Volancy = Flight!

“Volancy” is the ability to fly. All of the parrot species we keep as pets are naturally volant. They predominantly rely on their wings to move just as we predominantly rely on our legs. They learn to walk, flap, and fly as part of normal development much like we learn to crawl, walk, and run. Why, then, do pet parrots so often have their flight capabilities severely restricted–or even eliminated–through the practice of wing clipping? What happens when you deprive an animal of its natural movement? Can such a thing be justified?  More controversially, is wing clipping cruel?

My sincere hope in establishing this website is to educate people (particularly bird owners) about the critical importance of flight and the consequences of flight restriction through the use of scientific sources and real-world examples. I would also like to assist bird owners in discovering training methods and ways to alter their home environments rather than choosing to clip their birds’ wings. Wing clipping may indeed be more humane than permanently confining birds to small cages, but I am happy to say that we need not settle for either of these options in most cases.

I am completely aware that, due to various circumstances, it is not possible for every bird in captivity to be flighted at this very moment. However, I believe that we in the avicultural community should move towards a standard of parrot volancy: keeping parrots in their naturally volant state whenever possible, thereby promoting increased animal welfare and more fulfilling human-bird partnerships.

Click here to begin learning about flight vs. wing clipping!

FLIGHT-FRIENDLY BREEDER LIST BY CHRISTINE (WORK IN PROGRESS)

DISCLAIMER: ***DO NOT TAKE YOUR BIRD OUTDOORS UNRESTRAINED.***
For the sake of illustrative and educational purposes, I have included some images of specially trained birds “free-flying” outdoors.  Outdoor free flight is exceedingly complex. Do NOT attempt unrestrained outdoor flight without training and guidance from an experienced free-flyer who knows your species of bird.  Most birds CAN fly indoors or in an outdoor enclosure, but not all birds can free-fly outdoors safely.  (Please see our section on free flight for more information.)