Parrot Forums - TalkParrots banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Hi from Shanlung

2K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  Bobioden 
#1 ·
Hi folks,

I am new in your forum having just came here and registered today.

Some of you might have known of us from other forums.

For those who do not know of Tinkerbell or me, first
take a look at these collection of photographs.




And village in Southen Taiwan, Kenting where she flew to me in force 7 crosswinds




And in ChiPeng


Each refresh of Tinkerbell main URL below will show more photos taken at random

http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

A love story of me and my Tinkerbell, a flighted Congo African Grey parrot CAG , as we roamed about the mountains and forests and cities of Taiwan. She loves to go riding with me on the motorbike as she sit on a perch on the handle bar.

Full details of that and more are in that webpage, together with URLs to the relevant folders of hundreds of photos. Without those photos, what I wrote will never be believed.

I lived with Tink from 2002 to end 2004 in Taiwan for three years. She was given to care of my friend when I could not take her with me. Since then, I returned every year to Taiwan for last 5 years to be with Tink again. The last visit was just a few weeks ago in Mar 2009.

I then lived in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East. A rescued CAG was given over to my care. I called her Riamfada. Riamfada was a hauntingly beautiful magical entity of David Gemmell, the finest fantasy writer in the world. A name befitting to this grey.


She came to me as a frightened ball of grey and with wings asymmetrically clipped.

Her story started here

http://shanlung.livejournal.com/2008/10/

Then we became good friends. And she got to understand her wings better.



Riamfada flying up to me on sand dune in Seifa beach in stiff cross winds.

Story in

http://shanlung.livejournal.com/94889.html




Riamfada flying to me above rampart of Nakhal castle
story in
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/97041.html

Eventually, we went on to do free flight. But free flight is not something I recommend to anyone else.



Buwah Free Flight 2 // Wadi Harban // Riamfada with Jabris again
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/111045.html

You can live with a flying parrot at home.
That is the legacy that Tinkerbell will like you to have
 
See less See more
5
#4 ·
welcome to the forum, your pictures are so beautiful. I can't wait to see more of you around here
 
#6 ·
Thank you folks,

I treat my birdies with the respect, courtesy and dignity due to fellow sentients of equal standing to me.

I like to think I gained a lot more my way, then by going the way so many others have been advocating, of being the alpha and self proclaimed leader.

They get bitten and chomped on and I am getting fun and acceptance from my birdies.
Give a thought for doing it this way too. You will get more happiness and magic with your birdies than you thought possible.
 
#7 ·
:welcome: to the forum. Your birds are beautiful and your stories very inspirational :) I dream of the day I can let my macaw fly free in the home and go out and do flights with her. However, today she did crush that a bit by flying off her playstand to attack a friend :rolleyes: Once I get a home of my own where we can both be comfortable, I plan on exploring free flight training and teaching her better what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are not. Until then, I will have to keep a light clip on her because if she attacks a family member, I will be forced to rehome her which is unacceptable for me
 
#8 ·
Jenny,

I am happy to hear of your long term aim for your macaw.
When you wrote free flight, I hope you meant flight as in the home or in safe enclosed space.

Try to find the time to read a summary of my life with Tinkerbell.
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/8284.html

You might find answers to questions that you have not even thought of.

If you are thinking in the future where you can allow your macaw to be flighted at home, try to read Tinkerbell Legacy - how to live with a flighted parrot at home. It spelled out the steps you need to take to create a safe home to protect against flight outside and what you need to do and prepare for.

That Tinkerbell Legacy start here
http://www.livejournal.com/users/shanlung/2005/02/


Free flights in the open is totally different. I hope you do not think I am hypocritical in doing free flights in the open while discouraging others from doing that.

But if you have gone into any of my writings when I did free flights, I always screamed out

FREE FLIGHT IS LIFE AND DEATH PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU DO KNOW.
NEVER EVER FREE FLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO LOSS AND DEATH OF YOUR BIRD.


You know in the parrot world , flighted or unflighted, there are no such alphahood. That seem to be something transplanted from the dog world.
Not that I really know as I never kept dog in my life.

In being with equal and friend, whether humans or birdie, for good true long term friendship, there must be certain rules to follow.
Bending over backward be it for human or bird is very unhealthy and detrimental for good true friendship.

Riamfada used to do flying lunges on my wife...ok, just one time. I was shocked and told Riam in no uncertain terms, both with voice and with anger flooding out from my heart. Parrots are empaths. Being hypocritcal with them with sweet voices or silence while your emotions burn like a nova in the heart is wrong and confusing. No more flying lunges from Riamfada after that, at least to my wife.

