Loaner Parrot

[pchela]

Meh. Humans have much more variance in appearance than zebras do.

Perhaps what you say is true of young chicks but at the store even chicks still being hand fed reacted differently to different people. They recognized some sort of difference or they would have reacted the same to everybody. They would have assumed that every human was a provider of food but that's not how they reacted. They would show fear of some, not of others. Some liked only men or only women. This was in young birds who hadn't had a chance to learn differences in people yet.

[Rrrma]

Zebras aren't a good example though. They aren't sexually dimorphic, but people are.

I do think parrots look at all of us as people, just like we look at birds as birds, but I believe they distinguish us by visual cues, audible cues, and chemical cues. Don't forget that we are all hormonal creatures and we can sense cues off each other without needing to see or hear.

I'd love to see research done on gender specific relationships between people and animals, if it exists. I don't believe that they are based on physical or mental experience with a specific gender of person or people at all. I believe that there is a connection that we make on a chemical level with other beings that has nothing to do with experience or instinct. That is why even when everything looks perfect on paper, sometimes we just don't get along.
(my point is I think it has a lot to do with our hormonal/chemical sides as to how we react to each other and not the physical/visual experiences we have had. Yes they can play SOME part in how we feel about each other, but I don't believe they are the deciding factor, as you say)

(also that took too long to type out and ITA with the previous posters)

[a.susz]

this is a terrible terrible idea, and like everyone has stated, it will be like re homing a bird multiple times a year, the exact thing that you are against Michael. Like pchela said, they take many weeks, sometimes months to become accustomed to their surroundings in a new home, so i imagine this bird will begin to be finally accustomed to its "new owner" by the time they are needed to be returned to the club. If the bird is simply owned and VERY well socialized by one person, i believe it will be much more successful. Sometimes birds like to be held by everyone, but not touched (as in to put a harness on) so i think your training one on one with this bird for your random club members needs to be re-evaluated. There is nothing wrong with a good demonstration, then going home and trying it on your own bird, or better yet bringing their own birds in and asking for assistance from other members.

[Natacha]

I'm coming in having read very little but the first few posts. So if this is redundant, I do apologize.

My personal opinion on a "loaner bird"..not a good idea.
Somehow, to me it makes it appear like an "object" which will be tossed around, you know?

While it is good for parrots to be subjected to different environments to be well-rounded, I do believe they do require a portion of it that is regular. There is a difference between bringing your parrot out during the day or even having it spend a few days somewhere else but always coming back "home" at the end of it versus not having a real place to call home and just circling constantly from house to house. Plus...this also requires you to have the utmost trust in the members that will be getting the bird one after the other. I'm very picky about who gets to watch over my parrots and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable "sharing" a bird with a lot of people who are members of the local Parrot Club.

[Rue]

...not to mention that a lot of club-type people are a little odd, with their own ideas of how things should be done. Esp. animal related clubs

I recently joined our local kennel and obedience club. I'm not showing dogs at the moment, so I'll have some fun stewarding at the shows and teaching puppy beginner classes...most of the folks I've met so far seem super...but after only 2 meetings I can already pick out the odd ducks...

It's nice to have a concept that if you start a club it will be done your way...but in reality, it takes on a life of it's own...

[Natacha]

...not to mention that a lot of club-type people are a little odd, with their own ideas of how things should be done. Esp. animal related clubs

You are so right....I often have to bite my tongue at meetings and it always seem to be the same members who force me to do so...and to ignore the ones who think they know better than me about the care I provide to my birds, yet who have never dealt with any of the same species...

It's nice to have a concept that if you start a club it will be done your way...but in reality, it takes on a life of it's own...

Amen!
Well I guess I didn't start mine, but I came with ideas to try and improve it (by sitting on the Executive Committee and one think I brought was new ideas for topics for meetings because it has been the same thing done for three years in the same fashion and that results in lower membership..) but...yeah it's never as easy as you think it'll be.

[kellybird]

I just have the senerio in my head of kids in school and take home the class pet for a week or so. Half the time the poor thing dies or gets sick. Yes I know they aren't usually birds and they are kids (but it is the parents responsibility to care also) You really don't know what goes on behind closed doors and I am not saying I wouldn't trust anyone on here or think that someone would intentionally try to hurt the bird but accidents happen. I think it would be a better idea for Michael or a member to bring there own birds out to a meeting and give out some training advice and then bring the birds back home with them.