Training Ambassadors Abstracts
Full Abstract
Managing the food or weight of a bird is a useful tool to create motivation and shape behaviors. Learn about these management practices paired with the use of positive reinforcement training to improve the everyday lives of birds in captivity. Through careful management, the trainer is able to create a motivated, healthy, empowered animal. Topics include: how and when to deliver food, how food type can affect training, finding a healthy weight range for a highly motivated animal, factors affecting weight, and how to continuously evaluate and modify the weight of an individual. |
Letting Go of the Leash: Empowering our Education Birds
Jackie Kozlowski, Tracy Aviary Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Recent science data supports that choice is a primary reinforcer and giving our birds power over their environment is invaluable in creating trusting relationships and confident individuals. This talk not only covers the beneficial consequences of empowering our education ambassadors but also looks at ways that we as trainers can set up the environment for the desired choices to be made. |
Full Abstract
Bald Eagles are challenging subjects for training and use in education programs. This presentation details the training of one ambassador eagle through its many challenges as we successfully prepared it for education programs both on- and off-site. We’ll talk about what worked and what didn’t work, and the lessons we learned along the way that made us better trainers and handlers for all of our ambassador animals. |
Revamping your
Wildlife Education Program Debbie Sykes, Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center, and Walden's Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Have you been inspired by Gail, Jackie, and Melissa’s “empowering the animal” talks? Want to go back home and change everything your facility does, in order to keep up with the best-practice changes happening in the animal training field? Dive into what it really looks like to change your facility, techniques, mindsets, misconceptions, and discuss the outcomes so far. |