Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training, LLC

08/22/2026

Thank you Rhode Island Parrot Rescue. We had fun doing the Online Virtual Webinar on Introduction to Recall Training. The group that attended the live session had wonderful questions and insightful ideas.
We reviewed that consequences are not inherently good or bad, but rather choices with outcomes. The behavior occurs; success, and the companion bird receives food or attention. The behavior does not occur; the companion bird receives neither food nor attention. We need to review the settings to determine whether we can learn from this outcome and set up the environment to increase the likelihood of the behavior occurring. Consequences are for learning.
This was a great group of bird people adding more birdie tools to their educational toolbox. Heart of Feathers Education hopes to offer more webinars for Rhode Island Parrot Rescue.

08/12/2026

I am going to try a different way to get attention for my upcoming fundraising online webinar. I am not much of a poet, but with a little help from AI rhymes, I can come up with a ballad or two.

From high atop the curtain rod where they won’t come down,
To the accidental open door that causes a frown,
There’s a way to build a bridge of trust.

Recall is more than just a trick; it’s exercise and play,
A summon back to safety that can truly save the day.
In emergencies, it’s vital—a life-saving connection,
Building bonds and confidence in a positive direction.

We don’t use force, we don’t use fear, we use small steps to success.
With choice and yummy reinforcements as our training tools.
Maybe it’s a safflower seed or a bit of millet treat,
Or even Sheila’s "bad dancing" to get them off their feet!

It’s mental stimulation that redirects that mischief flight
And turns a simple training session into something nice.
Short and fun, not a chore—that is the Golden Key,
To a happy, flighted companion who’s as busy as a bee.

So join us on the screen, from your living room or hall,
And learn the step-by-step techniques to master the Recall.
Sign up today for online joy and expert-guided flight,
And watch your bird soar back to you with feathers shining bright!

ONLINE(VIRTUAL) WEBINAR: Recall Training for Companion Birds - Presented by Sheila of Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training
Date: August 22 12- 2 p.m. Eastern Time
When signing up for this webinar, 100% of the cost will go to Rhode Island Parrot Rescue.
To sign up for the ONLINE (VIRTUAL/LIVE) Session: click the following link:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lets-learn-recall-training-online?fbclid=IwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3c0RGUHkyWVdQaEsyeUp4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHprdodRek8TUA3TUIe3S1XA22v-oyasVVw-0I2omYqwOMUWtPYxw2xsnzThb_aem_7L_CuuTRmlu963rZRojV4g

Build a safer, stronger bond with your parrot from home 🦜In this online session, you’ll learn practical recall training skills that help your bird come when…

07/30/2026

ONLINE(VIRTUAL) WEBINAR: Recall Training for Companion Birds - Presented by Sheila of Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training

Date: August 22 12- 2 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:
Recall Training is important for Retrieving, Recalling, and Rescuing.
This webinar will review where to start recall training and how to advance.
Recall Training can start on day one to encourage a companion bird to go to a perch inside the door, and then move to the point where the companion bird is introduced to the outside of the enclosure (slowly). No more trying to figure out how to get your companion bird back into the enclosure.

During this virtual session, we will discuss Recall Training:
- Training the movement such as Flight, Jumping, Walking, or a combination from one location to another (not always a straight line), returning to the original location when needed.
- Training the ability to focus movement through distractions (and may not be visible to the person).
- Training Triggers by an ask (Cue: Word, Hand signal)

Several video demonstrations
NOTE: THIS IS NOT USED FOR Free Flight Training (Outside).

Recall training should be one of the top 3 tools in the training toolbox.

Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training is trying to raise funds for the Rhode Island Parrot Rescue for more educational programs and medical care.
When signing up for this webinar, 100% of the cost will go to Rhode Island Parrot Rescue.

To sign up for the ONLINE (VIRTUAL/LIVE) Session: click the following link:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lets-learn-recall-training-online

If you cannot attend, the session will be recorded (so sign up under "Admission FOR 1" for access to the record session) .

