that to get her to step up.

Every morning I would wrap my arm in 2 towels, an ace bandage to keep the 2 towels on and a long sleeved sweatshirt with gloves on (I live in Florida…this is not proper attire!).  I would open the cage door, put my hand out to her and show her the peanut.  If she even just put one toe up to me…she would get the peanut…if she snapped at the peanut (and my hand) I would drop the peanut through the grate of her cage and close the door.  I would get a polite “Uh Oh” from her and then come back 10 minutes later and try it again.  Within a week I had her stepping up to me.  This is what we call Positive Reinforcement (R+).  She steps up or makes an attempt to…she gets the peanut.  She didn’t always get the peanut… an obnoxious, “GOOD GIRL” from me seemed to make the same impression.  This type of training is used with your baby birds as well.  While all cute and cuddly, they are eventually going to grow up.  R+ needs to be started immediately during weaning!  I cannot stress that enough!!  The last thing you want is a parrot that dominates your home.  Through R+ Training and Enrichment you obtain a mentally, physically and emotionally healthy parrot.  Great reading and DVD’s on this subject can be purchased at GoodBird, Inc. and The Leather Elves there are 2 major training tools I use and that is the book Good Bird by Barbara Heidenreich and the DVD Enriching Your Parrot’s Life by Robin Shewokis.  Thanks to Patricia Sund…these have become my bibles!!  This is a joint adventure.  It is a partnership…you work together to achieve the goal. 

So…the answer remains…To Rescue Or Not To Rescue…There is a sense of personal achievement when that rescue bird finally steps up to you instead of lunging at you.  It is a slow and patient process.  I will tell you from personal experience, it has been the greatest achievement of my life so far.  I am the Companion Animal Department Manager at a local Petco store and everyday I see animals being brought in by customers that cannot take care of them.  Some enter the store in a purse or a bag and left in a kennel on our shelves.  All I can say is this…there are so many unwanted animals out there in shelters and rescues that there aren’t enough people for.  Petco is already doing their part by lowering the animals they sell by 30%!  That is a big step for the pet industry!  I am happy to say that the discontinued sales of birds is on it’s way as well…an even bigger step!  Think adoption first before you go to the pet store and pay an astronomical amount of money for a bird (or any animal).  Do your homework and research on what species is appropriate for you, your family and your lifestyle.  Weigh the pros and cons, discuss WHY you want to add a bird to your home.  Remember…the idea of getting a bird to match the color of your couch and make your home look more tropical is NOT the reason to get one!!  I see it all the time…especially where I live in Florida.  People get a big bird to make their house look more ” Florida like”.  It doesn’t work, they have no idea how to train the bird, no resources, or the desire to learn and that’s when they wind up in the shelters here (it’s not the only reason but one of them).  For the “die-hard” bird lovers…we never let the novelty wear off of owning such beautiful creatures.  You own an exotic animal that was born to be wild…there is no “taming” that animal…only to teach them right from wrong.

Meet The Girls

In the Winter of 2007 I had the honor of meeting “Sue”.  A breeder of exotic birds and a woman with a big heart.  Not only did Sue breed exotic birds but she also rescued them from time to time from homes that are not so worthy of owning such birds.  She had mentioned to a mutual friend that she had a 10 year old Blue and Gold Macaw that she needed to find a good home for.  She had known the bird for quite some time and it had been shuffled from one neglection home to another over the course of 7 years.  Some abuse had taken place and it was time to find a reputable home that was going to take care of “Kacey”.

On December 22, 2007 Kacey became part of my family…9 months later she became my best friend…

The first time I met Kacey was at Sue’s aviary.  She was extremely untrustworthy and had issues that stemmed from the neglection and abuse she had received from her previous owners.  She ran across the floor at me and attempted to attack.  Thank goodness for Sue being there.  At the time I didn’t know that much about Macaws, let alone being the possible owner of a rescue.  I took Kacey home that night not knowing where this would all lead for me and the relationship I was going to have with a huge bird that had a huge beak!  One that could easily snap my hand off my wrist!  I didn’t trust Kacey and she didn’t trust me.  Music seemed to soothe her anxiety so I would sing “My Girl” by the Temptations…she would swing back and forth in her cage on her swing.  After a week of this she was stepping up without snapping at me.  That was the beginning of her rehabilitation as well as mine.  She never pushed me and I never pushed her…it was always mutual ground.  When she was ready and willing I would take it to the next level.  9 months later I was taking a nap and had left her out on my bed.  I woke up to a big beak making kissing noises on my nose and snuggling in the sheets with me…we were now inseparable.  2 weeks later she flipped over on her back and started kissing me again.  This was her thank you to me as well as her acceptance of me…we were now the best of friends. 

