The Avian Behavior Podcast

If you are into animal behavior and positive reinforcement training, you're in the right spot. World renown animal behavior consultant, falconer, and educator Hillary Hankey dives deep with conversations and case studies on parrots, birds of prey as well as horses, dogs and all kinds of animals on topics of behavior as well as nutrition, ethology, and problem solving.

78 Bridging the Gap: What Rehabbers Can Learn from Progressive Bird Training
Mar 27, 2025 – 45:03
77 Parrot Recall
Feb 19, 2025 – 38:03
76 Tips for Traveling with Parrots
Nov 14, 2024 – 27:35
75 Avoidance Behaviors and Weight Management in Birds of Prey
Oct 1, 2024 – 22:19
74 Training your bird for transportation
Aug 22, 2024 – 16:50
73 Dr. Stephanie Rosenbloom and the Appeal to Nature Fallacy
Aug 3, 2024 – 54:44
72 Why We Value Fly Offs in Free Flight Training
Jul 3, 2024 – 54:35
71 Differences in Ambassador Owl Species
Jun 26, 2024 – 16:22
70 Ruling the Roost: Managing your needy parrot and your family's happiness
Mar 29, 2024 – 31:47
69 Gail Buhl from the Minnesota Raptor Center and Partners for Wildlife
Mar 16, 2024 – 56:15
68 Why I don’t use ad lib weights or base weights: falconry and free flight birds
Feb 17, 2024 – 55:52
67 What we learned about birds in 2023
Jan 5, 2024 – 01:11:01
66 Dr. Lucy Kemp on Lead Poisoning in Ground Hornbills
Dec 20, 2023 – 36:28
65 Developing a student based wildlife training program
Nov 1, 2023 – 50:40
64 Why Your Bird is Attacking You
Sep 28, 2023 – 47:49
63 Owl Vocalizations and Behavior Karla Bloem of the International Owl Center
Sep 5, 2023 – 58:46
62 Part 2 Are we friends with our birds and other deep questions
Aug 4, 2023 – 28:31
61 Answering Questions About Relationships with Birds of Prey
Jul 25, 2023 – 26:05
60 World Renown Aviculturist Dick Schroeder on Ground Hornbills
Jun 24, 2023 – 37:01
Raising a Well-Socialized Owl
May 30, 2023 – 42:26
58 Are LIMA and the humane hierarchy still serving your bird training?
Apr 19, 2023 – 01:09:07
Building Trust with a Nervous Non-Releasable Raven
Feb 28, 2023 – 32:36
Dr. Scott Echols DVM DABVP Part 3: Exercise, Osteoporosis, and Foraging
Jan 28, 2023 – 54:22
Challenges Facing Rehabilitated Education Birds of Prey
Jan 5, 2023 – 34:25
The Problem Solving Paradigm: Learn the scientific mindset to solve your toughest bird behavior challenges
Nov 26, 2022 – 27:20
Dr. Scott Echols: Bridging New Frontiers in Avian Wellness with Technology
Oct 29, 2022 – 47:07
Bonus: Interview with The Rossifari Podcast
Oct 6, 2022 – 01:15:04
Do you use food to train your parrot?
Sep 28, 2022 – 39:53
Training Free Lofted Birds of Prey
Sep 1, 2022 – 49:45
Keeping the Science in Animal Care with Barbara Heidenreich
Jul 9, 2022 – 01:14:00
Are you a falconer or a petkeeper?
Jun 4, 2022 – 50:31
The Constructional Approach to Animal Welfare and Training with Maasa Nishimuta and Sean Will
Apr 29, 2022 – 59:52
Dr. Scott Echols DVM DABVP and the Dietary Supplements for Birds
Apr 15, 2022 – 01:10:40
What Matters When Training an Owl Ambassador
Apr 8, 2022 – 32:39
44 Rebroadcast How to stop your bird from screaming when you leave the room
Mar 24, 2022 – 23:43
43 How Murphy's Law Can Improve Your Animal Training
Mar 9, 2022 – 40:35
42 Special needs and Aggressive Parrots with Melanie Canatella
Feb 4, 2022 – 58:50
41. The What's and the Why's of Animal Training Mentorships
Jan 6, 2022 – 49:50
40 What's the best way to train a bird of prey?
Dec 15, 2021 – 53:14
What are the Fundamentals of Animal Training?
Nov 24, 2021 – 37:22
38 Bird Training Stories Part 2: Force Free Veterinary Training, Practical Application of CAT, and More!
Oct 19, 2021 – 42:51
Bird Training Stories with Katie, Paige and Hillary Part 1
Sep 23, 2021 – 01:15:41
On curiosity, leadership and evolution as an animal trainer with Dani Poirier Larson
Sep 3, 2021 – 01:02:30
How Our Animals Handle the Pandemic
Aug 26, 2021 – 58:57
What to do when your bird picks favorites
Jul 14, 2021 – 51:23
Interview with Wildlife Biologist Wes Larson
Jun 18, 2021 – 01:00:12
Thinking of Free Flying Your Parrot?
Jun 5, 2021 – 01:14:21
Applying Negative Reinforcement for Calm Animal Behavior
May 22, 2021 – 01:19:07
Member Interview: Adopting a bird during the pandemic
May 6, 2021 – 46:31
Why Scientific Literacy Matters to Our Animals
Apr 28, 2021 – 01:29:31

Recent Reviews

smyd123

Life changing!

I appreciate this podcast so much. I am a companion parrot owner and have learned so much that truly makes my life and my parrots life better. Thank you, Hillary!
amzimme

Every Episode Is Gold

Everyone who works with or has a bird in their care should listen to this. Every episode has great information, practical and informative and up to date with the latest research in animal behavior and training. Listening to this has improved my relationship with my birds, my approach to training and behavior, as well as given me practical strategies to implement. My life and my birds lives are better. I look forward to every episode and am never disappointed. The host has vast experience and knowledge. Thank you for sharing it!
Giraffeboy

Just catching up

I’m late to the party, but unsurprisingly, the ABI team have created a stellar podcast full of interesting information and helpful insight. I highly recommend!
The Parrot Lady

Amazing Comparative Information!

This is such great, educational content and the references back to wild to application here is awesome. Equally addressing convenience drops in pet ownership to still find ways to maximize the parrots welfare despite those restrictive environments.
aewbawe

Everything I’ve wanted!

Fantastic. So happy to have found this new podcast. Just the first episode even - I have a female eclectus and to have her particular species’ and sex’s life history discussed in a nutritional context was so amazing. I was geeking out listening to bird nutrition while the whole time I was thinking but what about eclectus parrots with their relatively specialized digestive tract and derived nesting habits? And boom! Y’all brought it up and discussed it. Just awesome. I knew this podcast was gold from that moment on and so far it’s proven to be that and more. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this podcast! Already signed up for membership with ABI and can’t wait to learn more. Excellent resource.
Delightedly

Not a bird keeper but...

I’m experienced in reptile and arthropod husbandry and mammal training and have never ever had a bird... but it doesn’t matter! This podcast is applicable to just about all husbandry and training and is fascinating. It has already stimulated lots of conversation in my social bubble. If you’re interested in wild diets or animal enrichment at all, this is a fantastic supplement. I don’t ever plan to keep birds, but knowing about all kinds of animal training and husbandry keeps my mind broad and ideas flowing.