Senegal loses clipped feathers and then flies?

[cledford3]

I have a Senegal I got as a young bird back in February. I'm not sure his age, but his eyes are still gray. He came from the breeder already clipped and since I bought him through a bird retailer I had no choice in the matter. It looks like 4 feathers on each side were clipped. Over the last few months 3 of these feathers have fallen out on the right wing and one on the left. The clipped feathers seem vulnerable and prone to breakage due to getting caught on things – like cage bars. New feathers haven’t grown back yet.

Anyhow, since the 3rd feather on the right wing fell out about 3.5 weeks ago, he seems to have taken to flying and seems to do it better the more feathers that are lost! I would say that prior to losing the feathers; he was barely able to break a fall straight down. Then, suddenly, a few weeks ago, he would (once a week or so) take off from my shoulder and fly/glide down to about 4-5 feet away. Last night he suddenly took off from my shoulder, and flew perfectly to a landing 16 feet away! (I broke out the tape measure) I was quite surprised! This was a true “flight” in that he left my shoulder (a height of over 5 feet) flew across the room (at the mid-point he was about 3 feet above the floor) to ascend to about 4 feet to land on a piece of furniture. Not only does it surprise me that he made that distance, but even more so the fact that he was able to “climb” from a lower altitude to where he decided to land. Over a 4 week period I’d say this was the 4th “flying” event and the first that could be considered anything but a controlled decent.

I’m not bothered by any of this, but wondering if it is normal? It seems to me that he’d “fly” worse, not better, having lost the clipped feathers – which I would think would provide some lift, rather than none. I’ve also done no flight training or conditioning with him. It seems impossible that he’d be able to fly that far, perfectly with no previous training or building up to it – but he did.

Thanks for any input,

-Calvin

[Michael]

It's possible. Especially if he grew at least a primary or two.

[cledford3]

Would you think this would indicate he'd been fledged as a baby by the breeder - since he's had no other training, conditioning or other birds to model behavior from? The breeder seems to have done an exceptional job with the bird - in both breeding him (great temperament) and training him. He did not come banded so I don't know how to track the breeder down to ask questions.

The bird, from day 1 has been, very, very social and extremely easy going. Bonded to me (immediately - so we assume a male breeder), but tolerates frequent handling by my wife very well. Steps up great, goes back into cage fine, has only bitten twice I know of and both times were reflexive due to be startled by something. Is very laid back about handling (I can touch him anywhere, extend wings, flip him on back and pick him up) and is super tame. Active, intelligent, picks tricks up well and speaks several phrases. Constantly "talking" to us and attempting mimic conversation. Was very friendly from start, stepped up very well and has just been a joy. We just got back from a week-long trip where we took him on a 9 hour car ride to SC, spent 3 days in a hotel, 6.5 hours to NC, spent 3 days at a friend’s house, then 5.5 hours back home. Despite all the bumping around, living in travel cage and the changing environments he'd never been exposed to (car, hotel, friend’s house in NC) he did great and seemed like himself entire trip.

The shop where we got him apparently has changed where they get their birds from. Prior to getting my bird, we'd looked a very nice baby Sun Conure the month before - who'd exhibited the same traits - also not banded. Since, they've been getting Senegals, Sun Conures and GCCs from a source that bands them. They've all had the "stress bars" on their feathers, don't seem social or know step up and generally don't seem to like people at all. I bring all this up as it seems the breeder of my bird did a really great job and am now wondering if fledging before clipping might have been likely.

-Calvin