| | |  | Collars & Leashes | Home » » » Teaching Your Bird to Talk | | | | | | | Description: | | 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 | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Diane Grindol | | Hardcover:
| 256 pages | | Publisher:
| Howell Book House | | Publication Date:
| December 05, 2003 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 076454165X | | Product Length:
| 9.62 inches | | Product Width:
| 6.12 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.88 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.31 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.75 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.6 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.7 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.3 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 12 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 43 found the following review helpful:
 Teaching Your Bird to TalkFeb 27, 2006
By Björn Ómarsson
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 found the following review helpful:
 This book has good basic information for the beginner in bird care or ownership as well as advanced information.Aug 14, 2005
By Mavis Metcalf
"http://birds.bellaonline.com"
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 found the following review helpful:
If you own a bird, you need to own this book.Jan 06, 2004
By James Rowe
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.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Diane Grindol has done it again!Jan 21, 2004
By Bonnie S. Kenk
"parroted"
Diane Grindol has done it again! Another great book with great information that everyone who lives with a parrot should have in their book collection. In easy to understand language, Diane explains Dr. Irene Pepperberg's model/rival technique for teaching parrots. This book isn't just for people that want to teach their bird to talk, its for every parrot owner.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Good bird info but not a primerAug 25, 2008
By Lulu
"lavenderfish"
This book provides a wealth of information on birds but the title is a bit misleading. There is only one strong chapter on the "hows" of teaching a bird to talk with understanding rather than simple mimicry. The rest of the book details the funny things and the many things talking birds say(as reported by their owners), bird habits, nutrition, etc. I would have preferred a bit more in the tutorial section.
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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