Every night before bedtime, Kacey kisses me goodnight.  When I come home from work late at night and it’s dark in the house she says with a whisper, “Shh, mommy’s home”.  She talks to me all day and we seem to understand what each other is saying.  The reward of having Kacey after 9 months of rehabilitation on both our parts is an emotion that can’t be explained.  It has been the biggest, greatest adventure of my life.  Kacey has the ability to outlive me and she will be my best friend and the biggest accomplishment of my life until the day I take my last breath…

  

In April of 2008 we had the pleasure of meeting Chloe, a Moluccan Cockatoo that was by far the most comical bird we had ever seen.  After spending many years in a home full of smoke she was covered in nicotine.  Once again, “Sue” our trust worthy aviary owner had rescued this beautiful little girl from an unfit home.  Chloe had issues of not so much plucking her wing feathers, but shredding them.  Her anxiety level was sky high.  Thinking that maybe she should have a mate, Sue’s male Moluccan Cockatoo was looking for a girlfriend.  6 months later, Chloe was part of our family.

We had been talking about adding another bird to our home and it only felt right to bring in another rescue.  We made the phone call to Sue and asked how Chloe was doing in the breeding program.  We were happy to find out that she wasn’t.  Again, trusting our husbandry and the lives of her rescue birds with us, Sue gave us our second rescue girl…Chloe.

Chloe is now the main character in our presentations showing off her many talents like hanging from her beak and flapping her wings from her coop cup on her perch and telling the audiance how pretty she is.  Her feather shredding will always be an issue as she has seperation anxiety.  With alot of cuddle time and kisses, she is a bright, comical, spastic little girl that we have tons of fun with.

  

 This Congo African Grey was an unexpected surprise.  Left at a forclosed home, in a cage, on the back porch with no food or water Sophie came into our lives and quickly adapted in a matter of weeks.  She was a baby…not even a year old when we found her.  After being a part of our family she has matured and blossomed into your typical African Grey…boy does she LOVE to eat!  Sophie is the most talkative of our flock and she picks up on words and phrases in a matter of weeks (sometimes days), so we are always watching out for what we say in the house…our motto is…”If you don’t want your parrot repeating it…don’t say it!”

Sophie still has issues with being “hand-fed”.  Now when I say hand fed, I mean taking food (almonds, peanuts, fruit, etc.) from our hand.  This has made it a bit difficult to train her.  She loves food, she just doesn’t like it handed to her.  This leads me to believe that maybe an incident had happened where she was “reprimanded” a bit to harshly while being fed by hand.  It’s OK though…little by little with baby steps and positive reinforcement (R+) training, she’ll get on track.

The African Grey is by far one of the most intelligent companion birds.  Sophie picks up on everything that Kacey and Chloe say.  Her favorite words are, “Peek-a-boo” and “Chloe is a pretty girl”.  We are still learning about Sophie on a daily basis.  She is an amazing little bird and despite her beginning in life…she has become a major part of a good home…she is the ultimate Cinderella story.

 

On March 17th, 2009 a little Blue and Gold Macaw was born at Sue’s aviary, The Baby Bird Shoppe. 

 While at a bird show in Orlando with Sue, I was helping her out with the 18 birds she had brought with her.  This particular baby Blue and Gold Macaw was a very special one.  She was one of 6 that Sue had brought with her that day and the only one that had a cosmetic difference (so to speak).  On one foot there were three toes and on the other only two.  All the birds were sold that day except for one…Zazu.

 Sue hadn’t planned on going home with any birds that day, only the ones she was considering on purchasing.  Then came the question, “Do you want her?”  Ok…now, I ask anybody in their RIGHT mind…who wouldn’t take a 14 week old baby Blue and Gold Macaw for free and despite the cosmetic imperfection?  Uh…right!  Well…that settled that!  Zazu was on her way back with me to Naples, Florida!! 

Despite her “handicap” you would never know she had one…in fact, she doesn’t even know she has one!!  She is treated as though she had all of her toes…her balance and coordination is precise.  Being a fledgeling bird, Zazu has now entered into training for flight recall (which is a SLOW process with fantastic results) under the Internet guidance of some of the most celebrated trainers and the support of Angela Herschel and Barb Saunders  in California (those two ladies have put me in touch with some great people in the Avian World that I am forever grateful).  I am so OCD with teaching Zazu the right way…ya know, my first baby and everything.  I thank my lucky stars I have all the right people helping me out and contributing their knowledge and educating me the correct way for the betterment of me and Zazu.  This has also helped with the others (Kacey, Chloe, and Sophie).  They are getting the idea of positive reinforcement and enrichment.  Although the others do not recall in flight mode, they engage in the concept on a daily basis.

These methods prove to work!  There is nothing better then a parrot that WANTS to come to you…instead of a parrot that feels he/she has no choice.