Hello!

[SCullen]

Hi, my name is Stephen, I'm not exactly a parrot owner, Earhart being a Rook, but I thought this would be the best place to help me learn to take care of him better.
I guess I should explain Earhart.
About nine months ago Earhart was a completely wild bird living near Dublin airport, he got sucked through a plane engine and miraculously survived. However he was very badly injured, when I first took him in his left wing was his only functioning limb and even now his right wing is more or less useless and he still has occasional spasms in his right leg.
He is completely flightless, which is why the veterinarian who treated his injuries was looking for somebody to adopt him.
He is my first bird, but not my first wild animal.
I have him mostly hand trained, he will eat from my hand and perch for me and he even lies very quietly when I have to clip his nails.

As for myself, I'm a folklorist living in Dublin, Ireland. I spend a lot of my time doing research projects and I also keep two rats.

[friend2parrots]

Welcome to the forum, to you and your Rook. I think this forum is the ideal place for you, as basically all the training techniques used for parrots, and discussed here and in the forum owner Michael's blog, are applicable to the Corvid (crow) family of birds. the Corvids are inded as highly intelligent and sensitive as parrots (Psittacines).

it is so saddening to hear what happened to your Rook. He's lucky he now has a home with you. Warm wishes for Earhart's recovery and for your efforts to help him through this period of healing.

[SCullen]

Thanks for the welcome!
I've noticed some of the body language is a bit different, but I've found a lot of useful things on here already.
His left leg is pretty much fine now, though his right still has problems.
Sadly his right wing has healed as much as it's going to and he will never fly again.

[marie83]

Welcome to the forums.

[annajodi]

hi. i like it thanks for sharing this site.this is very informative post

[janetafloat]

Welcome to the forum! This is indeed a great place for you to be, there's lots of good info here.
Funnily enough, I saw a tame rook very recently on a tv programme, and they were talking about how intelligent they are.

You're obviously doing very well with him...particularly as you're able to cut his nails which - I discovered today - I can't do with my tiel! Hey ho hey ho it's off to the vet's I go for a professional manicure for my bird.

Look forward to hearing more about your wonderfully named survivor.