Bee - did you do this on your own or learn the technique from a training tape (such as those by Tani Robar)?

nope, no training tape.... got motivated by seeing pogo (a budgie) do it, and started working a bit with him.... played again with him yesterday and he's getting real good - almost video performance

Kirby used to be really good at putting a ball in a "basket". ( I used clicker training with him). I could throw it and he would run and get it and grab it with his beak and run to the "basket" and put it in. That's great that Valo figured it out and is having fun with it. I've often wondered about trying something like that with Cosmo and Zoey. I think Cosmo would be too intent on "killing" the ball though.

valo sometimes gets side tracked too..... but he usually finds his way back... (psst, there are TREATS involved)

he's actually getting it donw to pick up the ball from quite some distance of the cup, carrying it back to it and then dropping it in... next step will be some throwing exercise

sooo, first - let me mention that there's a reason that i'm an engineer and not a camera(wo)man.... so, i appologize for the list of shortcomings of this little clip, such as shaking (as i said, not cut out for that job ), no tone (ooooold camera), and the lack of quality... i'll re-tape it at some point, but this is good enough to get an idea of mr. stinkefuss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0E_nhb3GlY

real well done

Glad i came in when you posted the video!
Valo is a darling. How good is that! He thrust the ball in the bowl not once but 2x's, just in case you didn't see - or were you too slow with the treat?

Yeh Valo!

& on behalf of the Budgie owners - Budgies are definitely more than eye candy, they're an inspiration for other bird owners ..... & maybe a little competition as well. But honestly that Pogo was something - i haven't tried it with Laker.

I'm in the process of training Cuddles to do that aswell. The trainings at a halt for a few weeks until he finishes this nasty molt. He turns into a devil and bites me like crazy when he's not in the mood to play. I can't wait until he gets as good as Valo!

yip, too slow with the treat he always throws it in a second time if i'm too slow JUST IN CASE i haven't noticed that he did what usually provides treats....

it kind of backfired on me though - he's really good with it now, so everything that looks somewhat round HAS to go into a cup and then he sits on it and looks at me like "hey, see what a good boy i am? where's my treat?".... even after birdie treat balls land in coffee

Nice Coffee imagery.