I am working some on simple tricks and things with Scooter. Basically just for fun and so we have some variety in our interactions. I haven't really found anything in the way of a hand-held food treat that he is excited about. He's a very good eater in general and eats a wide variety of fresh food, but when he's out he doesn't seem all that interested (unless he's watching me cut up stuff, then he wants some, too). I could reserve millet spray for this use, he does like that, but what a mess! I didn't realize "spray" was a pun before Scooter. But I digress...
I have made some headway just by making a positive fuss when he does the right thing and maybe scratching his head. The word "good" become both the bridge and part of the reward. Can this be an adequately strong reward for training a parrot? I know people pat their horses when they do well, but IMO it's really not a very strong reward for a horse. I've also done clicker training with horses and their response to a food reward is SO strong you have to be really careful to train them not to mug you for the treats. Is this also true with most parrots? What do you use for your reward and what do you use for your bridge?
While I have made some progress, I feel that my rewarding is not as crisp and precise as it might be, and while we are both having fun, which is the main point, I could perhaps be doing more effective training.