Michael, Captwest,
Hi! I am happy my site and writings been of some use to you.
You have been a bit behind what I have done as you asked if I still take Riamfada on harness flying.
In Oct 2008, Riamfada came into my life in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman.
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/2008/10/She was a wild caught, and the former owner cut one wing thinking that would prevent her from flying. She flew away and was found by this lady in her garden. Who knew of me via Tinkerbell, and she decided I was a far better caregiver for her.
Riamfada got to trust me and flew to me on recall within a week.
We went out often.
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/111045.html
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/112019.htmlYou might have noticed in last 2 photos that no harness or line was on Riamfada. She flew free.
That being said, I must urge folks not to do what I have done.
FREE FLIGHT IS LIFE AND DEATH PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU DO KNOW.
NEVER EVER FREE FLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO LOSS AND DEATH OF YOUR BIRD.
I stressed on this in one of my writings.
Freeflights have been done very deliberately and after a long long process and with much observations on Tink and Riam and with much thoughts. Even though I wrote a lot, there would be elements I took for granted and not wrote on. People who try freeflight based only on what I wrote is dangerous as I could not have written everything.
I never will advocate freeflights for anyone else.
There was a posting that I did that make my sentiments even more explict.
That was in
Riamfada free flights in villa // And around neighbourhood
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/121070.htmlI copy that portion into here below.
Riamfada free flights in villa
more photos in flickr folder 'Riamfada free flights and around neighbourhood '
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/s ... 025249840/
Please do not do what you see me do.
FREE FLIGHT IS LIFE AND DEATH PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU DO KNOW.
NEVER EVER FREE FLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO LOSS AND DEATH OF YOUR BIRD.
I have been thinking. Of free flights with Riamfada. But the last few times when I thought of it, my dear wife screamed. She screamed and cried loud enough to frighten the wits out of me , or back into me , which ever way that you choose.
A parrot truely need not do any freeflights. Allowing him/her to fly inside your home made safe for that will give 95% of all the benefits from flying.
Allowing your parrot to fly in harness and leash, might add 4.9% more. But that being said, the sheer pleasure to you of taking your parrot outdoors with you and to fly cannot be imagined. If you have prepared yourself by first letting your parrot fly in semi free flight conditions (flying in big enclosed space eg gym or in big hall) , and then taking careful small steps outside in harness and short leash, that should be safe enough.
Long distance harnessed flights should be after you and your parrot thoroughly trained together, flying your parrot in head winds, tail winds, cross winds, shifty wind conditions, from high to low, and low to high.
Do not do free flights. That 0.1% benefit to your parrot is not worth the nightmare if things go wrong.
You know Riamfada had been on deliberate free flights.
Free flight is dangerous, extremely dangerous with any kind of parrot, and especially a grey.
Free flight might add 0.1% to the benefits of flight to your parrot. But the adrenaline rush to you is immense. That comes from living dangerously, knowing Murphy might just turn up.
I know with the coming departure, my mood might not be good. But I felt I could control that enough.
I also thought back to Riamfada flights with me. She clearly shown she could think on her wings. The videos of her turning back to my wife when she could not first find me was heartening. And of her flying and turning back to the wall , and then heading to me was heartening as well.
Pakistan again// more on mind & tofu // Dommie at Omer//kitties// Riamfada and 3 turns on dime
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/118669.htmlThen my contract in Oman ended and I had to leave her with another family in Oman in Oct this year. I trained that family for over 9 months to ensure she would be loved and looked after. In the way I trained another family in Taiwan for a year to look after my Tinkerbell there.
Most folks could not understand me when I told them I never trained them.
How could I?
They were all my trainers.
I am their trainee and all that I wrote were lessons that they imparted to me.
In all that I wrote, the good stuff came from them , and the mistakes all came from me.
Warmest regards
Shanlung
http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/
