Squawk and Howl Pet Sitting

Parrot Behavior Consultations
Avian Rescue and Rehoming
Classes, Talks and Workshops

Parrot Behavior Consultations

Parrot Woes or Concerns? Does your bird bite, scream, pluck her/his feathers, hate you or another family member? Have you rescued a bird that is so fearful, agressive, or cage-bound that you fear for its well-being? Just get a new baby parrot and want to start out right? Have you thought about getting rid of your parrot (because you aren't sure what to do), yet know that the current situation is unmanageable?

dani eurynome, founder of Squawk and Howl, is an Associate Member of the International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants- in the Parrot division. She is currently studying and practicing to gain her "Master Clinician" certification. In applying her experiences with parrot rescue and rehabilitiation, parrot sitting, and care of her own flock (some rescued, others raised from babies), she brings a lot of experience, empathy, and humor to the practice of parrot behavior consulting.

dani teaches people what to expect from a companion parrot, how to socialize the bird for life in a human home, and how to teach their parrots how to behave. Once people get a better understanding of what a parrot is (and what it is not) folks often find it a lot easier to live with them. It is more accurate to compare them to a human child than to a dog or cat. They are extremely smart animals- many the intellectual equivalent to a five year-old human child- and they never get any "older"- so by adopting a parrot, you have a perpetual child in your home for 30-80 years!

Living with your parrot can be a joy, not a burden! Do you really love the bird but are sorry that you got her/him? This situation is more common than you know- you are not alone- and there IS help out there! As someone involved with parrot rescue as well as parrot behavior and care, I must tell you that most birds needing rehoming are ones that had "behavioral issues" that their humans did not know how to deal with. Sadly, rather than working with the parrot to create a harmonious family life, they gave the bird away. As a company, Squawk and Howl has a mission of caring for parrots both physically and emotionally. That's why we started offering behavioral advice as well as pet sitting. As parrots are flock animals, losing their flock (rehoming a companion parrot) should only be a stressful last resort. The good news is that these behaviors are changeable and that the human in the relationship can start those positive changes.

At your wits end? Help is on the way! Things don't have to stay this way. Remember, parrots don't know how to be a "good pet" unless you teach them. Your parrot is a wild animal (even the domestically raised hand-fed ones). A smart, adaptable creature, but wild nonetheless. S/he is very different from domesticated dogs and cats. Your parrot has absolutely no idea how to adapt to the environment of your living room or what you expect from her unless you teach him. Using Sally Blanchard's principles of "Nurturing Guidance" as a starting point, we work with everyone involved in the "dysfunctional relationship"- human and avian- to make things better.

What is a consultation and what does it entail?

Step One: Identify the source of the behavior.
By asking LOTS of questions, taking lots of notes, observing the bird, observing the humans and other family members, and more we try and identify the cause or root of the issue. The cause may be something very different than you initially suspected.

Step Two: Agree on a new course of action.
There is nothing to be gained by blaming anyone, but human behaviors and expectations often need to be changed before a parrot's misbehavior will change. Once we settle on a course of action (which may include changing the parrot's environment, schedule, diet, or other factors - as all these contribute to a parrot's behavior) we write it all down for future reference.

I then teach the human caretakers how to train their parrots using Blanchard's "Nurturing Guidance" principles. These are extremely effective in non-aggressively training a parrot about manners and controls and the bird's rank within the human flock.

Step Three: Start the new program and change the source or cause of the behavior.
You start to "repattern" yourself and your parrot to behave in new ways. Check-ins are welcomed and encouraged.

Guarantee

Since dani/Squawk and Howl cannot "make people" follow advice or follow it correctly in dealing with their parrots, we cannot guarantee that a consult will change companion parrot behaviors. However, if people do choose to use the advice and implement the changes and training she recommends, she can guarantee her clients will end up with a happier, better behaved parrot with which to share their lives.

How much does a consultation cost?

Because of the time involved with management issues, dani charges differently for a behavioral consultation than she does for pet sitting.

Phone consultation for one bird: $75.00 (paid in advance of phone appointment)
In-home consultation for one bird: $50.00/hour (paid day of appointment) + travel costs (50¢/mile + tolls, round-trip)
Each additional bird covered in that hour: $25.00 additional

This fee covers the initial consult itself, which will last about 4 hours, and up to two phone/email check-ins of no more than a half hour. (Additional time for check ins is available- see below)

Longer follow-ups for existing clients are discounted - $50.00 by phone or e-mail or $40.00 per hour for in-home follow-ups. Follow up rates are good for for 4 months from the date of the initial consult, as long as they are regarding the original problem. After that, initial 4-month period, follow-ups will be charged at the original rate of $50 per hour.

Payment must be made by cash, check, or money order, or via credit card through PayPal.

Avian Rescue and Rehoming

Can you no longer care for a parrot, but want to ensure it gets a high quality home?
Surrender your parrot to us- we can make that happen.

