Teaching Your Bird to Talk [Hardcover]

Diane Grindol (Author), Tom Roudybush (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2003

From two noted experts-the first in-depth book on teaching your bird to talk

Teaching a bird to talk isn't as difficult as it may seem. In this easy-to-follow guide, avian experts Diane Grindol and Tom Roudybush reveal how you can communicate with your parrot far beyond "hello" and, in turn, understand what your bird is trying to communicate to you.

Teaching Your Bird to Talk compiles an impressive amount of background, training, and research regarding bird vocalizations, walking you step by step through the behavioral mechanics of training parrots to talk (as well as starlings, mynahs, and other birds). Whether you want your bird to mimic words, talk on cue, or have some understanding of what you are saying, this guide shows you the type of training you need to do with your bird. The book also takes a close look at the work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg-the world's foremost authority in the field of parrot intelligence and trainer of Alex the African Grey Parrot.
* Identifies which species of bird are likely to talk and which aren't
* Explores field research on regional languages and dialects of parrots in the wild
* Features true stories from owners of talking birds
* Explains how to handle problems with vocal parrots, such as screaming and using inappropriate language
* Offers tips on feeding and housing birds, and finding an avian veterinarian

Editorial Reviews

Review

“… represents the compilation of a vast quantity of background information.. The authors clearly have considerable experience in the field of aviculture.” (Cage & Aviary Birds, 13^th March 2004)

From the Back Cover

From two noted experts–the first in-depth book on teaching your bird to talk

Teaching a bird to talk isn’t as difficult as it may seem. In this easy-to-follow guide, avian experts Diane Grindol and Tom Roudybush reveal how you can communicate with your parrot far beyond "hello" and, in turn, understand what your bird is trying to communicate to you.

Teaching Your Bird to Talk compiles an impressive amount of background, training, and research regarding bird vocalizations, walking you step by step through the behavioral mechanics of training parrots to talk (as well as starlings, mynahs, and other birds). Whether you want your bird to mimic words, talk on cue, or have some understanding of what you are saying, this guide shows you the type of training you need to do with your bird. The book also takes a close look at the work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg–the world’s foremost authority in the field of parrot intelligence and trainer of Alex the African Grey Parrot.

• Identifies which species of bird are likely to talk and which aren’t
• Explores field research on regional languages and dialects of parrots in the wild
• Features true stories from owners of talking birds
• Explains how to handle problems with vocal parrots, such as screaming and using inappropriate language
• Offers tips on feeding and housing birds, and finding an avian veterinarian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (December 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076454165X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764541650
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diane Grindol is a pet sitter living in Monterey, CA. She keeps companion birds and writes a column for BIRD TALK magazine. She attends an animal drawing class once a week, takes photos of the Central Coast and pets, and is active in her church.

Diane has written several books for companion bird owners, including "Cockatiels For Dummies(R)," "Birds Off The Perch," and "Teaching Your Bird to Talk." When she speaks to bird clubs and rescue groups, she points out that the first Europeans to describe cockatiels mentioned mainly that they were good to eat. Living in California, she calls her flock an earthquake preparedness kit.

Diane's interest in writing, photography and animals is combined in these books of haiku poems: RESKU, Dogku, Catku, Horseku, Birdku and Petku! Diane originally learned about haiku in the fifth grade, and started to write it again while participating in a small writer's group. She's quite addicted to haiku.

Diane was an exchange student in Turkey during high school and spent junior year abroad in France during college. She grew up in Rolling Meadows, IL. Diane attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri and graduated with majors in art, French and home economics. She did graduate work at the University of Missouri/Columbia and the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She completed Landmark Education's "Curriculum For Living" and also did the Wisdom Course and many seminars offered by Landmark Education.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Teaching Your Bird to Talk, February 27, 2006

By 

Björn Ómarsson (Iceland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teaching Your Bird to Talk (Hardcover)

When I bought this book I thought I was buying a book that would help me teach my parrot to talk. Although I do know that there are no guarantees about which bird will talk and what method works, I wanted tips and advice on how to help my parrot learn.

This books gives no such information. It covers why parrots talk, which parrots talk and lots of stories about talking parrots, but no real information on teaching my bird to talk. The only chapter I liked was the one about the Model/Rival-method, which is a detailed chapter on teaching a parrot to talk with cognition, understanding the words it uses. However, the bird must alredy be talking for this method to work.

What I wanted was an answer to these questions: Do constant, out of context, repetitions work? Does plaing a casette work? Would it help to have talking sessions? Does my tone of voice matter? How can I get my bird to talk more clearly? How can I get my bird to talk in front of strangers?

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has good basic information for the beginner in bird care or ownership as well as advanced information., August 13, 2005

By 

Mavis Metcalf "http://birds.bellaonline.com" (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teaching Your Bird to Talk (Hardcover)

Two authors have teamed up to write this book titled Teaching Your Bird to Talk. The two of them have plenty of experience with birds.

The first chapter is a "must read" for someone just thinking about bringing a bird into the family. All to often, the idea of having a pet that can talk to you, overshadows the time and commitment required to look after this pet.

To help us understand a little about talking, they give information about how and why birds make sounds. Birds that make sounds all year round instead of just at breeding times may be possible good talkers.

If a talking bird is what you are looking for, the chapter Who Talks and Who Doesn't will be of interest to you. It is also expained that not every bird in the talking list will talk, but they have the potential to talk. The birds that talk clearly are identified as well as the birds that simply do not talk. Although parrots are the most common talking birds, there is also a list of non-parrot birds that are known for talking ability.

The chapter Parrots Jump Into The Conversation contains input from several people who wrote in about conversations with their pet birds and is a lot of fun to read.

The Model/Rival Training Technique chapter explains how this method of training is used and this is the way that Alex, the famous African Grey Parrot belonging to Dr. Pepperberg was trained.

Of course, the whole book is not just about teaching your bird to talk. There is wonderful advice on general pet bird care, solving problems, playing games with your bird, and what to do if your bird turns out to be a non talker.

This book has good basic information for the beginner in bird care or ownership as well as advanced information for those who have experience with birds.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own a bird, you need to own this book., January 6, 2004

By 

James Rowe (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teaching Your Bird to Talk (Hardcover)

This book summarizes what you need to know if you are responsible for the care of a bird. You never really own them, since they have a mind of their own. But you can bribe them with attention and treats. I have two parrots that talk, a blue and gold macaw and a lessor sulphor crested cockatoo. I used techniques similar to those described in the book to teach them. Whether you have owned parrots for 20 years or are just starting to keep birds, you can learn something from this book. I have heard the authors speak at conventions, if you have a chance, take the time to hear them speak.