STEVE MARTIN
Mirrors make good companions
 We have a mental-health question regarding our orange-wing Amazon, Lessa. Should we let her have a large mirror as a "companion"?
Lessa does not like hands or fingers; she won't perch or snuggle; she won't let us scratch her head. But she is affectionate in her own way (making happy parrot noises, etc.) Some time ago, we put a large mirror up behind her cage, and she seems to have become obsessed with it. She spends most of the time outside her cage chewing on the mirror's frame and sometimes even puts her head down in front of it, waiting for "the other bird" to give her a head scratch. She even "fights" with the mirror, putting her foot up and flaring her wings and tail.
Right now, she's in a different room without the mirror, because we are having some work done in our house and we don't want her exposed to construction dust. She was kind of mopey the first week, but now seems a bit happier and more like her birdie self.
Do we give her back the mirror when the construction is over and she's back in her spot, or should we use this as an opportunity to wean her from her obsession? We just want her to be happy.
-- Donna and David Schwartz, Newburgh, N.Y., david.and.donna-dds.enterprises@worldnet.att.net
 I appreciate that you do not force Lessa to step on your hand and do things she does not like to do. It's also good that you recognize she is affectionate in her own way. I am sure Lessa is happier and more comfortable than many other birds that are routinely forced to comply with the commands of their owners.
I believe mirrors are fine for parrots. Years ago we often heard well-meaning "experts" say that you should not give your bird a mirror or it would not learn to talk. In fact, mirrors can encourage a bird to talk, just as they can prompt him to display to his reflection. I know many parrots that spoke their first words to their own image in the mirror in their cage.
Mirrors can also ease the anxiety parrots may feel when left alone. Few people realize how unnatural it is for a parrot to be left without a companion while the owners are at work. In the wild, parrots have a mate, partner or friend by their side almost every minute of every day of their life.
No one really knows the effect isolation has on pet parrots. However, it's pretty obvious they enjoy the feeling of companionship that a mirror provides. So, I say give Lessa's mirror back to her.
If you decide one day that you would like to teach Lessa to step onto your hand, you may find it is easier than you think - if you use positive reinforcement, that is.
Start by handing her a treat through the bars and work your way to the point where she will let you hand her the treat inside the cage. Lay your hand flat on the perch and hold the other hand with the treat in it on the opposite side of the perch from Lessa. Let her lean over your flat hand to reach the treat a few times. Then, lift the treat just high enough and far enough away that Lessa has to put one foot on your hand to reach it.
After she gets the treat, let her move back to the perch. Don't rush her. Let her progress at her own pace. Repetition is the key to training. The more times she steps onto your hand and back to the perch the easier she will accept your hand.
Once she is stepping on and off your hand without hesitation you can begin slowly taking her out of the cage short distances. As she gains confidence in being away from the security of the cage, you can move her farther away from the cage. Soon, you will be on your way to a new, more rewarding relationship with Lessa.
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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