Sharing another side of us!
Added 2023-04-03 01:00:01 +0000 UTCThis was prompted by your comments! Here's our latest experience in our journey of growth.
Comments
This is such a thoughtful answer, thank you! I was so curious, and I know that philosophically you are really aligned with them, so I really appreciate hearing your thoughts on how complex this particular challenge is. :) Thank you Jamie!
Chelsea Lang
2024-06-09 20:05:14 +0000 UTCSo this is a tricky question to answer because there’s so much out of the trainer’s control in this environment. They can’t keep the attendees from giving human food so they limit socialization (the birds are not cuddly, do not receive petting or bonding with their trainers so that they remain neutral and don’t look to humans for interaction so that they avoid making human contact)… They use super high value reinforcers because they want the birds to come back to the aviary but there may be higher value ones in the park environment (is their buddy in the bird show? Is freedom to do whatever winning today? Do they want to hang out longer in the park with a pal (social bonding)? Etc…) If they increase motivation for food they might run into a bird that looks for leftovers from the park and develops a bad habit that other birds learn by watching! So I think it’s about weighing the pros and cons to what could happen… it’s a tough one!
BirdTricks
2024-06-09 17:57:21 +0000 UTCThis was so cool to rewatch after seeing the macaws live at Disney this week! I was thinking of you the entire time. BTW I'd love a podcast-style episode with Glen -- that sounds amazing. One of the things that really struck me seeing these birds in person is the extent to which they are using permission-based training. One of the military macaws from Winged Encounters decided to go off course and hang out instead in the rafters of the OTHER bird show at Disney that's inside of a pavilion, and just try to tear apart a junction box up there during the entire half-hour show. They had trainers with eyes on her, and I'm pretty sure after the show they used a banana to lure her down. It actually made me wonder about the behind the scenes video you posted. In the video they were providing super high-value rewards in the aviary like grapes. And out in the crowd portion, they were offering whole peanuts for them to dig into. With shows like this, where the birds are out free flying in a busy park (filled with hawks and other potential dangers), multiple times a day, do these super high value treats just make more sense for everyone's safety? Or like in your NEI video with Magnolia, do you think there's actually room to get even more out of the birds if the treats were broken up further so they wouldn't fill up so fast?
Chelsea Lang
2024-06-08 15:30:30 +0000 UTCSomething to consider as travel and lodging are expensive. Hotel costs are usually much less expensive on Sundays thru Thursdays. Flight costs are usually cheaper mid week than on or around the weekend.
Beckie Child
2023-04-13 19:07:12 +0000 UTCI love this! Dave is so right when he talks about bridging the gap. I follow some of the trainers and avian experts who do everything and explain everything with science. The reason I love you all so much is because you train the exact same way but you make it applicable to everyone so it’s so much easier to understand and implement.
Melanie Jones
2023-04-07 15:07:04 +0000 UTCFirst, LOVE this video! Thank you as always for sharing so open & honestly. IMO it's precisely this genuine vulnerability in putting yourselves out there that develops deep trust with your audience, people feel drawn to learn from you, and speaks to why you've been so successful in life + all things bird business. More of videos like this please :) Second, Jamie if it's any consolation: everything you were describing about "the monsters in your head" sounds like a classic case of "imposter syndrome" to me, which I can certainly relate to and is SUPER common even amongst those WITH the fancy certifications. As someone who's spent (perhaps too much) time in academia, I can 100% guarantee you that many more people at that conference suffer(ed) from exactly the same voices in their heads... you'd just never know it because we can only experience our internal realities. If I had to put money on it, I bet Amy said 1000 times that you should hang out because #1 you guys are undeniably awesome, and #2 it's clear that BirdTricks has a special sauce that no one else quite has—and because you took an unconventional path by letting the birds be your teachers, now others want to learn as much as then can about that unique intuition from YOU! I couldn't agree more that the lifetime of experience you guys have between you is way more valuable than any degree... besides, PhD really just stands for Permanent Head Damage ;-) I am so thrilled to hear you're open to continuing to engage more with the academic community. I think there is so much insight they can gain from you and vice versa. One idea that came to mind re: presenting at next year's IAATE... perhaps out of scope, but I think it's something ONLY you guys could bring to the table: You've interacted with so many people all over the world by now and I often hear you say that you're not really training the birds so much as training the *humans* to learn to read their birds right. What if your "paper" topic were actually people-focused, describing a summary or framework for identifying common pitfalls people tend to fall into based on faulty thinking that needs to be overcome to set themselves up for success training their bird? I feel like you guys could bring a unique perspective with what you've observed about human psychology and how that relates to breakthroughs in bird training—just a thought. As a science nerd myself, I would absolutely fly to Florida for a BirdTricks-hosted event and think attending a seminar by you guys would be amazing! Lastly, Dave I just want to say that taking the flight course (twice) has not only transformed life with our birds, but has even helped me immensely as a manager at work too. I'll never forget the first time one of my associates was panicking about something, and I used the same line you said to make me feel at ease with Kiwi & Tiki's journey, "it's MY job to worry about those things..." and it made such a huge difference. So your reach in all your lessons is far greater than you can imagine. No amount of school can teach you how to do that. It's just in your bones as wonderfully talented human beings, so please don't ever change your approach to the great things you guys do. Thanks for sharing it all with us!
