With awards season upon us, I believe they overlooked a truly talented contender in the Best Actor category—this incredibly dramatic Cockatoo, who flawlessly plays dead when his mama “shoots” him.
Just wait until you see his slow, dramatic collapse after the deed has been done! Totally Oscar worthy!
@toadthecockatoobang🔫 another Toad trick😏 #fyp #cockatoosoftikok #cockatoo #birdsoftiktok #toadthecockatoo #bang #playdead #parrotsoftiktok #toadsoftiktok
This hilarious video, uploaded to the TikTok account for @ToadtheCockatoo, has everyone in the comments giving this talented bird a standing ovation.
One person commented, “OMG, it’s the dramatic slow droop with the eyes closed.” Yes, that part got to me too, very touching and sad! Another responded, “I like how animals eventually know what we’re asking and go full into acting mode of an accurate death.”
I think Toad is ready to thank the academy now! Bravo, you brilliant bird! Bravo!
No matter what trick you’d like to teach your own Cockatoo, there are some important things to keep in mind when training them to do any skill.
How to teach your Cockatoo a trick
Teaching your Cockatoo a trick takes patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency. Make sure they aren’t hungry or sleepy when you start training them, and try and keep your room as free from as many distractions as possible.
Make sure you have their favorite treats like small pieces of cut up fruit, nuts, or any other snack they love.
Cockatoos have short attention spans, so keep training sessions short, about 10-15 times a try. Make sure you praise your Cockatoo, and offer treats after each training session. Cockatoos respond well to excitement, so use a happy voice and energy.
Depending on what trick you want to teach them, some Cockatoo experts suggest using a clicker. ParrotSecrets explains, “The clicker is a device that communicates to an animal that a reward will be given. We use the clicker to “mark” the exact second that the animal did what we wanted. By doing this, the animal knows exactly what it is being paid for.
Because it now knows that it will be rewarded when it does this, it is likely that he
will repeat it. The clicker is known as a “bridge” because it bridges the time
between marking the correct response and reinforcement.”
Remember, keep it light and fun and reward your Cockatoo when they perform the trick you are teaching them!
