{"id":27389,"date":"2019-12-03T22:36:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T04:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/?p=27389"},"modified":"2025-08-28T16:40:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T21:40:27","slug":"parrot-behavior-consultants-who-they-are-how-they-can-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/parrot-behavior-consultants-who-they-are-how-they-can-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Parrot Behavior Consultants: Who They Are And How They Can Help"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by davidvives90\/Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You’ve always wanted a parrot, and sometime during your life together you are confronted with something that you don’t quite understand or may be causing a problem. You want to get to the bottom of the behavior and work on it so it does not become a larger issue that can affect everyone around. But where do you turn? How do you know you are getting sound advice? Do you know if the advice you are given will help and not hurt your relationship? In case you have not heard, there are people who can help \u2014 we are called certified parrot behavior consultants.<\/p>\n

Understanding The Roots Of Bird Behavior<\/h3>\n

For nearly 30 years, I have been helping people and their parrots to live in harmony. I first started to work with behavior and be cognitive of birds\u2019 body language when I was helping find homes for parrots back in the early ’90s with my bird club. The birds needing homes back then were often wild-caught, imported adults that were scared, confused, and rightfully afraid of humans. It’s was a completely different scenario and level of fear than what we see today.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to now. We see many adolescent birds that were purchased on impulse or an older bird that has reached sexual maturity and owners who were unaware that mating behavior could even happen in their single-bird home. Just because we chose to take a bird out of the wild, does not mean we have extinguished the bird\u2019s natural behaviors. For the most part, we should not try to.<\/p>\n

A pet parrot should be able to vocalize, destroy things, forage, and, with diligent supervision, fly. These all are natural behaviors for a parrot.<\/p>\n

Being denied these natural behaviors can lead to undesirable behaviors such as screaming, feather plucking, and biting. What we need to do as bird stewards is learn how to incorporate (and make safe) these behaviors in order to live in harmony with our feathered companions.<\/p>\n

My Path To Greater Knowledge About Birds<\/h3>\n

As the need for help grew due to the popularity of parrots as pets, I wanted to become part of an organization that would foster my growth as a consultant and elevate my education. I wanted more than to take a quick course and be handed a certificate of completion. I wanted to be able to learn and consult with those who came before me in the field of behavior. I welcomed the mentorship and took my role as a student seriously. I applied to join the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).<\/p>\n

My application was not simply a pay and join. I wanted to prove my knowledge and work my way up that certified ladder. The application was extensive in regard to my history and also required recommendations from a colleague, a client, and a veterinarian. I had three of each. Accompanying the application was every class, lecture, and continuing education event I had attended since 1991. My application packet was close to 20 pages long. Once submitted, it was peer-reviewed, and I was accepted to join in 2009. I was thrilled to be mentored by many of the great people whom I had grown to know through books, magazines, and lectures from my younger days.<\/p>\n

Through the years I have been fortunate to live with various species of parrots. They have been great teachers, and I have learned a tremendous amount from them. Besides the science of behavior, I also believe that personal familiarization of caring for a species can guide you to help a client even more. I am known for my knowledge (and love) of the African grey parrot, but I have also lived with Amazons and cockatiels for over two and a half decades. Three very different species with specific behaviors from their parts of the world.<\/p>\n

Which Consultant Is Best For You?<\/h3>\n

Every associate\/certified consultant with the IAABC wants your relationship with your parrot to succeed. We have studied tirelessly, some for decades, to help you with your specific needs. We want you to understand your bird, diminish any problems and keep them in your home. We all want you to be able to live in harmony. Your first steps, should you need them, to achieve this is to:<\/p>\n