Free flight from aviary.

Ok. So I really like the idea of free flight. I've read so much about it regarding pet parrots and the needs and requirements, training etc.

BUT, can anyone help me with doing this from a aviary set up. We had a guy in the uk, his name is John strutt, and he learnt with budgies. He also free flew finches but also his flock consists of cockatiels, amazons, greys, galahs and macaws. He has since died but his birds still roam free from there aviary every day, even during winter in northern England.
There is also a guy on YouTube under the name of halctor. I don't understand what he says tho(different language) he flys alsorts. Conures, lovebirds, Alex's, etc etc.

So I know it can be done. What I want to know is HOW. whats the first step in trying?? I have a breed in mind. I have a aviary. I trust its not just suck it and see. If there is anyone in the uk on here that free flys like this please get in touch.

But ideas/experiences please. It's something I've always wanted to try, I just like to be armed with as much info as possible.

And no doom mongers please.... I know the risks


Thanks in advance.

What exactly do you mean? Are you wondering if parrots will return to their aviary like homing pigeons return to their cote/loft?

Susan over at liberty wings has a bundle of free flighted birds. If you are serious about FF Susan accepts regular visitors to her ranch to see the birds. You can YouTube "Chris Biro" to see the amazing flights the birds take out visit the websitehttp://www.libertywings.com

sodakat said:

What exactly do you mean? Are you wondering if parrots will return to their aviary like homing pigeons return to their cote/loft?

Click to expand...

I'm not wondering.. I know it can be done. I want to know how more than anything.

Like I said in my first post. Liberty wings,bird tricks and all the other trainers use pet birds, from in the home. I'm talking about having birds in a aviary and releasing them for periods of the day. I'm also in the UK, so can't go and see chris biro

I also know that people used to free fly flocks of Quakers from a aviary, I want to know how they do it.

Please have a look at halctor on YouTube to see what I mean. I just wish I understood what he was saying.


**also John strutt as I mentioned. His birds only every return to their aviary for food and sleep. For the rest of it they fly around his estate in northern England all day.

To be fair it really wasn't made clear who and what resources you were referring to, nor what exactly you wanted to do.

Now that it's clear though I think all you are really asking for is having a bird with a different lifestyle than the most of the ones out there. Right now there are no resources for this other than the people you mentioned. And yes sadly one of them is deceased.

Why would you want a bunch of birds roaming anyway? Are you going to buy half a dozen macaws just for this purpose?

Natural encounters in winter haven Florida does not use pet birds and they do release their macaws for daily, roaming flights around the property. But they promptly choose to come back in.

So what's the reason for wanting to know?

BACON said:

sodakat said:

What exactly do you mean? Are you wondering if parrots will return to their aviary like homing pigeons return to their cote/loft?

Click to expand...

I'm not wondering.. I know it can be done. I want to know how more than anything.

Like I said in my first post. Liberty wings,bird tricks and all the other trainers use pet birds, from in the home. I'm talking about having birds in a aviary and releasing them for periods of the day. I'm also in the UK, so can't go and see chris biro

I also know that people used to free fly flocks of Quakers from a aviary, I want to know how they do it.

Please have a look at halctor on YouTube to see what I mean. I just wish I understood what he was saying.


**also John strutt as I mentioned. His birds only every return to their aviary for food and sleep. For the rest of it they fly around his estate in northern England all day.

Click to expand...

You can translate any of his printed text using google translate. Example from one of his video introductions:

"Complete process of imprinting and conditioning dual for free flight without classical training a flock of Burrowing Parrots"

And from his website (translated):

For that, I started to drop the lovebirds to four years ago, I was stupendously what system I used is none other than the knowledge of their ethology and a little patience, routine and left hand. How it was going very well and what they and I would be undergoing at large, each time I had more, for a total of twenty-six.
The PENNAT rosella, is that it comes from fat, strong and sinvergonzona, fly every afternoon. With the nymphs to say, once calmed, for the first ten days was to fly, fly and fly, not knowing down, lol, when learned and already flew over head learned to lose the treetops and not take the infinite spaces as to the beast, and flew more sense, so until today. The big parrots Alejandras or eupatrias, total success, predictable, loving, intelligent, and SPECTACULAR on their flights. The Amazons are indoors volandillo and yet, with these people I go flying little calm because they are bad and I have no desire to an oversight, typical of youth, and that any stranger steal me. And barranqueritos growing and hope to do well with them, as are outrageous and curious and flying has to be a scene to see the group of them flying and paste contectos screams and communication.
The flypornis already a reality as a basis for following the same system used to condition other species, different from the five continents. If God wants this fall and will be six species flying in controlled freedom, flights in total freedom, without risk and without orders from me, they see themselves as they are ordered. I'm just a privileged spectator opens cages.
For all this, the blog is no longer called flypornis only, and has expanded to more parrots fly


I have corresponded with people who keep birds in other countries by using google translate after I type an email, then I send it to them, letting them know I have translated it in case they wonder why it might be a little off. I would guess he would correspond with you and answer questions. Most people love to share info about their birds!

Well I don't think I could of put it any clearer.

