| From: shan lung <shanlung9@y...> Date: Sat Jan 18, 2003 8:17 pm Subject: Tinkerbell semi freeflight 1B - the report I thought I better write this first. I will follow up with the photos later. I will be checking back periodically over the weekend using the web interface to answer any queries or to expand on any points that may be raised. We went back to that office first floor again this afternoon. We brought with us the basket stand thats on top of his cage. Her favourite toys, the clickers, the cocktail stirrer targets, sunflower seeds, her dishes and seed mix to make her feel as secure as we can. I thought deep about it and decided I will not bring the frisbees and rolled up socks. I really felt the first time I was far too excited and in my eagerness to see how she fly in a bigger environment, common sense went out of the window. I felt certain enough enough this time at where I went wrong the first time. Should I be wrong about it, I still can make frisbees out of the cardboard boxes lying around the room to get her down. I also thought Tinkerbell already knows how to fly and teaching her to fly will be like a blind trying to explain how to appreciate the colors of a rainbow to the fully sighted. Free flight must be more a deep bonding in which our relationship with them is such that they will want to remain with us. Since Tinkerbell have shown more than once that she got an independent mind, relying entirely just on recall training will be no guarantee of her returning. When we got there around 330pm on 18 Jan 2003, I place some newspaper on the floor, place the water and seed dishes around it, set up that basket stand and her toys, then set her carrier along side and opened the door. I did not urge her out unlike the first time. She looked out of that open door, hesitated for about 5 mins before slowing stepping out. I was in no hurry this time and was prepared even not to fly her if she did not feel like it. She then stepped over to her familiar toys and beaked it about. A request of step up was done immediately to a lot of soft talk. She was then placed on the basket stand where she walked up and down. A sunflower seed was gently offered and she accepted to a big relief from me. 'Touch target' cue was given and she responded immediately and she took her treat too. I gave a bigger sigh of relief and asked her to step up to walk around while talking softly to her. Periodically I offered her treat which she took. 'Touch target' was done on cue and she took her treat again. After walking around the area with her either on my shoulder or her making her way down to my arm, I went back to base to let her be. She went to her toys again but stopped to respond to my 'touch target' and take her treat. I then stepped back 5 feet to ask her 'come here'. She was more interested in the backpack then me and she trying to chew that bag. I felt that bag distract her too much and I can legitimately remove that bag far away. I then tried again to call her. She looked at me hesitantly and then launched herself off that basket. For a brief moment, I had nightmare of having to frisbee her down, but she came right at me. That was such a delicious feeling. Even more so when she demanded her treat. I gave her the grand jackpot of head rubs and 3-4 seeds in succession. She was taken back to the basket stand and the next recall was done at 10 feet. She did not hesitate at all and came immediately at my cue. I took her again for a walk around that room cueing her to 'touch target' a couple of times and taking pleasure in her eating the treats. She then was taken back to base to let her play with her toys. We stayed around for 5 minutes and then we walked across the broad side of the room to do a 40 feet recall. She was on her basket poised and came immediately at the signal. I really felt so so good about the whole exercise. Then on her own, she decided to do a flight off my hand to base. I was worried that was a spook until she circled back and around a column and landing back on me without recall. I was so happy inside that she showed us the curiousty that comes from intelligence and with the bonding and trust in me to come uncalled. She then became cranky biting my buttons of my shirt. I had no qualms at her chewing up all the buttons but I felt I needed to make her feel all is as normal by shouting at her in my usual way ' No buttons' and forcing her beak off to her loud protests. I gave her sunflower seeds for that burst of behaviour and took her back to base again. We then left her there to walk deliberately further away and watched her from the corner of our eyes while pretending to ignore her playing with her toys. In about 30 seconds, she flew to us. She then took off to fly around the room landing periodically on my wife or me. I then felt confident enough to toss her from my arm shouting 'fly' to see what she will do. She went up and up and circled half the room and returned to me. We went back to base for her to r and r. She was then taken to the ladder. I tested her with 'touch target' to get her immediate response and she took readily her treat. We went to the long end of the room to cue her recall. She came immediately on signal. In the past, she flew at home in a 45 degree angle. In the room and in longer distance, her body was horizontal in flight but twisting into a 45 angle at about 10 feet from landing as she slowed down. I bleed a lot less this time unlike the earlier time when she used my arm to absorb her shock landings. At about 5 pm we called it a day and left for home. She was so cuddly with me at home this time unlike the cold shoulder the last time. I will be preparing Tink's mash later this evening after my dinner, still unfortunately without blackeyed and a few other beans. She only got 3 more days left with me before she goes to my friend. After that mash, I will get about preparing those photos to invite all you folks again. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/sets/688722/ ===== With warmest regards Shanlung Joy - wife, Tinkerbell - CAG & surrogate daughter |
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