Sally Blanchard's Companion Parrot Handbook: Using Nurturing Guidance to Create the Best Companion Parrot Possible: Aka, the Happy Bappy Fun Book - Softcover

Blanchard, Sally

Softcover

ISBN 10: 096712980X ISBN 13: 9780967129808

Publisher: Pet Bird Report, 1999

Synopsis

The Companion Parrot Handbook is a remarkably complete, up-to-date guide for the parrot owner, including information on everything from the fundamentals of successful parrot keeping to valuable advice on preventing and solving behavioral problems. A sampling of topics covered include choosing a parrot, skills to teach a parrot, converting parrots to a healthier diet, what to do if a parrot flies away, and how to travel with a parrot. Ms. Blanchard provides excellent guidance, gained from over 20 years as an avian behavior consultant, regarding basic behavioral concepts and the methods that can be used to live long and happily with a companion parrot. Specifically, her information and techniques serve to build trust between parrots and their owners. Illustrations, done by both Sally Blanchard and Jeff Riebe, serve to help create an exceptionally humorous and insightful publication. This book is written so that it can be read in one of two ways. It can be read from start to finish or used as a reference to look up specific topics, such as "First Aid for Broken Blood Feathers", "Towel Training", or "Excessive Screaming". It is a "must have" for anyone who has a parrot in the home or who may be thinking of adopting a first parrot.

About this title

About the Author

Sally Blanchard's name is one of the most well recognized among parrot lovers. This reputation is well deserved, for her contributions to our body of knowledge about the proper care and behavior of companion parrots have revolutionized our theories of how to live successfully and happily with our household birds. Early in her life, Sally combined her fascination with birds and her artistic abilities when she developed a career as a bird sculptor. As her focus shifted gradually to exotic birds, she made the transition into a full-time career working with parrots. Her first articles appeared in Bird Talk magazine in 1988. In 1991, she established the Pet Bird Information Council, Inc. and began publishing the "Pet Bird Report: The Companion Parrot Magazine". Since then, the PBR has provided parrot owners with the most current information on what it's really like to have parrots as day-to-day companions and how to do so successfully. For over two decades, Sally Blanchard's work with parrot behavior has shaped thinking, spurred debate and served to raise the standards for their keeping. Her approach to this has always been unique, as she encourages parrot owners to view their birds as sentient companions and to understand their roles as parrot caregivers. She was the first to emphasize the need to base all principles and practices on building trust between parrot and caregiver. Her information consistently inspires happier relationships between people and their parrots. Today, Sally shares her home in Alameda, California with several companion parrots, three dogs and two cats. She continues to publish the Pet Bird Report magazine and work as an avian behavior consultant. She is also currently working on other parrot-related books, one concerning the different parrot personality profiles, and the second focusing on African Greys.

From the Back Cover

"Are parrots complicated human companions? Not if you set a foundation of Nurturing Guidance. Sally Blanchard's Companion Parrot Handbook not only tells you what to do but also tells you why and how!"

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"By the time your parrot is a year old, you will have ample evidence to determine whether or not you have actually established a positive behavioral foundation. No matter how much we want our young parrots to stay bappies forever, they do grow up. However, because of their dependence on us, their maturation process can be confusing to both themselves and the people in their lives. Balance is the key to their success - we guide their maturation so they stay tame and sweet without an emotional dependence on us. They need to welcome our company and attentions yet still know how to keep themselves stimulated and entertained when we are not available for them. We must allow our companion parrots to grow up but not away from us. The more consistent and nurturing our handling is, the more positive the bond will be. For most parrots, allopreening (or mutual preening) helps maintain a strong pair bond. Petting, skritching, gentling exercises, and nurturing towel cuddling are important ways to keep parrots tame to their human flocks. Sometimes, people get lazy or become too busy for their parrots and may not continue the positive interactions which guarantee a lifelong tame companion. Preventing behavior problems is easier than solving problems. Consistent positive daily interaction and focused attention make parrots wonderful lifelong companions."

"Strong bonds between parrots and humans are based on mutual trust. In working with our companion parrots, the most important consideration is whether or not what we do will be trust-building or trust-destroying. The majority of punishment techniques used with parrots are trust-destroying. Quick-fix or aggressive discipline are generally ineffective anyway because parrots do not have the cause-and-effect logic to understand them."

Edition details

• Publisher: Pet Bird Report
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 096712980X
• ISBN 13: 9780967129808
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 241