And no I'm not going to buy a flock of macaws for the purpose. If you read my post it included birds ranging from budgies and finches to macaws, it would seem it's possible with most birds.
I want to know how it's done.

Why do I want to do it?? Because I've always wanted to. Ever since I used to read about people letting their Quakers out when I was 10yrs old. It fascinated me. Also I bet the birds would love it, and I know they would be happy. It's as close as they could come to natural living.


I would use google translate but to be honest, I don't understand what's written in the post above so!!!


To be honest..... I think I might gets 2pairs of birds and try it.

Why not just know that birds are enjoying natural living in their natural habitat? If you are going to do this make sure the bird has absolutely no chance of reproducing in your area. None. I know that is unlikely in the UK but you do not want to be responsible for yet another feral population (remember those quakers you liked?).

Also check your laws as it could be illegal to knowingly release what is essentially a small population of an exotic species. It is here and you could get into a lot of hot water.

He is saying he imprinted the birds by pulling them from the nest and hand feeding them then he flew them when they were youngsters and came back to him (he was the food source after all).

I would not try this with the pairs you buy since they will not be dependent on you. You might be able to achieve it with their offspring. I also wouldn't try it with just a few birds beause birds in flocks are much safer than single birds who are easily picked off by hawks and eagles.

I have an outside aviary for my 10 Eclectus. Almost every day I see birds of prey circling overhead. I know how long my birds would last if I opened the door and let them fly into the woods surrounding my house. NOT LONG. I lost a CAG to the great outdoors in 2000 and it was horrible. I know she was probably killed.

It takes a strong bond for a bird to return to its owner. Hunger might bring them back to an aviary if they can find their way back but consider they can fly miles in a short time and in no time they can be far away from where they were released.

So many conditions have to be just right in order to achieve this.

Mare free flies Amigo, her cockatoo. He is very bonded to her so he stays close to her house. When the birds who might attack him migrate through her area, she brings him inside for a time. He is a big bird who is not too attractive to medium size hawks and so far he's been safe. He spends the night outside sleeping in a large tree.

I am not trying to be negative here, just realistic.

Thanks for your input guys, but I'm not continuing with this thread.

I'm not getting the info I need, so I'll continue my own research and go and visit the late John struts Eden farm, see their set up. Hopefully soon I'll be in a position to try.

Hi Bacon! My only input I could suggest is if you have two birds that get along well and want them to come back to an aviary, let that be the place for them to eat and sleep, also their main water source. Once they are established, say for a few weeks..let only one out at a time, the one that is most connected with you. I've never done this but to me it makes the most sense. I doubt that he/she will fly very far from where he knows and the other bird will keep contact with it's calls. Put him/her back in the aviary,with the other bird after awhile. Let her eat and get a drink, then do again. Once this bird is more aquainted with her surroundings, switch them up. Let the other bird out for awhile with the same procedures.

This is how I would do this, I'm not a professional but this is what makes sense to me. If you can visit someone that does this, please go check it out and let us know

I've thought about doing this with Amigo. There is a woman in Oregon that free flys her many cockatoos all at the same time and I was going to visit to see how she did it. Amigo is so closely bonded to me that #1 - I wouldn't want to lose that, #2 - what if he hated the other bird enough to chase it away. Lots to think about, for sure.

Thanks mare.
I was chatting to someone the other day and he suggested this to soo that's good also if its possible to have two pairs, half the aviary have one pair in each half and and work it like that too. Esp if there a flock bird for example lovebird/Quakers etc etc.
thanks for your help.

just a note - do not let quakers out. They are colony breeders and they build community nests, which is why they are illegal in many states in the USA and even considered a dangerous species in some of those states, including New Jersey. They build huge colony nests in power stations and can cause power outages. If you choose to do this, do deep research about both your area and intended species and be sure you are not endangering your neighbors, their pets, power, or crops. Look into the laws in your area, in a lot of places this could be illegal. Also, make sure you know what kinds of predators are around, toxic plants, etc. Consider using young birds instead of pairs. It seems like you are completely set on this, so rather than try to tell you no, I hope I can help you e as safe as possible. Teach your birds to come when called while they live inside. I would start with a bunch, like at least 10. It would be hard, but they will be MUCH safer in a larger group if they are out and about. Find a species that can get along with all one gender and get all one gender - then you don't have them making a feral population all over your city and becoming a health and safety hazzard, reproducing, crowding out and killing native birds, etc. Ok, as I said, get young birds, teach them to come when called inside. Take them one or two at a time out on harnesses, this will also take training, and teach them to come when called outside on a harness. Also teach them to come when called in a gym or something before outside. Then finally outside let them off leash and call them, etc so that they can get to know the area. Take them, still one or two at a time, around the neighborhood so they can get a feel. Then move them to the aviary, and let them understand exactly where the food and water is. leave the door open, call them in and out so the learn where the door is. Spend time outside with them in your yard, but lock them in at night to keep them safe from predators. Eventually you would start leaving them alone for portions of the day with the aviary open, but still lock the predators out at night.

Keep in mind, I am NOT SAYING that I agree that your idea is a good one, I am just saying that if you are determined, and if you are responsible and care about the birds, you will take the time (maybe a year or more!) to train them to survive and not just fly off and die.