Zoo Blog
Friday, January 25, 2013
Bird Training: It’s Nothing to “Bawk” At
Written by: Anya Russom
If you’ve
ever spoken to a bird only to have it talk back, you probably understand that
they hold a certain level of intelligence. You may not have realized that
talking and mimicry, while impressive, are only the tip of the iceberg when it
comes to the skills that birds possess. In the wild, bird behaviors are
primarily used as means of survival. Captive birds have it a little different,
and while they still have the abilities, they may not have to use them in the
same way. In efforts to retain these skills and enrich the birds’ lives, many
zoos, rehabilitation facilities, and other similar organizations practice bird
training as part of their animal care routine. Here at the Lake Superior Zoo,
we are no different.
 One great
thing about our zoo is that we have a lot of birds. Better yet, we have many
different kinds of birds. This allows for an extremely diverse, interesting,
and educational look at the differences in species and how training should
reflect those differences. For instance, we all know parrots tend to be crowd
pleasers. Our Double Yellow-headed Amazon, Korbel, is able to speak and perform
a number of tasks with her trainer, Lizzy. What you might not understand is how
important vocal communication and socialization are to parrot species. One main
goal of training is to build relationships between bird and trainer. What
better way than with good, old-fashioned conversation? Through fostering this
connection, Lizzy can ask Korbel to replicate natural behaviors, complete an
exercise, or present herself in a way that allows Lizzy to check her physical
condition. Korbel might be the star, but she certainly isn’t the only talented
parrot at our zoo. We actively train Alex and Casper (cockatoos), Cricket (caique),
and Pico and Sammy (macaws) as well.
 Of course,
the parrots are a colorful bunch, but like I said before, we’ve got a lot of
different kinds of birds at the Lake Superior Zoo. This means we also have a
lot of different training styles. For instance, you don’t train a parrot the
same way as you train a raptor (bird of prey). There are different goals,
expectations, and methods used to fully benefit the birds during their
trainings. Our raptors are a special case. Most of them are rehabilitated or
have been brought to us from less than ideal circumstances, and the differences
between the species are very prominent. This means that their training has to
be specialized in order to best suit the characteristics of each individual
bird. One big difference between parrot and raptor training is the use of equipment
such as jesses (ties on their feet) and gloves. These accessories are used to
protect both the trainer and the bird, as well as better control the training
session. One of the main goals in raptor training is education. For instance,
our Education department staff are able to work with Bu, the Eastern Screech
Owl, Lady, the Red-tailed Hawk, and Aries, the American Kestrel, in order to
teach people about the biology and characteristics of birds of prey. Through
training, our staff are also able to construct relationships that ease tension
and anxiety when it comes to handling. This allows for easier check-ups and
safe, educational opportunities.
Now that
we’ve touched on the two best known types of training, let’s approach something
different. Did you know that in addition to our parrots and birds of prey, we
also train our kookaburras and crow? If you’re looking to see something a
little different from a bird training, these are a definite must. What’s so
different about a kookaburra training, you ask? Well you see, while our parrots
and raptors are trained to stay still with perches and special equipment, the
kookaburras are fully flighted birds. Their trainer, James, trains them
in their exhibit. The majority of their sessions consist of target training and
relationship building,
which helps to direct the birds around their exhibit and get them accustomed to
having a person in their space. This is an extreme benefit to both bird and
trainer and serves as a huge advantage in case of emergencies. Corbin, our
crow, has a similar training model, though due to being hit by a car, he is no
longer able to fly. Being a wild-born bird, Corbin is still not used to people.
However, being that he can’t fly, he is unable to be re-released into the wild.
Therefore, as part of his rehabilitation, Corbin works with his trainer,
Jessica, in order to acclimate himself to guests. He also works with target
training and perch movement. This benefits both his health and his livelihood.
 It’s easy to see why we have so many shameless bird fanatics
throughout our staff, and I may be biased, but I mean it when I say that we do
have the best birds in town. On a personal note, I’ve been professionally
involved with this zoo for almost ten years, and before writing this blog, I
watched five different bird
trainings. Let me tell you, even after all this time, they are still
incredible. Watching the birds demonstrate their intelligence is amazing, and
seeing the relationships between bird and trainer is remarkable—especially that
heartwarming look of pride after a successful session. But don’t take my word
for it. Come see what has our feathers so ruffled. Each training is different
and special, and we want you to see why we are so passionate. Our “Oh Fur Fun”
animal enrichment schedule changes monthly, but for January-March, you can
catch parrot trainings every Wednesday and Sunday at 12:00 and kookaburra
trainings every Wednesday at 2:00! If you’re looking to see something
featuring Corbin the crow or one of our birds of prey, we encourage you to give
us a call! We are more than happy to organize zoomobiles and training sessions
through our Education and animal care departments. So on your next visit, I
encourage you to spend a little extra time with our birds. Get to know them;
maybe have a little chat. I guarantee that before long, you’ll agree with us
when we say that bird training is nothing to “bawk” at.
posted by Keely Johnson
at
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August 16, 2013 at 8:03 AM
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