On the Wing: Tips for traveling with birds

We don’t typically think of birds as travel buddies, but companionable parrots may enjoy going to work with you if pets are allowed (the late, great Larry was popular at both my office and my husband’s office), venturing to the beach or an outdoor restaurant perched on their person’s shoulder, or riding shotgun on a road trip.

Gregarious Amazons, for instance, may relish the chance to display their beauty and smarts to new people, but any healthy parrot, from budgies to macaws, can take to travel, especially if you train them from an early age. Being accustomed to transportation is also helpful for veterinary visits and birdie boarding kennel stays.

Before taking your bird on a travel adventure, whether it’s around town or cross-country, be sure they’re prepared. A travel carrier with a perch for car rides and a bird harness and light leash for outdoor fun are the basics. If for no other reason, your bird should have a travel cage or carrier in the event of a disaster that requires evacuation. A transportable home makes it easy to bring him with you.

Choose a carrier with a large enough door for your bird to enter and exit comfortably. Cat carriers work well for small and medium-size birds — and even some larger birds if they have short tails. A wire dog crate is another option, and it’s easy to add a perch inside it for your bird’s comfort. Heavy chewers may do best with an acrylic carrier that already has a perch installed.

When your bird will go in and out of the carrier happily, take them on a short visit in it to the park or a café. That accustoms them to going different places, seeing other people, enjoying the fresh air and being rewarded with treats during the experience.

Types of bird harnesses include flight suits and aviator-style. Why is a harness necessary? Taking birds outdoors can be fun for you and them, but it has risks. There’s a reason many cities have flocks of free-living parrots.

You may need to try different harnesses until you find the style best suited to your bird that also meets your needs. It should stay on your bird comfortably, be escapeproof (some birds are a Houdini) and be easy for you to put on and remove. Consider enlisting the help of a bird-savvy positive-reinforcement trainer who can guide you in developing a training plan that’s right for your bird. Treats, praise and other rewards can help your bird look forward to wearing the harness.

Let your bird explore the carrier at home, and practice putting on and removing the harness so he’s used to it before you ever leave the house. He should also be comfortable meeting other people. Now your bird is ready to explore with you.

Experiment to see what your bird enjoys most — and make sure they do actually enjoy it. Signs that your bird isn’t having a good time include rounded eyes, rapidly dilating and constricting pupils, unwillingness to take treats, feathers held close to the body or fanned-out tail feathers. Birds display these behaviors when they’re uncomfortable in a situation or fearful of a predator such as a raptor in the air or a big dog jumping up toward them.

They may also be uncomfortable having strangers approach them. If people want to touch or talk to your bird, be his advocate if he seems unsure about interacting with them. Find more information on helping to keep a traveling bird’s stress level low here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/ teaching-birds-to-travel-stress-free.

But if your bird is well-socialized and comfortable in public, this is a great way to spend time with him.