Chris Brio too far? Bring him to the East Coast!

So depressed. I've been looking forward to doing a free flight class with Chris this coming spring/summer. Then I did the calculations for time I need off and realized its a 36 hour trip one way, 2 day class, then a 5 day class, and another 36 hour drive home. So I'd be out of work for almost 2 weeks! Pus out a good couple grand. We cant fly because I don't feel comfortable putting Erin in the back of a plane. Also we'd have to rent a car upon landing and being my hubby is only 21 and I will be 20 then there wont be many places to rent to us at our young age.

I was so looking forward to his class. The mountains would've been gorgeous. To teach Erin to really fly would be breathtaking.

So, I had a proposal. Does any one on the East coast want to join in on a free- flight class with Chris Brio? I spoke with him a few months ago and he said if he was too far he could fly out, but only if there are others with interest in this. For both classes per person (according to his website libertywings.com) it'd be $850. That's the 2 day in class seminar and the 5 day hands on class. It'd be a great idea for next summer ! What's everyone's input?

Oh I am putting up this on various states on the East Coast Craigslist

I would be interested in the training prospect but not actually free fighting my birds.
I definitely would be using harnesses on them if that's what I'm up to at that point.
I also know how he feels about harnesses too :/

I really couldn't make a commitment right now though.....wish I could though..
Does he allow for auditors ?
Where would we be doing this anyway ?

Wish this was in Australia I would've loved to go

Well depending on where the majority of people interested are it would be near there, but probably some where along the coastline, I assume. I have only gotten 2 other responses- one who laughed at the price on Chris' website for the two classes ($850) and another who is interested. So there's def. me, my hubby, and the other person so that makes 3

Just talked to Chris he said he could probable audit you for letting you hang over to see course 2, but not for course 1 because its just a basic 2 day class about taking care of your bird and teaching it the basics of everything. He's going to figure some stuff out and give me a call back. He says 3-5 people should be enough interest for him to come out, which my hubby and I are 2, and then I have 2 more interested via Craigslist. SO we should be set!!!!! We still have to pick a place to host this at where he can learn the area and that's appropriate to fly the birds in at a learning pace, like in Moab.

what part of east coast are you from. im in indiana

PA. but there are others too. the place I'm expecting is to be more near the the coastline, instead of the middle or the US or the West. If you know somewhere near you or in Indiana that has various terrains for free flight. I doubt it will be close to wher I am,a s I don't know of any good free flight areas

Thanks for getting the info Mara
I would be interested in auditing both though. But if that is what he offers , how much ? Why not allow both to be audited , some people may be interested in the care part of it , I know I would be....
I just think he is a little over priced for people just beginning free flight .
IMO , he should make it accessible for just about everyone. I don't mean give away his knowledge , because we both know that story , but $850 is quite expensive plus the travel some people will have to take and lodging , food, etc..
If the price included lodging , food end the rest , it would be doable by losts more people and in the end ,it would bring him more students.
And, We don't even know where we would be doing this and if we find suitable place.
I have gone to many seminars and had working spots with my dogs and horse
and never had to cough up that much money for a three day course.
He is a bit over pricing himself ,IMHO.
I'm not arguing with you honey , just stating my opinion.
I think I was the one. Wo told you about him , lolol. And I love his website , videos and methods but I just can't justify the price.
Who can toss about that much money nowadays ? I cans see a couple of hundred maybe , but not close to a thousand dollars just for the seminar .

BTW , I have access to beautiful land that should be acceptable to Chris for this seminar. We have Turkey Vultures here and of course hawks in general but that is everywhere . Just thought I would throw that out there.

i think the best place would be TN. by the mountains

He has to look at airfare to get your cost. He doesn't want you audit the course 1 because that could be useful to you, like other, so you'd have to pay. The price is expensive but I've heard that other company (they he wont name) charges thousands, so it is cheaper, but still expensive IMO, but its practically a monopoly. Now the $850 if we were to drive to Moab UT includes some meals (not all), but that's the only thing he was to provide.

What land are you speaking off? What's it like?

Mara , does Chris plan on covering all levels or just what the majority of people show interest in. If many people who are beginners and plan on attending , then he gets a large number of advanced free flighters to attend , there is going to be many bored or many overwhelmed people there who spent a lot of money.

I just think it should be either catered to a beginner , intermediate or advanced group. I doubt very much he can interpret all levels of FF in such a short time.
And if his first couple of days is care of the birds , I just don't see it happening.

Unless I'm mistaken about the content of his seminars...

MacawGuy are you interested? And is there some one in particular you had in mind? TN is 10 hrs from my new place in PA, but parrot Mountain is there and I wouldnt mind going there to see the parrots and possibly come home with a new birdie

I was under the impression that this would be a seminar for beginners...
It's multiple flat open fields. Something I thought would be good for beginner birds ad their parronts. I cant help with the mountainous part of his work , lolol.

Well the first 2 days I heard are power point deomonstrations that are later shown that day in person for demonstration. tHe next 5 days he teaches free flight. He advances 1 level each day I believe. Here is what a customer said happened with thier 7 day classes:

"The first two days were devoted to classroom presentations that covered the science behind the method of training that Chris has developed. It is sound methodology as it works with the systems that nature has evolved to give the birds every chance at success (IMHO).

