(under construction)
A relaxed and happy Sunshine
As cute as Sunshine is, he can be moody. Sometimes when it’s “past his bedtime”* and he’s out of his cage, I’ll suddenly be on the receiving end of a charge, a crazy stare, scary pose or attack! His choice.
I decided it would be worthwhile to take photos of these “events” (read: warning signs), then name and post them here for your benefit. Pretend these photos are like those study/flash cards your mom used to teach you math. Memorize these poses, and learn from the safety of your own sofa!
Sunshine gets a lot of attention and exercise, but it isn’t enough to dissipate his energy and hormonal tsunami surges. Something in his weird cockatoo brain just seems to go off every so often, and when it happens, it’s as fast as lightning. Because of this, I am constantly reading his cues when he’s out and about. Yes, I LEARNED THE HARD WAY that I need to pay attention to these little warnings. I have a tough looking scar on my chin and neck as a reminder.
A bite can come so swiftly and so loudly that is startles the daylights out of a person! TRY HARD to stay calm and collected if you do receive a bite (deep yoga cleansing breath?). Then move away from the bird, (but don’t leave the room — you don’t want him to think he just won something) so you don’t react with the incredible anger/rage/hurt/adrenaline rush you’re feeling. I usually cry when it happens because it HURTS and is invariably bloody and messy. As soon as I can, I vocalize my disappointment to the offending bird, avoiding direct eye contact with him. He will usually just sits there acting calmly, as if nothing has happened. After Sunshine bit me, he said “‘love you, Karin.” Welcome to the word of parrots!
Anyway, enough talk… let’s get started!
xxxx
xxxx
Predictable Unpredictability!
My cockatoo Baby also bites, but rarely, and it occurs mostly during cockatoo breeding season (more on that later). I have much more trust with Baby. That being said, Baby recently launched an attack on my husband…who decided then and there that he needed to keep a permanent and safe distance from ALL the parrots in our household! I am fortunate to have a tolerant spouse because the birds seem to think I’m theirs alone.
I think you’re getting my point that this blog is about the subtle art of reading a cockatoo’s body language. Study my pictures to help you learn what I have learned the hard way. It would be great to always be able to react to a moody cockatoo in a way that would deflect the bad behavior buildup and strike, but it isn’t always possible.
But a sharp eye and calm demeanor can work to keep an “event” from reoccurring in the future. Remember, your bird’s pent-up frustration, energy, boredom or anger must come out when he’s feeling it, and it will somehow, with a nod to Newton’s first law of motion. It might be in the form of screaming, or it might be in the form of a bite. This is why exercise combined with proper rest is so important for your bird.
In a Nutshell:
Final warning — if you see your cockatoo making any of the moves shown above, beware! Again, cockatoo bites can be deep, bloody and throbbingly unpleasant. Be sure to get a tetanus shot if you live with cockatoos, for it’s a sure thing you’ll be bit at on
e point in your relationship. Sometimes, a bite will occur seemingly without any warning.
By the way, scars left by a cockatoo on human skin are shaped like little triangles (think: tip of beak = triangle scar), and they appear to be permanent. I have some 10-year-old scars on my wrists and palms, thanks to Baby. Click on the photo of my wrist. You can see one of many scars!
Here’s a great link I just found on cockatoo agression, by Sam Foster.
* My birds do get at least 11 hours of sleep a night in their bird room…perhaps Sunshine gets worn out from playing so hard.
ricobird 