WOW....what a great day!
Tonite, I watched a lil tv and would love to have had Baby with me, but she is still so very skiddish. So...I met her half way. I took one of her smaller perches and put it on the BOTTOM Outside of her cage where it was just a few inches from the chair of my recliner. Showed her a pnut and she came running over. LOL.
She sat on the perch, I gave her some scritches, laughed, watched TV with my daughter. I just sort of left my hand "available" and she beaked around on it, even took my whole finger in her beak and pushed a lil on it but not hard. She could have left if she didn't want to be there, but she stayed and we just "hung out" and watched tv. It was nice.
Then, I worked her on the perch drill. FANTASTIC! I took her cage top (with her toys on it) off, put it on a rolling cart next to her cage. I then clicked her to get on the perch like I have been experimenting with her. This is different now because it's an OAK perch. Then manzanita perch was simply too slick and she felt insecure on it. My bad all around. But..anyway.
I clicked/treated her to ride the perch really well tonite. I would click her to step up and she eventually would with both feet. I'd SLOWLY travel her to the playtop. Then, do some ring tricks on the playtop. Then, click/treat her to step back up and return to the cage door. Then..I'd push the cart farther from the cage.
Eventually, I had her travelling TWELVE FEET on the perch!
Thank you Lord. She did great. One time she flew off and landed ok. I took a break then and she did fine thereafter.
Gettin there..slowly. I have had to be very creative with this gal. LOL.

Finally, I have to admit one thing: As I moved her through the air on the perch up high, I found myself making a noise like...I hate to admit this, but it was funny when I realized what I was doing and I laughed to myself. There I was with a green bird on a stick, moving her through the living room and making the noise of a tractor just like I did when the kids were little and I would throw them up in the air or play with them.
Mark
Oh...and I swam a saweet 100 meters this am. IT WAS A MOST EXCELLENT DAY!!

hehehe good job with your progress!

Thats awesome Mark! Great job! And dont feel funny about telling us you make tractor noises! My husband sings Elmo's World to the birds and knows all the words! Loving a bird shows you how to let your guard down and open your heart. I can see you have done both

Congratulations Mark, you did it! Or rather she did it, with your help and guidance. Leigh had a great point when she mentioned letting your guard down and opening your heart. Tractor noises, silly songs, whatever works. The end result is that she lets her guard down, and you two are in tune with each other. It was indeed a most excellent day!

Thanks for the reassurance.
But, was it ok the other nite to ask the kids to STEP UP??? (kidding)
Mark
Well, as they grow in their teenage years, it is important they know how to step up to life, I guess.

That's great Mark!! I have you tell you, your posts always make me smile. It's so obvious how in love you are with Baby, and I'm so happy for you that you're making such progress with her!

That is so cute, I can totally imagine that! What an awesome day for you!!

Yea, its funny how these animals grow on you. Baby has certainly been a challenge. I am enjoying her now and I senese that she is enjoying our family.

Well we do throw the Budgie for fun - right off his hand held perch, into the air with a command word so he understands it's on purpose - he loves it.

Oh, & yes we make lots of funny sounds as well {mine are airplane - or is it race cars??? - noises to get him to fly around the room}. They see nothing wrong with it - however you may have to make tractor noises in the future to reassure your bird to new things. They catch on to so many clues.

Sounds real good Mark.