Lauren Holder
2023-04-06 05:24:42 +0000 UTCI would love a workshop! I think a Friday-Sunday in florida would be a great little weekend getaway for a lot of people! I think something else that could be cool is if you could take a small group of people to observe a free flight trip. I only have small birds and couldn’t commit to a larger bird anytime soon but to be able to see a free flight trip would be a dream!
Madi Long
2023-04-04 01:58:06 +0000 UTCI would definitely come to a workshop! While I have a couple birds of my own, I also kind of fell into work with an avian rescue, and so your content, in so many forms, has really helped me with fostering and placing parrots in new homes -- and I am looking for more of that! I try not to be a total BT pusher, but I can't help it, and many of my newer foster families and adopters are now following BT and purchasing your tools as well. I will say that I am pretty "new" to birds and training (always had budgies growing up, but didn't come back to it for many years), and for most of the "old-timers" around me, they definitely see me as inexperienced and not as knowledgable as they are. However, these same individuals have not kept up with the science (and you are doing science!) and continue to make the same mistakes with the same outdated (and often dangerous) information. I have "won" a few of them over recently, when they get to see me working with birds, or giving suggestions that end up working with "problem" birds. So thank you -- even if you know how many followers or subscribers or customers you have, please also understand how much farther your reach truly goes.
Julie K
2023-04-03 20:03:10 +0000 UTCYou two certification or not have added so much my my knowledge so my birds are way better off. I am always so excited when I see a video come up even though I do not have many comments. Most of the time I have my AirPods on and I am working in the lanai or doing some sort of craft. I live in St Augustine Fl and it would be amazing for you guys to come here. We are empty nesters now so we have plenty of space for you and capri I am sure we could find a really cool place to host something. There is a rescue not too far away thatI could even approach to maybe collaborate.
Angie Meyers
2023-04-03 18:27:27 +0000 UTCI would love a worship. I think that having that time to not only learn from you guys but your team as well would be amazing. It is because of you guys that my vet has told me that I have the most well behaved and easy to handle birds that he has ever seen. He has even asked me if I would be willing to help some of his clients based on what I have learned from you guys.
FayK
2023-04-03 18:12:20 +0000 UTCLike learning from you in person, how cool would that be? I’d pee my pants from excitement I adore you two! 😂
Guy Goldstein K
2023-04-03 16:19:49 +0000 UTCI love hearing of your experience. It's always great to learn that the monsters are always bigger in our heads. It's a great lesson for children as well! I have always learned better hands on then from books its my way of learning so to me being book smart isn't everything. I would be all in for a conference with you guys! I would love to help and attend! I think you said it earlier that Tusa could be really helpful in teaching. I know you have to keep his safety in mind but can see where he could be incredibly helpful. Hope to hear more about this in the future.
Wendy Cottingham
2023-04-03 14:19:28 +0000 UTCYes!
Guy Goldstein K
2023-04-03 13:31:00 +0000 UTCSecond, I would love to attend to one of your masterclasses or workshops in the future, currently I don’t have the funds or the visa to travel to the USA (I am suspecting that getting a traveler visa will be very difficult because of my background), but it would definitely be a dream come true if I could hop on a flight and get to meet you guys and learn from you and your people. (If you do an online ticket, I’ll be happy to participate, yes it is not as efficient as learning hands on and sharing a space, but I think I’d love it any way.), if you ever come to Israel you let me know! (And if you ever do a tour in Europe location I’d consider traveling there in the future). I am all for it.