Unacceptable behaviours must be made known and clear to the other party as soon as it happened. That cannot and must not wait for a later time. Decoy or deflect bad unacceptable behaviours to acceptable norms. Learn to read them and understand them. That will be most important in anticipating bad behaviour and stop that from even starting. Try to find time later to read
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html

I saw that lunge coming when visiting Harry, but was too late to stop it. But caught by my wife in her camera. Hmm, and you might think of preparing the mash for you macaw too.

I wish you lots of fun and a good magical relationship with you macaw
 
#9 ·
Thank you, Shanlung. Yes, when I say free flight, I mean in my home in a bird safe space. I have also seen the aviator harness and flight lines for outdoor flights, and I think that's the only way I would fly her outside. As long as I'm in FL, I would never let her fly outside. There are too many hawks and birds of prey here in my area and I have personally seen someone's bird snatched off their shoulder by a hawk; it's not safe under any circumstance and I will not risk it, as much as it would make both myself and my macaw happy I'm sure.

Goober (my macaw) got intercepted when she flew at my friend, a firm hold on her feet so she could not take off again, and a very stern NO while looking her in the eye. She most definitely understands what I mean and what she's done wrong when I do it. I can see it in her eyes and in her face that she knows she's done wrong. However, like a little kid, sometimes she just has to try again :giggle: She did it twice and on the second time she got placed back in her cage and, after some time to cool off, given a favorite foot toy to beat up, throw around the cage, and shred so she could redirect and vent her frustration and anger on the toy as opposed to my friend's head. After that, she got to come out of the cage again and while she was shooting daggers at my friend when we were laughing or having "too much fun" in her mind, she didn't jump again. She's very smart and very receptive.
 
#11 ·
Solo,

:biggrin5: :biggrin5: :biggrin5:

Jenny,

The intelligence of hookbills is just awesome. The extent unknown to those who had not have them in their lives.

So Goober knew. You did very well to nip that immediately. As you said, they might try again, just to test the water. Some stuff just cannot be taught. I tried so hard to get Riamfada to like my wife, to fly to my wife but Riamfada had a mind of her own. I had to settle for her accepting my wife and no more flying lunges on her.

I found my vocabulary changed. I could not call humans I know with subnormal intelligence bird brain anymore as I do not wish to insult birds and parrots in particular.

I am happy you mis-spoke when you talked about free flight.

Let me do a small extract from below that make it clear.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=+1]Riamfada free flights in villa // And around neighbourhood
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/121070.html

[/SIZE][/FONT]Riamfada free flights in villa


more photos in flickr folder 'Riamfada free flights and around neighbourhood '
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/sets/72157625025249840/


Please do not do what you see me do.

FREE FLIGHT IS LIFE AND DEATH PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU DO KNOW.
NEVER EVER FREE FLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO LOSS AND DEATH OF YOUR BIRD.

I have been thinking. Of free flights with Riamfada. But the last few times when I thought of it, my dear wife screamed. She screamed and cried loud enough to frighten the wits out of me , or back into me , which ever way that you choose.

A parrot truely need not do any freeflights. Allowing him/her to fly inside your home made safe for that will give 95% of all the benefits from flying.

Allowing your parrot to fly in harness and leash, might add 4.9% more. But that being said, the sheer pleasure to you of taking your parrot outdoors with you and to fly cannot be imagined. If you have prepared yourself by first letting your parrot fly in semi free flight conditions (flying in big enclosed space eg gym or in big hall) , and then taking careful small steps outside in harness and short leash, that should be safe enough.

Long distance harnessed flights should be after you and your parrot thoroughly trained together, flying your parrot in head winds, tail winds, cross winds, shifty wind conditions, from high to low, and low to high.

Do not do free flights. That 0.1% benefit to your parrot is not worth the nightmare if things go wrong.

You know Riamfada had been on deliberate free flights.

Free flight is dangerous, extremely dangerous with any kind of parrot, and especially a grey.

Free flight might add 0.1% to the benefits of flight to your parrot. But the adrenaline rush to you is immense. That comes from living dangerously, knowing Murphy might just turn up.

I know with the coming departure, my mood might not be good. But I felt I could control that enough.

I also thought back to Riamfada flights with me. She clearly shown she could think on her wings. The videos of her turning back to my wife when she could not first find me was heartening. And of her flying and turning back to the wall , and then heading to me was heartening as well.

Pakistan again// more on mind & tofu // Dommie at Omer//kitties// Riamfada and 3 turns on dime
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/118669.html

Then that unscheduled free flight at the beach when that knot to that swivel joint unravelled and she did that glorious freeflight and returned to me had to be considered too.

Her spooking got even more controlled in the villa, just a short flight away before returning to me.

In the villa, Riamfada would so often fly to me uncalled, went back to her many perch to do her thing, and fly again to me. In all our walks in last couple of months, she never showed any desire to leave me. And if she decided on parroty jokes, how many more parroty jokes could she play on me. I decided I could accept her parroty jokes.

