STEVE MARTIN
Unchecked courting cute but risky
 I read with interest your article on "romantic overtures and sexual frustration". My four-year-old white-cap pionus, Petey, at times clucks like a chicken and likes to rub his vent against my hand while at the same time holding onto a finger. This is also frequently accompanied by mild biting or holding with his beak. I was pretty sure this was sexual and have tolerated it because he seems to find it enjoyable and I found it amusing; however, your article advises against allowing this type of behavior.
Would you please address the harm that can result from allowing it to continue? By the way, Petey has not been sexed so I'm not sure if he's male or female.
--Mary Anne Harris, Garland, Texas, bigdmah@attbi.com
 What you are describing does sound like masturbation. The main problem with allowing it to continue lies in the problems it may lead to. For one thing, the interaction will most likely strengthen the bond between you and your bird, and this stronger bond could lead to Petey being aggressive toward other people. If Petey is on your hand or shoulder when someone approaches, he could even bite you in a display of displaced aggression.
If Petey is a female, she could begin nesting and laying eggs. Once she lays eggs, she will want to incubate them for several weeks (it's best to leave them in the nest), and when the eggs don’t hatch, she may lay more. This cycle can continue indefinitely.
Once a bird begins laying, it is often difficult to stop it. Some cockatiels lay eggs almost year round. Veterinarians now use drugs to curb the egg-laying behavior of some companion parrots. (For more advice on stopping laying, see Ask Dr. Harris.)
It's possible none of these things will happen with Petey. Then again, it's very likely they will. If Petey were my bird, I would gently remove him from my hand any time he gets too friendly. I also would not let him spend time in any place (such as a dark corner or box in his cage) he might consider a nest site.
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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