Congratulations on taking your first steps to understanding more about your bird and their behavior! Our goal is to offer valuable education and training advice to families of big and small birds alike. If our programs can help a bird stay in their home then we have succeeded! After owning and operating a rescue for over 10 years, the number of birds surrendered to our rescue and rescues like ours is only getting larger. When birds come into the rescue they may be surrendered due to behavioral issues. These may include aggression (inside and/or outside the cage), plucking and mutilation or screaming. Many of these behaviors could have been prevented by earlier intervention and in 99% of these cases we have success in working through detrimental behavior and placing them in a forever home. We would love to provide a service that offers advice and support to families who are struggling with their birds and hopefully create a safe and happy environment for both human and feathered family members.
A Word with Ria
 At one time, I was looking to add a canary to my family. At the time it was just myself and my 1 year old mutt, Roofus. I researched a few stores and was also actively looking online when I found an ad for an exotic bird rescue that was fairly local to me. I called that day and spoke to the owner for about an hour and although the rescue did not have a canary, they did have two parrotlets and a green cheek conure available for adoption who fit my experience level. We set a time to meet and when I came to the rescue, I instantly fell in love with the little Green Cheek Conure named Stormy. After a few more visits to ensure she was a good fit with me, I had also fallen in love with rescue. I now sit on the Board of Directors with that rescue, direct day-to-day operations and act as Adoption Coordinator. In my time with the rescue, I have learned from the owner of the rescue, many educational websites, other rescue owners, as well as personal experience. I have seen over 1200 birds and parrots come through the rescue and I am now part of the team who offers training for life to all birds adopted through the rescue. This team has offered this service to all adopters since the establishment of the rescue and have seen the benefits of proper training (of both humans and birds!) in keeping birds with their families. In 2015, I decided to bring this opportunity to anyone who is willing to learn in hopes that we can help more than just our local birds. Myself and my team cannot wait to have you and your family on board!
What Do You Do?
 The goal of Flight School is to give you the foundation, the confidence and the experience to work through behavioral issues with your bird or other birds if training is a field you are interested in. There are a few options with Flight School starting with if you feel that you would benefit from strictly "book and test" education. This course includes 15 chapters and tests to expand your knowledge of a variety of species, behaviors and training methods. Upon completion of this course, you will receive a certificate from the Council of Avian Educational Advancement. If you wish to share your education, experience and training techniques with others and would like a certification then we encourage you to complete our more intensive program which begins with the "book and test" level and is followed by a study of training techniques that we have used with the most success. This study should take 3-4 weeks to complete and upon successful evaluation you will receive a second certificate and receive the title, "Associate Member for CAEA." The final step is a presentation prepared by yourself and your personal coach showing the techniques that have worked best in your training experience. This presentation will be evaluated by a team of 4-5 members of our advisory team. Once this evaluation is completed and approved, you will receive your final certificate and the title "Professional Specialist for CAEA."
Help! My bird and I need training!
 If you and your bird are struggling with miscommunications and subsequent behavioral issues, then we suggest spending time with a personal coach and trainer who we have tested their knowledge, evaluated their techniques and approved them for one on one training. This coach will be able to offer you explanations of why your bird is doing a behavior and how to respond. We will do our best to match you with an approved coach local to your area but if one is not available we can offer coaching through Skype or Facetime. This program is tailored to your family's individual needs and may last as few as four weeks or indefinitely until you feel confident in the handling of your bird. Our belief at Flight School is not to control or command our birds but to work with them by reading body language, understanding natural behaviors and working with them. We want to be our birds co-pilots because when you and your bird can learn to work together then success is only a step away! |
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