And she knew our neighbourhood so well now from all the neighbourhood walks we had done.

I decided to go on neighbourhood walks earlier today. I noticed the light faded too much by time we went out at 530pm. So today, we went out of the house at 5pm.

Riam was harnessed and leashed as we went around the mulberry bush.

Thoughts of free flight hit my mind. Hit it hard today 24 September.

I decided my wife screamed too much. Before she opened her mouth to scream, I premptively told her to shut up. Got her to hold the rod/reel. I then took the leash off Riamfada's harness.

I saw from corner of my eye my wife opened her mouth, as to scream. I told her screaming might well spook Riam, and to my satisfaction, saw her closing her mouth.

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=+1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]As you see, just allowing your birdie to fly at home will give your birdie almost all the benefits. You gain a bit more if you allowed your birdie to fly outside on harness. The risk of raptors have to be considered against the gain.

As to harness, perhaps you , or others here might like to see how I designed the harness. From as long back at 2002. And how my harness design given to the world was hijacked. Heck! even to the extent of using what I wrote in their initial launch.

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=+1]Tinkerbell Harness for Piper
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/104066.html

[/SIZE][/FONT]As to harness, perhaps you , or others here might like to see the details above.

In the other thread that I probably will not go back into, I mentioned the lovely Indian Ring Necks IRNs that used to fly to my sunflowers to eat those seeds. I love those IRNs. But I love my Riamfada more.

Here is a photo to show you how lovely that IRN was in my garden on my sunflower plant.



But the sunflower heads were meant for my Riamfada who enjoyed so much digging the seeds from the head.

 
#13 ·
Hi Shanlung! I'm also from Taiwan and just got a rainbow lorikeet yesterday. I have very little experience with birds, and the more I'm learning about hand feeding, weaning, and bird care in general, the more worried I am that if I do have a problem bigger than something friends on the forum can help me with (i.e. basic knowledge), who should I turn to in Taiwan? I don't trust all the vets here, either, and avian vets are few and far between.

I didn't even know how dangerous taking home a bird at 30-some days old would be.. the last bird I had was a baby cockatiel and the store sold him to me sick and with an infected joint without my knowing. Though I took him to the vet right away, the little guy didn't last past 3 days. Then I was told he passed only because he was already sick anyways, and that cockatiels are a hard breed for first-timers to have.. nothing was said about the fact that he shouldn't have been sold at so young an age.

So then I went out and bought my Nibbles, who is definitely a strong, adventurous, and curious bird. But we will start the weaning process soon, and I'm concerned about where to buy quality food for him, along with a cage, toys, and everything a pet bird would require. I'm in Taichung - do you know of any places that you would and would not recommend?
 
#14 ·
Hi Tiffani,

Nice to know you are from Taiwan, a country that I love with my heart.
I will be flying to Taiwan on 27 June to see my friends and to be with Tinkerbell yet again.

The exact details of my trip here
Tinkerbell -Summer of 2011 // Ivan and LiBai // LiBai voilational flights to me /
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/128061.html

I am sorry about your problems. I do hope Nibbles will do well with you giving care.
People may like to tell you having a baby bird is good and easier to bond with you.
Sadly that is a big lie and which lead to shops selling unweaned birds and hand raising of birds and you got caught by those lies.

Read a thread here in which I wrote more on how inappropriate it is to sell birds that are too young.
http://www.talkparrots.com/showthread.php?t=2196

I suggest you read
Understanding the mind of your grey and other parrots
http://www.talkparrots.com/showthread.php?t=2199 and go to the link in my livejournal

With above, even old birds, and caught from the wild, can be your very good friend as you can see from
http://www.talkparrots.com/showthread.php?t=2196

I left Taiwan 6 years ago. I do not known any vet then and I do not know anyone that I dare to recommend to you. I kept my Tinkerbell healthy with good food that I prepared for her. You can read about that here
Tinkerbell mash - the best food ever for your parrot

Sadly, that mash is not appropriate to Rainbow lorikeet. But seen how that mash is made might give you ideas for later.

Tinkerbell flew, and flying is so important to a bird to remain healthy. That way, I never need to see a vet.

Now you got Nibbles, do the best you can for him. Not your fault you have him. I wish you and Nibbles all the best.
 
#16 ·
Hi Tiffany,

I think you should be focused on keeping Nibbles alive and well first.
That must be your immediate priority and nothing else.

Do not get a baby bird ever in the future again.

That shop took advantage of your lack of knowledge and experience to sell that baby to you. Just like what I wrote about in the thread here in which I wrote on how inappropriate it is to sell birds that are too young.
http://www.talkparrots.com/showthread.php?t=2196

Not your fault.

There are just shameless people out there who want to take advantage of you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top