Simo seems very comfortable in our presence and actively comes to both me and the husband when out of his cage. He did so well with target training that I've now began the step up to a finger - process with him. We're already at the point where I can hold the training perch parallel to his, and I even hold in such a way that when he steps on to it, he's right next my fingers. I started off with the method that's described in Michael's book. He's doing really well, albeit at times he tries to touch the actual perch instead of stepping up onto it and touching the target stick, and he also at times pokes my finger. Usually after one or two mistakes he gets it and steps normally onto the training perch.
Today I tried this without the stick and offered my fingers instead - however, he ended up looking very confused and poked my finger instead as if it were the target stick (the actual target stick was being held in such a way that he'd have to perch on my finger to reach it). So I'm thinking maybe I tried to target him onto my hand a bit too soon, and should go on with the training perch for a little bit longer?
) so I just did what came naturally to me from training children, dogs and cats and it worked very well so I never changed it. I do understand the concept of a food reward and I do believe it works better (and faster) when you are having formal training sessions but I have no interest whatsoever in my birds learning tricks... I just want them to be happy and learn what they need so as not to become a complete pest of themselves 