Guy Goldstein K
2023-04-03 13:29:13 +0000 UTCI have many many things to say, my best friend is on her way to me so I might need to pause and send in the middle of the comment and continue later in another one. First of all here is a bit about myself, I am 22 years old, I have a disability (C-PTSD) that makes me unable to currently work or participate academic stuff, I love animals and anything behavior. Watching you is my gateway to exercising my brain, and continue learning the things that sparks passion in me. Hopefully, continuing learning from you and other bird trainers that I adore, will be a good warm up for getting into work or ,ore formal learning. Today my mother asked me “well you’ve been a member of BirdTricks for so long, what new things they can teach you?” , I told her that I see so much value in learning from other trainers, from learning from their client’s experiences, from lear from your mistakes, from seeing how you develop over time, that is something really special about it that is well worth it- I appreciate you so much. It’s been wonderful.
Guy Goldstein K
2023-04-03 13:25:02 +0000 UTCYou two are amazing and should hold your heads high in any arena. When people put the time finances and dedication into earning those initials they put tremendous value on them as they rightfully should. It can be a hard bridge that gap with the self taught professionals. You two are the perfect ambassadors with your style and expertise in training. The bird world needs these two philosophies to work together for the good of all. So thank you both for taking on this huge challenge and for being just the right power couple to continue this work. The two of you have personally changed our life and enhanced our flocks life completely. Michell and I feel lucky to have you both in our lives. Also any time you guys want to come to the Keys for an in-home we could certainly use your help with the new set up. Time for that FLA tour. 😄 Life Is Good Mike
Michael St.Louis
2023-04-03 12:56:04 +0000 UTCIt was very cool to see Jinx and Ava so contentedly hanging out together. I wonder if pulling tails is anything like human boys pulling girls' pigtails. 😂
Holden Kendrick
2023-04-03 05:19:28 +0000 UTCA workshop is a great idea. Florida would be a great spot for the workshop, especially during the winter months. I don't know anything about event planning but I am very good at PowerPoint design. Thank you for sharing your experience at IAATE. I hope you both feel completely validated as expert parrot trainers. Nobody else is doing what you do for companion parrots at the level you are doing it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate BirdTricks as a resource.
Holden Kendrick
2023-04-03 05:15:09 +0000 UTCTotally agree! The proof is in the pudding! You guys have helped a lot of us. I have totally followed all of your advice for the year that I have found you! Keep doing what you do it's working!!!!!!!! Can't wait to meet you guys in June for that live help with our rescue who needs a little help. So we would love a workshop on the east coast and maybe possibly help.
Surie Jefferson
2023-04-03 04:02:57 +0000 UTCSometimes there is scary foreshadowing in a movie with music. When you went to the first conference (NEI) organized by Steve Martin the foreshadowing music was happy music when you met up in the elevator with participants who thought you were trainers at the conference❤️❤️❤️. I’m thinking Steve Martin should invite you to be trainers at his next conference! Now that you had a second positive experience at IAATE, please feel confident that you belong! You don’t need to prove yourself – many of the trainers and educators you met at both conferences admire and learn from you! I think you both should present papers at the next conference! Both of you have been educating us for years. Jamie was one of the earliest innovators and educators when she started sharing videos online and we have DVDs Dave made years ago. Who knows, maybe you’ll decide to collaborate with one of your new trainer friends on some research so you could learn from each other? I've enjoyed hearing about your experiences from both conferences and I would enjoy hearing stories from your trainer friend, Glen. You guys could definitely put on a conference!
J Matzner
2023-04-03 02:32:18 +0000 UTCLoved this video! A hearty yes on the animal behavior/training videos you were talking about!! As far as an on-site Birdtricks forum/educational event, I personally think a long weekend would be good, maybe Friday through Sunday? Do some sessions on everyone's specific areas of expertise. Diet, behavior modification, trick training, hormone avoidance, safe toys, home safety, etc...
Kelly Sanchez
2023-04-03 02:15:29 +0000 UTCI enjoyed seeing & hearing about everything you have done these past few years.
Greta Stamm
2023-04-03 01:52:29 +0000 UTC
