Katie - want to tell you that Lily is a beautiful bird! Glad to hear that Lily is making such good progress. It just usually takes some time, and they get the idea.

I have one in my flock that is a shoulder bird. That is Merlyn. He is a real odball. When he came to me, 4 years ago, he didn't know how to act like or think like a bird - we have made much progress over the years. When he lets me take him out of his cage which is only for about the last 9 months, he runs up my arm and onto my shoulder. I just put my hand up between him and my head and start nudging him down. Now I don't have to nudge him anymore, I just put my hand up, and he immediately goes down to my arm where he belongs. His Mom who sees him every week, allows him on her shoulder, so it is a never ending learning process for him.

She is a beauty but is a brat sometimes too She just loooves to get her own way. The nudging down with your hand is what I have been doing, while telling her calmly "no Shoulder Lilly". The fact that she is staying on my arm now shows that she really does listen to me... when she wants to

Miss Lilly of the Valley

What an adorable picture! She looks so 'spicy'!