Spotlight on Mike!

[leaford]

Mike Dances, He Talks, He Does Tricks!

YouTube - Spotlight on Mike!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNY8D5blQU

Many people have asked for more video of Mike, but it's difficult to get him to relax around the camera.

Mike is not just camera shy, he's downright scared of the camera. He has an interesting relationship with objects. Some of them terrify him, some of them piss him off. He will attack baseball caps and backpacks on site, for example. The camera sometimes seems to scare him, sometimes he wants to attack.


I am trying to accustom him to it, by inclluding him more in my videos, in the background or on my shoulder. And trying to teach him good associations with it by giving him treats during or after filming. It's a slow process, though.

But today after filming a video, I left the camera set up and aimed at his cage. He seemed to relax after awhile, and began to talk, so I started recording.

I coaxed a couple phrases out of him, and then played his version of tag with him on his cage top. Then I pushed it a bit further by bringing him closer to the camera and having him do a trick, lying on his back and balancing on my head. That was about the end of his tolerance, and he wanted to go back to his cage.

So anyway, I just thought you might like seeing some rare footage of Mike happy and playing around.

Enjoy!

 

[surbitonPete]

Birds have a suprising amount of personality if you actually devote some time to them and don't just leave them sitting in their cage as an ornament.

 

[tribalmasters]

Wow that was awesome!! Mike is one clever bird

 

[leaford]

Thanks, guys!

 

[SpaceCadet]

Yay for Mike! He's the official mascot of e-cigs/personal vaporizers! I see he likes a Bud, too

That is one awesome birdie

 

[kdix]

That was great, Leaford! What a cute way to start the day

 

[katink]

Really nice that you got him to do this on camera!

 

[nicowolf]

Thanks, Leaford, for sharing with us. I LOVE animals. Mike always whistles to us from the background of your videos. It is like he's trying to say hi. We have come to love hearing him, and now we get to see him. Your relationship with him is really cool too. You, Leaford, are the greatest. It takes a lot of patience to work with a nervous animal and to capture footage of one who loves to hate the camera is no small feat. thanks for taking the time.

 

[Kate]

Thanks very much Leaford, Mike is one cool bird

 

[wv2win]

Leaford, thanks for all of your reviews. As a new member they are quite helpful. Here is a video from Animal Planet that you could show Mike and explain to him that he could be a big TV star with a little more effort. I also think this bird's owner is just a little better looking than you are, lol. If this doesn't open for you, I can forward you the email that has the video attached.

Pet Star : Einstein's Animal Impressions : Video : Animal Planet

 

[youfillintheblank]

I want one!

 

[leaford]

Leaford, thanks for all of your reviews. As a new member they are quite helpful. Here is a video from Animal Planet that you could show Mike and explain to him that he could be a big TV star with a little more effort. I also think this bird's owner is just a little better looking than you are, lol. If this doesn't open for you, I can forward you the email that has the video attached.

Pet Star : Einstein's Animal Impressions : Video : Animal Planet

That's great! I've never taught Mike to speak on command, other than teaching him to say, "gimme a kiss," when I ask him, "what do you say?"

He doesn't speak as a trick, he's talking. Baby talk, but still. He learned that his phrases mean something, and uses them appropriately. When he says "c'mere," he really wants me to come to him. He says hello when the phone rings. And if I don't answer it he gets all sarcastic and says, "hellllloooooo!" When he's tired, he says, "say good night."

Maybe I'm biased, but to me that's more impressive.

But, yeah, ok, she WAS hot.

 

[tribalmasters]

When he's tired, he says, "say good night."

Maybe I'm biased, but to me that's more impressive.

Awwwww that is the sweetest thing ever!! What an amazing companion he is to you, I wish my dog said goodnight!!

 

[Keef]

I like Mike , love the Heloo when the phone rings .

Our guy prefers to chew it .

 

[Keef]

Oh Leaford I suddenly remembered a story my uncle once told me.

When he was young this is a looong time ago .

They owned a Hotel in the middle of nowhere.

shepherds used to come past with their heard every now and again , they would go in for a drink and leave the dogs looking after the sheep.

One day there was a rumpus outside and when they go to investigate the dogs are going mad, chasing the sheep this way and that.

They managed to calm everything down and are really puzzled as the dogs never behaved like that before.

This happened several times and then someone realised.

It was my uncles pet Parrot , on good days he went outside and wandered up and down the fence.

He heard the whistles the shepherds made for the Dogs and was copying them , as soon as someone came outside he stopped

After that he had to stay indoors when they came.

 

[leaford]

Yeah, there's lots of stories like that. They use language like we do, to control the environment. To ask, to command, to demand.

 

[GermanGoodness]

Leaford - That was so very cool. I love Mike!

 

[gizmo]

Here you go leaford,take Mike out for a walk Bird Harness Suit Eclectus to Galah - eBay Other Supplies, Birds, Pet Supplies, Home. (end time 06-Mar-09 18:00:58 AEDST)

Reckon he'd like getting out & about.