If we can read body language, we can prevent unwanted behaviors before they happen. Susan Friedman PhD Keep in mind that we cannot interpreted body language, we can only read it. I have found that when people try to interpret body language they are often wrong. For example a bird is lunging with open mouth and has his feathers raised and squawking loudly. The owners were terrified of their bird, the vet they took the bird too did not know what was wrong with it. They called me in desperation. At first the bird sounds like he is trying to chase the people away. As I asked detail questions it became apparent the bird was hungry. It was a baby and was not yet completely weaned. As the bird got hungrier he tried even harder to convey that he needed food. This is similar to a dog showing his teeth. Is the dog bearing his teeth or is he smiling. Some species of parrots are harder to read than others. Birds eyes pin and dilate as an expression of some sort of excitement and this can often indicate that the bird is about to bite. However, if the bird has dark eyes, then, one aspect of body language that is lost to us. Dark eyed birds are often accused of suddenly biting without warning. If you have a dark eye bird, think about a sensation you can feel but not see. If you are holding any parrot and you feel the birds feet tighten on your arm odds are good that the bird is stressed. Whatever, your doing STOP. If someone is moving towards you, ask them to retreat. Put the bird down as quickly as possible to avoid getting bitten. Most, but not all, birds will tighten their grip with their feet whenever they encounter something that is highly to moderately aversive. Whenever you pickup any bird remain in place for a moment and observe the bird. Use your senses of sight, sound and touch. Give the bird the opportunity to escape from your arm. When you are convinced that the bird is calm then you can begin moving. This will depend on how familiar you are with the individual bird. If you do not give the bird a way out of a situation that the bird finds aversive, you increase the likelihood that the bird will reach down and bite you.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 18:42:24 +0000
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