Training birds to return to you is a rewarding experience that strengthens the bond between you and your feathered companion. It’s not just about a trick; it’s about building trust and clear communication. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, turning your bird into a reliable returner.
Understanding Bird Behavior and Motivation
Before we dive into the training, it’s crucial to understand what makes birds tick. Birds are intelligent creatures, highly motivated by positive reinforcement, primarily food. They also respond to social interaction and a sense of security. When training a bird to fly back, we’re essentially teaching them that your presence, and specifically your call, signals a positive outcome – usually a tasty reward. This makes them more likely to heed your call, even from a distance.
Birds are more likely to respond to recall training if they associate your presence with safety and good things.
Step-by-Step Training Process
1. Building a Strong Foundation: Socialization and Trust
The very first step is to ensure your bird is comfortable with you. Spend ample time with your bird, offering gentle interaction and hand-feeding treats. This builds trust and makes your bird see you as a provider of good things. If your bird is already flighted and comfortable in its environment, this is even more crucial.
2. Initial Recall Training: Short Distances
Start indoors in a safe, enclosed space with no distractions.
- Choose a Reward: Select a high-value treat your bird absolutely loves – a favorite seed, a small piece of fruit, or a specialized bird treat.
- The Call: Decide on a consistent, clear call. This could be a whistle, a specific word, or a clicker sound. Whatever you choose, stick with it.
- Proximity: Stand a few feet away from your bird.
- Call and Reward: Say your chosen call clearly and immediately offer the treat. If your bird moves towards you, even a single step, praise it enthusiastically and give the treat.
- Repeat: Do this for short, frequent sessions (5-10 minutes) several times a day. Always end on a positive note.
3. Gradually Increasing Distance
Once your bird reliably comes to you from a short distance, start increasing the space between you.
- Incremental Steps: Move back a few more feet at a time. Call your bird, and if it comes, reward it.
- Vary Locations: Practice in different rooms of your house to generalize the behavior.
4. Introducing Flight into the Recall
When your bird is consistently flying short distances to you indoors, you can begin encouraging flight.
- Encourage Movement: Hold the treat slightly above your head or a short distance away, encouraging your bird to take a short flight to reach it.
- The Call: As your bird begins to move, use your recall cue. Reward it upon landing and accepting the treat.
- Longer Flights: Gradually increase the distance, always ensuring the environment is safe.
5. Outdoor Recall Training (with extreme caution)
This is the most advanced stage and requires significant preparation and safety measures. It’s crucial to ensure your bird has a strong recall before even considering outdoor training.
- Secure Environment: Start in a fully enclosed outdoor aviary or a very safe, large, familiar outdoor space. Never let a bird out of your direct supervision.
- Begin Indoors First: Make sure the bird can reliably fly back to you from across a large room before attempting outdoors.
- Controlled Environment: If you have a large, enclosed garden, this is a good place to start. Call your bird, and if it comes, reward it.
- Familiarization: Allow your bird to explore the new environment while you are present and visible.
- Backup Plan: Always have a way to secure your bird if it becomes distressed or flies away unexpectedly.
Important Considerations for Outdoor Training:
- Predators: Be aware of natural predators like cats, hawks, and other birds of prey.
- Weather: Avoid training in extreme weather conditions.
- Traffic: Never practice near roads or other hazards.
- Legality: Be aware of any local regulations regarding free-flying birds.
Addressing Common Challenges
My bird flies away instead of coming to me.
This usually means the bird is not yet sufficiently motivated by the reward, or the distance is too great. Go back to shorter distances and use higher-value treats. Ensure there are no competing attractions (like toys or other birds) when you are training.
My bird only comes when it sees the treat.
This is common. The goal is to have the bird associate the call with the reward, not just the sight of it. Gradually delay showing the treat by a second or two after the call, and only present it once the bird has responded to the call itself.
My bird gets distracted easily.
Start training in a quiet, familiar environment with minimal distractions. As training progresses, you can slowly introduce mild distractions, always pairing them with a successful recall and reward.
The Long-Term Commitment: Maintaining the Skill
Recall is a skill that needs to be maintained. Continue to practice regularly, even after your bird has mastered it. Keep rewards exciting by varying the treats. This ensures your bird remains responsive and eager to return to you, solidifying the incredible bond you’ve built. This process is similar to how messengers are trained to return to their handlers.
Beyond Recall: The Joy of a Bonded Bird
Training your bird to fly back to you is more than just a trick; it’s a testament to the trust and understanding you’ve cultivated. It opens up a world of safe, supervised exploration and enhances the richness of your relationship. Remember, patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are your greatest tools in this journey. It’s a shared adventure, and the rewards are immeasurable.
