Companion Animal Sciences Institute

Course Title: Behavior Consulting with People and Parrots - 288

Instructor: Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D.

Co-instructor: Pamela Clark, CPBC

Course Description and Objectives:

This extensive course includes an excellent introduction to the various aspects of behavior analysis as it applies to parrots. It includes Susan G. Friedman's Living and Learning with Animals course along with further coursework in parrot behavior. This course is only available for students of the Parrot Behavior Science and Technology program or the Diploma of Parrot Behavior Science and Technology program and may be taken at any point in working toward the diploma. The course is divided into 4 modules that will help the student develop a deeper understanding of behavior problem prevention and solutions. This course is provided independently by Susan G. Friedman through BehaviorWorks.org and applied to your CASI program coursework. To participate in this course, one must be an enrolled CASI student. 

Each module is outlined below:

Module 1. Living and Learning with Animals Course (LLA)                       

http://www.behaviorworks.org/htm/lla_professional_overview.html

Required Texts: Lecture Notes (provided)

See the link above for details on the LLA course.

Module 2. Parrot Behavior

Required texts: Manual of Parrot Behavior (MPB), edited by Andrew U. Luescher, Blackwell Publishing.

This module explores various aspects of parrot behavior.

Text Description: “This authoritative reference, the first of its kind, is a necessary addition to the library of any practitioner or behaviorist who sees avian companion animals. Because of their beauty, intelligence, playfulness and ability in mimicry, parrots are the most widely kept companion birds. It is estimated that more than half of the psittacine cases presented to clinicians are the result of behavioral problems - problems inherent to captivity. ... Bringing together a host of international experts on avian behavior, Manual of Parrot Behavior explores the many facets of psittacine behavior, both normal and abnormal. The book not only provides readers with a solid understanding of the basic principles of psittacine behavior but also offers useful techniques of diagnosis and treatment for specific problems.”

To further explore the many facets of parrot behavior and encourage students to pursue more in-depth, individualized study based on the personal interests of each student, students will critically read 6 chapters of MPB. Three of the chapters will be assigned by the instructors and three chapters will be elected by the student. 

Competency Measure: The student will write six essays reviewing each of the six chapters. Each essay should be 3-5 pages long and include a summary of the chapter, the strengths and weakness of the chapter, and the relevance of each chapter to parrot behavior consultants. To  facilitate the students research skills, at least two additional scientific sources relevant to the topics discussed in each chapter should be included in each essay. The instructors can assist in locating the sources, as needed. 

Module 3. Parrot Enrichment Activity

Required Text: A Parrot Activity Book by Kris Porter (pdf, provided)

Description: “Filled with ideas for toys, play areas and projects to keep parrots engaged in productive activities.”

Competency Measure: The student will conduct research on the wild behavior of at least one species of parrot  to determine 5-10 activities in which they typically engage in the free range. For each activity, the student will describe at least 3 activities that can be designed for parrots in captive environments that approximates each category of wild behavior. 

Module 4. Practicum 

Required Texts: Functional Assessment and Intervention Design form (FAIF - provided)

Using the FAIF, the student will conduct at least one case study with a parrot and caregiver pair, with instructor supervision. The student will keep a contact diary and report the outcomes in standard format. 

Additional practicum experiences can be arranged such as teaching lessons in applied behavior analysis or leading a problem behavior thread on the Parrot Behavior Analysis Solutions (PBAS) listserv; Teacher Assistant position co-teaching a session of LLP; observation and consultation with avian veterinarians and other parrot professionals such as zoo keepers, and field biologists; and others. To be discussed and arranged with instructors.

Course Texts:

Enrollment Package Includes:

• Coursework document with assignments and course notes
• Student Handbook
• Access to Classroom, with transcripts from Guest Visits and handouts
• Free membership with AABP and to all issues of its journal JACAB
  
• Access to your Instructor for one-on-one guidance

Schedule:

The course is part of the Diploma of Parrot Behavior program and may be completed at any time during the program time frame. Exceptions may be allowed based on scheduling issues with the LLA course. Enquire for details.

Prerequisites:

Enrollment in the Diploma of Parrot Behavior program. The course may be taken alone with an administrative fee of $199 paid to CASI on top of the tuition paid to BhevaiorWorks.org. The student who wishes to take this course alone must enroll and after enrollment, they will be free to take the course through BehaviorWorks.org. Once they have completed the course, they may pay the $199 administrative fee and receive their course certificate.  

CEUs: Continuing Education Credits Available. See Course Approvals page for credits.

Tuition:

$700 American paid independently and directly to BehaviorWorks.org. Textbooks not included in tuition. They may be purchased through http://www.dogwise.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.abebooks.com or http://www.half.com in most cases. Note that the Behavior Consulting with People and Parrots 288 course is provided independently of CASI and directly through BehaviorWorks.org. Tuition for the Diploma of Parrot Behavior is arranged through CASI and the tuition for the 288 course is arranged separately between the student and BehaviorWorks.org.