yesterday i tried to have zeba step on my hand/arm from the top of his cage but it didn't work. he "beaked" me a couple of times and i backed off from asking him to do it, but i stayed next to him and preened him instead. well, he knows that he won't get a walnut if he doesn't want to step on my hand. thinking about it, i guess i should also not give him head scritches either since that could be seen as a form of reinforcement.

i used the word "beaked" because it wasn't a bite at all. he just put his beak around my finger and pressed lightly...so light that there is hardly a difference between him wrapping his foot around my finger or his beak. (he is SO good about this, i just dont want to pressure him into thinking biting harder will get him what he wants).

he did give me kisses yesterday. i said "kiss, kiss" and i made a loonnggg smooching sound. he made the sound back to me and extended his top beak to my lips! isn't that sweet! needless to say...i melted on the SPOT. lol