Mission Statement

To provide the tools needed to approach free flight training in the safest and most rewarding manner possible, for indoor or outdoor flying.

We believe that many more people will be able to achieve this wonderful goal of having a free flying companion parrot if they have access to accurate information and competent instruction.

Although we are proponents of flighted birds, we are not opposed to clipping flight feathers in some cases. We also believe that stimulating and happy environments can be provided for birds which are not flighted. We believe freeflying outdoors is a sport or fancy which not all people and birds are suited to enjoy. We want to provide the tools needed to support those who are.

We believe the goal of flying a parrot indoors or outdoors can supply the motivation needed to learn above average training and handling skills, thus raising the level of care and husbandry standards for all pet parrots.

To encourage events in which people with flying parrots gather and demonstrate their birds flying skills and flying enthusiasm and where information and techniques can be shared and advanced through the group experience and knowledge.

We believe that as such flying events become established, even greater motivation to learn training and handling skills will arise, as Agility has done for the dog community.

To use the most effective, safe and humane training methods available.

We primarily rely on positive reinforcement and use favorite food items, social interests, play interests and other inherent interests as reinforcement. We strive to improve our training skills and methods so that only normal and natural hunger levels are needed for our training sessions. As a rule, weight reduction methods are not used in our training.

To reduce the risks involved with flying birds to the lowest level possible.

It is our goal to identify the factors and conditions where losses are most likely to occur and to help create, use and teach effective strategies to overcome such risks. We recognize that losses through accidents and predation are always possible but we believe that training for maximum skill level and peak physical fitness greatly reduces such risks. We believe that loss due to the bird "getting lost" in normal flying environments is nearly completely avoidable through proper training and careful handling. We also recognize that we humans make mistakes and we strive to show understanding and compassion to anyone who loses a bird due to fate or to their own mistakes. We believe it is our role to provide information and support, but not to judge.

To reduce the need to keep parrots in shelters or rescues.

It is our belief that through better trainer and handler skills comes less need for shelters or "rescues". As with dog agility, people who interact with their animals with regular training will have less reason to cast off troublesome animals. People who learn advanced training skills will have better skills at "fixing" problem behaviors. They will also have closer relationships with their animals, and thus have more incentive to keep them out of shelters. We believe that better training skills learned for one species of pet will transfer over to improved lives for other species of pets in the home (and spouses, kids and employees).

To promote responsible keeping of pets and the rights of the pet owner to do so.

It is our belief that pet ownership is a valuable right that every person and family is free to enjoy without government harassment. This right is protected under the US Constitution protections of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness clause. We also believe that many valuable social skills are learned through the enjoyment of this right. Proper treatment of animals teaches children proper treatment of people. Learning about the science of behavior for the care of pets benefits the pets, the family and the community.