After each days presentation we were taken to various sites to observe what we had been learning, several of Chris’ veteran birds were put into practice in order to illustrate the various types of experience a bird needs to ensure safe return in the varying levels.

The levels are listed as 1-5 for humans, level one is a wide open field with no obstructions for at least a 1/4 mile in every direction and easy access to the terrain, level 2 is similar but with a little gradient to the terrain, level 3 has more terrain for the birds to interact with but you still have good visibility and reasonable access in the event of a fly off. Level 4 has greatly varied terrain and the bird can get out of sight and recovery can be difficult but not impossible. Level 5 has extreme variance in terrain, the birds can get way out of sight and human access can be just about impossible, level 5 is for very advanced birds with excellent recall skills and very steady behavior.

Having Chris and Susan demonstrate the various levels and explain the importance of the birds mastering each level before progressing to the next really helps establish the criteria for setting your bird up for success. The ability for the bird to advance and retreat at his own pace was greatly emphasized.

Moab itself is a gorgeous place, it is wild, unspoiled and interesting on so many levels. People go there from all over the world to sight see, river raft, skydive, mountain bike, hike, rock climb and numerous other activities. There are fossilized dinosaur tracks as well as fantastic geological formations and interesting deposits and erosion activity. Just an awe inspiring place.

By the third day we were ready to fly our birds, there was a couple there that had two young Macaws that had never flown outdoors, they had some indoor flying experience in a covered basketball court and under watching them take their first flights was really incredible. They were set up for success and there were no mishaps, the conditions were perfect and the birds must have had their confidence bolstered by being in the right conditions at the right stage of development. It was a great thing to witness and over the next couple of days they progressed to flying in some level 3 areas, I suspect those birds will become very capable fliers if the owner keeps up the good work.

My bird did not have much interest in flying at the level 1 location, I think that being in the wide open area while it was quite warm (mid 90s) just didn’t enthuse him. When we got back up to the ranch I told Chris that I thought my bird would like to fly around his property, there was a bit of a breeze, plenty of trees, varied terrain and most of the “safety features” he has become accustomed to.
Once he started flying around the property you could really see him come to life, he was flying with some of the resident Macaws and really enjoying himself.

The next few days were spent flying in the mornings, going back to the ranch to have lunch and watch the days video footage as well as view the still action pictures on a big screen tv. Chris and Susan both have a great deal of experience photographing and video taping birds in flight, it added so much to the experience. To be able to have a discussion and watch reference material did wonders to help explain the written material and power point presentation we had previously studied. I can’t emphasize enough what great photographers and videographers they are.

By the morning of the 4th day of field work we were able to have Cecil flying some level 4 terrain, I was down in a canyon and would send him off, he would disappear from view up over the canyon walls and I could hear him call from off in the distance, once I called for him he had no trouble coming to find me, what a great feeling. I think the exercises we had been doing on the bicycle really made this a natural transition for him. I was quite proud of him, he was very well conditioned and even working at the altitude of the high mountain desert he was never winded.

The final day we took some warm up flights at a very nice level 3-4 location that we had flown the previous evening, then it was off to hike up onto rock outcropping that overlooked the valley. Considered level 4-4 1/2, we spent a couple of hours up there and Cecil really had fun interacting with the terrain and flocking with the other birds. It was unseasonably warm but because of where we were there was a nice breeze and great views. We saw a huge flock of numerous (close to 200 birds) different raptor species, they were riding the thermals and swarming then taking off in a single file line, a few minutes later another group appeared and did the same thing. Susan used her cell phone and got a hold of a raptor expert, we found out that the behavior is called “kettling” and it is a migratory phenomenon where the birds see the thermals (much the same way that we see the heat waves rising from asphalt on a very hot day) and use them to get lift before flying further on their route, what a great treat. We had 6 birds out on the rock and not one of them made a sound despite there being several species of hawks, some eagles, vultures and ravens in the mix, it was wild, something I’m not likely to ever witness again.

We stayed up on the rock for a while longer and just enjoyed the tail end of what had been a great week, my bird was spending more time in the air than the others and just doing some great flying, he was soaring and jinking and taking advantage of the extra lift the breezes were providing, just a picture perfect ending to a great trip. We went back to the ranch and watched the video and pictures from the mornings outing. It was time to get on the road and I had a very long drive ahead of me, we said our goodbyes and off I went."

I'm not sure how he does it. But it seems geared to beginners because they start with the basic class, and then simple flying (almost empty feild). Plus I told him that Erin does not fly adn doesn't want to fly (it's since them changed to whereshe tolerates flying and will do so on command but only 5 ft, but I have not updated him on that) and he said that we could enroll but she wouldn't be the best candidate.

I saw an ad on CL today for a free flight class. OMG it is $850!!! Is this one you are talking about or is it a scam

thats mine

Lmao. :d:d

Ive got about 12 people interested. 6 are definite and the other half want to know the price befire commiting but no where will accept us for flight due to it being a private class or because of the fear of parrots flyig all over

I too have been trying to see about participating in Chris's classes, unfortunately the cost of travel, hotel, shipping, etc. makes this next to impossible for me to do on top of the class fee. HOWEVER if he were to offer his programs closer I would find a way to make it work. I would be very interested to here how this pans out.