STEVE MARTIN
"Attack flying" is territorial aggression
 Can you address the topic of unusually dangerous birds? I don't mean ones that bite when you invade their space, but ones that attack! I bought a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo from a man whose wife was afraid of the bird. It flew at her head several times. I allow him out under supervision, and most of the time he seems like a gentle, curious little clown, but sometimes something sets him off.
Once, I turned my back to answer the phone and he flew at my head. Last evening he apparently didn't like the treat I was offering and tried to bite my hand. I turned to put the treat away and
he flew at my head. If I hadn't ducked instinctively, I'd have been clawed or bitten.
I suspect he is hot tempered because when I put him away for the evening earlier than he wants, he takes it out on the bars of his cage.
I have had this character for four years, so he has certainly had time to adjust to me. I am retired and live alone so there is no one tormenting him. I have one other bird, an African grey that I have had for twenty years. They both get the same general care and attention.
-- L. Lorraine Lyons, gildedcage@prcn.org
 Aggression is one of the most painful and frustrating behaviors companion parrots exhibit. The attacks you have described are often associated with protecting territory. In the wild, it is very rare for a parrot to bite another parrot with the intent to cause injury. However, in all the cases where an injury has been documented, territorial aggression was to blame.
In captivity, parrots often bond with one person and become aggressive toward all others. You mentioned that you live alone, so another person is not likely the factor here, unless you have a frequent visitor whom your bird is fond of. It is possible that your cockatoo has developed a bond with your African grey, even though they are not housed together.
World-renowned animal trainer Steve Martin established one of the first free-flight bird shows in the country at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1976. His international consulting company, Natural Encounters, Inc., now helps zoos all over the world train all types of animals using positive reinforcement.
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