>>> Why clicker train? I feel that it is good for any relationship to give >>> clear 'yes' signal when something pleases me and follow up with a reward >>> sometimes.
I've had parrots for about 14 years, so no, I really don't think I underestimate their intelligence. I just don't see any reason to "click" them to convey "yes." My birds clearly understand "yes" and "no" - the English words - and use the words themselves, freely. They will even tell another bird, or a dog or cat - or even a human - "no!" if they start to do something naughty. I see my birds like small children...and I wouldn't c/t a child. Instead, I'd use every verbal resource that I could - I'd talk to a child, read to them, explain things to them, encourage them to listen to conversations with others, so that they can begin to understand life's complexities by DEGREES. That's how I live with my parrots. There's only one word in c/t - the click. I can understand using the clicker as a way to find a breakthrough with a non-verbal, non-language-oriented species. Why use only one word with a species who's so adept at verbal languages, be that a child or a parrot? To me, that's selling their intelligence way short. Karen Thomas, NC
