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Yankee flew to me!!! I was cleaning and Yankee got down off of his play stand and was clinging to my curtains when I walked back into the room. The next moment he flew to me. I was so shocked!

I have not clipped his wings since I got him 21 months ago. I have tried and tried to help him to fly and he has just resisted my effords and then...

The good news is that I have sheer curtains over my living room windows where he lives. I don't know what to do next, I am so excited! I know that caiques are not great flyers, but I was just sad for him that he never used his wings. And now...

If anyone has any flying stories, please share. (good and bad)

Congratulations! I know that happy feeling For years I had dogs and kept my birds clipped. But even before the dogs died, I began letting the wings of certain larger birds grow. Getting them to fly was a several-year process, Cathy. Barbara Heidenrich, who trains birds for free-flight shows such as SeaWorld's, says birds who've spent significant time clipped sometimes will never show a preference for flying over walking. BUT . . . for all reading along . . . they CAN fly and will if startled, so please never assume a bird won't fly simply because he hasn't yet. Stay safe!

My CAG has had his wings the longest -- about 6 years -- and seems to enjoy flight the least, but will occasionally fly when not startled. Disappointing to me, but I keep hoping as the years pass that he'll fly more for pleasure. He's very skilled when he does fly, so I don't worry about injurious crashes. My lilac-crowned Amazon is the best flyer in the flock. Several times daily, she does circles around the large birdroom when startled, landing back on her own cage each time, and she flies to me here at the computer in the next room a few times most days. I lavish praise whenever any bird flies in hopes others will take note!

I hope Yankee loved the feel of air under his wings and will practice often. I work at recall with my grey, calling him back to his cage from a remote playstand when I'm doling out treats or serving a meal. Doesn't often work, but I'm very patient

That's great! Mika has been flighted since her baby clip wore off and Sparky learned when he was about 1 yr old, although he is currently clipped for behavioral reasons. They generally fly all over the house and to us. The things I will warn you about are:
1) they will fly to places where you can't get to them or don't want them, especially when they want you undivided attention
2) they will fly to you and your guests when they want, not necessarily when you want
3) if they don't want caught it is much harder to catch a flighted bird

That said it is great fun to watch them fly and ours both enjoy it very much. Have fun working with Yankee's new ability!

Hey Cathy

We had to get Cisco clipped. He was getting quite the attitude when he was flighted. . He was getting very good in the air. He could turn on a dime in air and head in a diff direction, and just before we got him clipped he was landing pretty much where hw wanted. At first he would try to fly and land on the desk but he would come in to hot and slide off the other side . But after a week or so he learned how to flare and land , very pretty to see. We want to get a house where we can devote a whole big room to him so he can fly to his hearts content. But our townhouse is to accessible to him and there are places he could get hurt in and too many objects that are not beak friendly

Freddy