Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    My experience is that they cost around 1K.......Excellent bird as far
    as 'natural ability to talk'. But the end result of talk ability lies
    ALWAYS with the owner in time spent with the bird.  It usually takes
    anywhere from 6 months to a year to get the bird to open up and learn
    to talk.....then its a matter of how many new things you want it to
    learn.  They can, however become testy (As with any parrot that does
    not get enough attention).  Their call can at times get abnoxious.
    
    But nevertheless, it's an excellent bird to aquire. (I have two
    tres-marias double yellow heads) .......
    
    best of luck. 
    
    chet

    Re 'talking birds' in general--important to be aware that even though
    birds such as African greys, double-yellow head Amazons, blue-front
    Amazons, to name a few of the species 'famous' for their abilities,
    individuals birds differ in their inclination and ability to respond
    to even the most diligent owner's tireless efforts to train the bird
    to mimic speech.....then on the other hand, there are birds that 
    aren't supposed to talk, like lovebirds, that pick up a few words
    just because they feel like it!! ;')  (I have two lovebird hens that
    say a few words, believe it or not.)
    
    This isn't sour grapes on double-yellow heads or CWhite's comment,
    just a caution that it is real important you want the bird for its
    own sake too, just in case it doesn't want to respond to your efforts.
    
    LC

    Linda,
    
    
    	Good comment!  I thought that it would go unsaid, but it IS
    TRUE....
    get a parrot or other bird mainly because of the love of the animals.
    
    Whether it talks or not should not be of any consequence.
    
    You tend to take certain things for granted when you've been in it 
    for so long.  Thanks again!  
    
    It may be a good place to also note that I have a female yellow nape
    amazon that has been more succesful in teaching EVERY word/phrase she
    knows to her mate that I have been able.  
    
    chet

	All that being said....you still buy different
	birds for their supposed strong points...i.e.

	Cockatoos 	- 	affectionate
	African Grays 	-	talkers,quiet
	Pionus		-	quiet,friendly
	Double Yellow	-	talkers
	Blue & Golds	-	perfect

	-d

	We have had our little lady,a yellow fronted,for almost a year.She has 
an extensive vocabulary as well as a love for McDonald's fries,riding in the 
car and many other things that make her a delight to have around.My family 
regards her as a regular member of the family.
	The message here is our pet has has through love become everything we
had hoped for.Love this bird and I expect it will also be a delight.


					Calliope's Dad

    My wife and I also have a new double yellow amazon.  Ollie is now about 
    four months old and we have had him for a little over a month.  He 
    learned to say hello in a week or so and I am sure the second word 
    is the most difficult for him to learn.  As pointed out earlier, the
    love of the bird is a lot more important than its talking ability
    but people find a talking bird lots of fun.  
    
    How is the baby amazon in .0 doing?  If it was really 4 weeks old
    you must have had an experience feeding it and getting to know the
    little sweetie.
    
    Does anyone have a strong opinion about removing/leaving the band?

We have a tres-marias with red scalloping on his nape.
We have been told that he might be a Magna.  He looks like
the tres-marias on the cover the Parrots of the World book.

Any one kow about the distinctions of this sub-species or
have any information about breeding programs for these birds
Our "Captain" is swooning for the yellow-nape.

Thanks - Cyndi