Build a safer, stronger bond with your parrot from home 🦜In this online session, you’ll learn practical recall training skills that help your bird come when…

07/15/2026

I wanted to share this from The Animal Behavior Center, LLC. I have explained before to be cautious about using "labels" for companion birds' behavior, but Lara did a great job even simplifying it. Specific Labels can be stuck with a companion bird to the point that individuals believe the behavior can't be changed. I know we don't post much so follow The Animal Behavior Center, LLC until we get our act together.

A parrot labeled “aggressive” may be a parrot that has learned hands are unsafe.
A parrot labeled “fearful” may be a parrot that has not yet been taught what to do next.
This is where target training becomes powerful.
Target training is not just teaching a bird to touch a stick. It can become a way to rebuild communication, reduce pressure, move a bird without force, redirect behavior, teach stationing, build confidence, and begin rebuilding trust.

Inside The Parrot Project, we are starting to show you and address your behavior concerns now.

If your parrot bites, lunges, avoids hands, refuses to step up, won’t go back into the cage, or seems stuck in patterns you don’t know how to change, this is exactly the kind of work we do.

You do not need to force your bird. You need a clear form of trust and communication.

Join us in The Parrot Project and start building that trust again.

Comment TARGET, and I’ll send you the information to join The Parrot Project.

07/08/2026

Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training hasn't fostered a companion bird for some time since we sort of retired. We've now decided to come out of retirement to foster this budgerigar. Vivienne deserves a chance. Vivienne has been in our foster care for a week. Vivienne is quite nervous when people approach the enclosure (Nervous: Slims up her body, blinks a lot, and if anyone moves too fast, starts flying in all directions).
This week, the focus has been on approaching the enclosure without triggering the flight response and observing favorite food items. The food bowl has been divided into sections with different food items from Top's seed mix, pellets, chop, crushed nut berries, millet, and Biodiverse bird blends. Each morning, before the food bowl is updated, we document/measure which food areas have been eaten.
No, my training does not start with holding my hand in the enclosure with millet or showing my hand so the bird gets used to it. These training methodologies could increase the fear response. Right now, the goal is for Vivienne to adjust to the new environment, and our job is to observe the food decisions. We are tracking consumption of the food items so this information can be used in future training and enrichment. (During the last 3 days, Millet and Biodiverse Bird Blend seem to be the top 2 favorites, so far.)
Quick video: Observations -https://youtu.be/GZmWrf3tqiw

05/06/2026

I have had several friends tell me I should use AI to improve my training video and save time in creating Online training classes. My friends thought more videos would promote my page and website. I started working on the videos. I asked AI(Skynet) to improve my video on syringe training. Okay, followers, check out the assisted AI video and see if you can understand why I do not trust AI (Skynet).

03/08/2026

Heart of Feathers Education & Behavior Training was assisting Corrie at Rhode Island Parrot Rescue during the Companion Bird "Building Enrichment Mat" Fund Raiser event. Over 20 people attended the event. During the session, we discussed that these fun mats should have texture fun (for tactile), Food fun (for taste), color fun (for visual), and scent fun (for smell). Thanks to Biodiversity Bird Blends for creating the Bird Bouquets ( https://biobirdblends.company.site/Bird-Bouquets-larger-single-for-any-size-bird-p524645871) as the flowers were integrated into the mats, and the BIODIVERSITY GO WILD! FREEZE-DRIED FORAGE product (which has a wonderful scent) (https://biobirdblends.company.site/BIODIVERSITY-GO-WILD-FREEZE-DRIED-FORAGE-p804208168).
Many photos were taken during the event. I wanted to share a few (that the individuals allowed me to share). Every mat was designed for their individual bird (and the individual knew what their companion bird could play with safely). All the parts are from bird-safe companies.

01/31/2026

I am sharing another wonderful video from Lara of The Animal Behavior Center, LLC-I have had this conversation with individuals related to motivation.

01/30/2026

I love Parrot SOS and her Chat with parrot - This a great one.