Why Random Biting Isn’t Random

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Photo by Dave
Location: Waynesboro, VA
With me: Blue throat macaw “Jinx” & Galah “Bandit”

 

Bird owners everywhere catch themselves saying, “And out of nowhere he’ll bite me!” or “He randomly bit me.” and “He just randomly bites without any warning or reason.”

 

“Random biting” just is not random. Why? Because a bird will always show signs leading up to a bite, we just miss them… a lot. This includes myself, Chet, Dave… everyone. Some are better than others at seeing it coming, or seeing a bird’s mood escalate… while others think everything is dandy and miss the signs and get nailed.

 

The less you can see it coming or read parrot body language, the more “random” the biting will seem.

 

Photo by Dave
Location: Waynesboro, VA
Shown: Galah “Bandit”

 

Our of our flock I can read my rose breasted cockatoo Bandit’s body language the best. We were just outside the other day and I wanted to play with him, but all he wanted to do was hang out with Dave. He was in a mellow mood which he knew Dave would compliment so he was with him. I ran over and picked him up and started playing. When he flew and landed on the grass and looked at me, he was actually glaring. I could see it in his eyes he was telling me, “I’m not in the mood to play, I want to chill with Dave.” but I ignored it and grabbed him again, thinking I could get him into the mood to play with me… because I really wanted to play with him (note: thinking of MY interest and not my bird’s)

 

I saw the signs but chose to ignore them, thinking I could change the direction they were going.

 

When I tried the second time he looked at me again, but even angrier that I can ignored his previous warnings. “Ut oh…” I said out loud. “What?” Dave asked looking over. “I made him mad. I think he’s gonna get me.” I said not taking my eyes off Bandit who was staring at me with a rage. Then he looked back at Dave, back at me, and I saw his expression change into “I’m gonna let is slide… this time…”

 

Photo by Dave
Location: Waynesboro, VA
Pictured: Blue throat “Jinx” and Galah “Bandit”

 

I backed off and went on to doing my own thing and let Bandit go back to doing his. I was able to read the signs, and even in doing so tried to change them, and ALMOST pushed him way too far to the point where he would have felt like flying to me to bite me in order to get his point across. Have you done this before? Ignored signs you actually do see?

 

If you can’t see the signs, study your bird. Pay attention to what happens before and after a bite, leading up to it, what you may have missed. What his eyes and feathers did, did his grip change? Anything. Learn your bird.

 

Photo by Dave
Location: Waynesboro, VA
Birds: Galah “Bandit”, Camelot macaw “Comet”, Hyacinth Macaw “Hymie”, Blue throat macaw “Jinx”

 

Often times on camera you will see me watching our birds more than participating in a conversation or act, or smiling at the camera, because I’m watching for body language signs to tell me if something is wrong or uncomfortable so I can avoid any bites, screaming or equally bad behavior.

 

It’s important to be very in tune to these signs not only for yourself, but for others around your bird and ultimately… your bird’s best interest.