I know you free flight, but its the rescue person talking, totally respect your right for free flight... But gorgeous pics!!
Love seeing the harness and flight lines
But wanted to share something we learned recently about this subject!! As a group, we are always very open and looking for avenues for new knowledge, thoughts on training, nutrition, etc. Anyhoo, babble... AHW attended the recent AFA conference and one talk Jeanne and John sat in on was about flight training. We're not advocates of free flight training, but my Max flies in the house and I take him out on a flight line for exercise too - nothing better for your birds!!!
One thing that came up that was really interesting that the 'experts' shared was with landing, that you should have your hand flat for a large bird to land, with how they come in for landing, it should be a wide surface. Just a random point that we learned thought I'd share.
Love seeing the harness and flight lines
But wanted to share something we learned recently about this subject!! As a group, we are always very open and looking for avenues for new knowledge, thoughts on training, nutrition, etc. Anyhoo, babble... AHW attended the recent AFA conference and one talk Jeanne and John sat in on was about flight training. We're not advocates of free flight training, but my Max flies in the house and I take him out on a flight line for exercise too - nothing better for your birds!!!
One thing that came up that was really interesting that the 'experts' shared was with landing, that you should have your hand flat for a large bird to land, with how they come in for landing, it should be a wide surface. Just a random point that we learned thought I'd share.
I will have problems in offering a flat hand to land on. I already have a tendon issue in my wrist from carrying my B&G macaw around. I have to offer my arm (usually with a brace on it) as my wrist is not strong enough to carry a large bird on my hand, never mind "catching" one from flight :56:
Love seeing the harness and flight lines
But wanted to share something we learned recently about this subject!! As a group, we are always very open and looking for avenues for new knowledge, thoughts on training, nutrition, etc. Anyhoo, babble... AHW attended the recent AFA conference and one talk Jeanne and John sat in on was about flight training. We're not advocates of free flight training, but my Max flies in the house and I take him out on a flight line for exercise too - nothing better for your birds!!!
One thing that came up that was really interesting that the 'experts' shared was with landing, that you should have your hand flat for a large bird to land, with how they come in for landing, it should be a wide surface. Just a random point that we learned thought I'd share.
Ohh my
How about offering an arm? (my macaw is only in the process of learning to fly, so recall training has not started yet)
I also use my arm for most everything with my macaw because of the joint / muscle issues with MS, don't trust the strength in my hands. And its weird, I swear Max knows when I'm having a bad day.... my lesions are primarily in the cervical and thoracic spine which causes more physical issues and I apparently have a big glob of lesions that affect my left side substantially more, so my left side has always been a bit weaker. But on a bad day, I can be clumsy on one side, its kinda weird, but Max knows it and won't step up on my left arm on those days no matter what. But, offer the right and he steps right up. Its amazing what they can read, know and understand... and compensate for!!! I would definitely say use your arm when or if you need to! Sure if your parrot could answer, he would tell you would rather have the arm then loss of time with you 
