Ok. every year something new develops with Eve. And I take this to mean nothing more than the normal progression of adult vasa behavior. Well this year head hunting has become the new thing.This year at the start of breeding season Eve started hunting peoples heads, and this behavior has since continued. This morning he flew by and attacked the top of my head by using his feet to grab the top of my head and his beak to repeatably stab the top of my head. Needless to say it hurt. I'm thinking that this is part of the hunting instinct of vasa's and would make sense that as they age they would try to prefect this skill. Eve is 7. I am wondering how to redirect this behavior? I realize that if it is a natural behavior trying to eliminate it is pointless, but to redirect the behavior to some where other than my head would be nice, oh and we also hunted the cat yesterday! If anybody has any idea on how to redirect this behavior even if it is something you came up with but don't know if it works or if even better it relates to raptor training I'm all ears. Most people I know all have vasa that are younger than Eve and do not show these behaviors yet. SO please any ideas will be helpful! I do not want to walk around with a scary hat on my head all day.
Is this the same kind of head hunting Eve was doing when he was sleep deprived by your video game?
I'm telling you, Vinnie has a game of trying to land on Sasha's head. He's been doing this since day one. She gets up and backs up, but he has no problem walking straight up to her like she's in his way. (And yes, she makes up for it when he's in his cage...)
I'm wondering if grabbing and pecking your head -- well not to insult your hairstyle or anything But could this emulate an attack on a nest? What could they have in the wild that they would do this too? People? Other animals? Very curious.
It is exactly the same behavior when he was sleep deprived! I know it is linked to food since he only does this when I am making his or my food, or am carring food. Almost dropped my coffee this morning when he decided to head hunt! He gets all geared up, flying around like a lunatic and than goes in for the kill. My poor head!
So during lunch about a half hour ago , Eve started flying around like usual looking for scraps. I kept ducking so he couldn't land on me, temporary fix I know, finished making my lunch and brought some cheez-its out...his favorite training tool. Well I decided to just hold one up, but at the same time not allow access for landing on my arm to get the treat. The first one he snatch right up out of the air, landing on the treat and taking it away. Cool, but than all other attempts failed. He suddenly became confused as to what to do, which I understand because it's the same method I use for flight training but I want him to land on me instead of snatching a treat. So I think what I'm gonna try is to train him to the word "hunt" and than treat him for getting the treat, as opposed to treating him for something already done. My theory is that once he learns what the word mean than I can move on to actually having him seek out and hunt his food for him self. By saying , hunt, it should be the cue for him to go off and find his treat. I don't know if this will stop him from head hunting though? Since it's almost a spontaneous reaction that happens when he's all geared up. Hmmmm, this should be interesting. The cats better hide!
I'm so sorry to laugh, but I can't help but giggle at the image in my head of you trying to eat your lunch with Eve flying in circles over your head, with you ducking and covering your hair.
Could you get a wig and put it somewhere so he can go for that when you teach him "hunt"? Or would that lead him to believe anyones head is fair game?
Vasa Head Hunting
But could this emulate an attack on a nest? What could they have in the wild that they would do this too? People? Other animals? Very curious.
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