To ensure your parrot gets the best home and never is homeless again, we have stringent standards:

1. The adoptive family attends a parrot care 101 class and a parrot behavior 101 class.
2. The adoptive family has a non-smoking home that is inspected and deemed toxin-free.
3. The adoptive family passes a home inspection, and we see the cage that the bird will live in.
4. The adoptive family gets regular home visits and has regular follow-up contact.
5. The adoptive family is required to surrender the bird back to the rescue if the home is unacceptable, or they can no longer care for the bird. This ensures the bird will ALWAYS have a quality home.
6. The adoptive family visits the new bird several times to ensure that there is "chemistry" and they can handle the parrot.

If this sounds like what you want for your parrot, please contact us.

PLEASE NOTE: We DO NOT pay for birds that are surrendered to us. If this world were just, the person surrendering an animal would be making a donation TO THE RESCUE to cover vet care, housing, and food for an infinite period of time.

But as a rescue, we accept the bird without a donation (although they are welcomed!) for the love of parrots. Frankly, the concept of "getting back an investment" (expecting money for the parrot someone no longer wants) is infuriating. We can guarantee a good home, unconditional love, and quality care for this amazing, intelligent, sentient being. That should be enough.

When you surrender your parrot, please have as much information and resources available:
1. Your bird's medical records, if any. We want you to take the bird for an annual exam and lab work (with an avian vet) prior to surrenring the bird, if possible.
2. Please give us your bird's cage and toys. Keeping anything familiar at this stressful time is important.
3. Your bird's likes & dislikes (food, toys, people, anything relevant).

You will be required to sign your bird over to Squawk and Howl or a specific rescue, giving up legal claim to the bird so that we can find it a good home.

Classes, Talks and Workshops

In addition to teaching classes herself, dani welcomes the opportunity to present other parrot experts to the public. Ask to be put on an email list if you wish to be notified of these upcoming events.
Here are Holly (with Tara the Cockatoo), Barbara Heidenriech, dani (with Tengu the Caique), and Michelle when we hosted Barb's seminar in 2006.

dani of Squawk and Howl is available for myriad presentations. She has appeared on TV and radio, given talks at bird clubs, and is currently writing a book on parrot toys and play behavior. She is the former Education Coordinator for CHRP rescue, taught parrot education classes for Mickaboo and Peninsula Humane Society, presented Barbara Heidenreich, and advises clients in person, by phone and online.

Below is a partial list of talk subjects she can bring to your group:

Parrot Care 101
Parrot Behavior 101
Parrot Food Conundrums
What Makes a Good Cage
The Importance of Toys, Games, and Playgyms
Bird-Proofing Your Home
Why Rescue Is Sadly Needed (Rescue Tales)

Seminar Topics in Development

Parrot Care 101: A primer for every bird owner!

Proper diet, exercise, housing, and activities are covered. (2 hours minimum)

The Inadequacy of the Seed-Based Diet
Pellets vs. Cooked and Fresh Foods
What Makes a Good Cage
Toys, Games & Playgyms
Illness and Injuries
Poopology
Living with Parrots and other (Predator) Animals
Bird-Proofing Your Home

Parrot Behavior 101

Parrot Body Language
Submissive Postures as the Standard for Human Introductions
Prey Animal Instincts
Biting, Nipping, and Beaking- there IS a difference!
Aggression = Fear.
Screaming and the Communication Gap
Positive Reinforcement
Getting to the WHY of behavior

Parrot Food Conundrums (1 hour minimum)

The Inadequacy of the Seed-Based Diet
Pellets vs. Cooked and Fresh Foods
How to Choose a Good Pellet
Oh, That Frustrating Pellet Conversion!
Toxic Plant and Food List
What We Know About Avian Nutrition vs. What We Speculate
Conflicting Information
Toxic Preservatives and Food Additives
The Prey Instinct & how to Work Around it When Introducing New Foods

What Makes a Good Cage (1 hour minimum)

Size & Shape
Bar Spacing
Material & Construction
Grate or No Grate?
What Should I Line the Cage Tray With?
Positioning in the Home
Furnishing the Cage with Perches, Toys and More.

The Importance of Toys, Games & Playgyms (1 and a half hours minimum)

How a Lack of Toys & Games Can Adversely Affect the Behavior of Your Parrot
Toys: The Importance of Independent Play
Games: The Importance of Interactive Play
Types of Toys (there's more than one- there are 6! (examples brought))
Perch Potato Syndrome & How to Get Your Parrot to Play
The Prey Instinct & How to Work Around it When Introducing New Toys
Why get a Playgym?
What Makes a Good Playgym

Bird-Proofing Your Home (1 hour minimum)

Known Bird (and Human) Toxins- household products, toiletries, and plants
What does a bird-safe play area look like?
Parrots and Small Children
Parrots and Predator Pets
Known Household Dangers

Why Rescue Is Sadly Needed (Rescue Tales)

Tales of Redemption: Rescue, Rehabilitation, Socilaization, and Lots of Vet Visits!
Bay Area Avian Rescues
Why Adoption is better in most cases than purchasing
Case Studies