It can be said, virtually without exception, that all pet birds' wings should be clipped. There are a few nationally known bird behaviorists that do keep flighted companion birds, but these individuals forget in a day more than most of us will ever know about birds. They know more about birds than most birds know about birds. Now, I do know enough to state that the logistical, physical and psychological needs of a flighted bird are geometrically higher than those of a clipped bird, and that there probably aren't 10 people in the country who have the home, the time and the experience to meet those needs. I know I don't. It is difficult enough to keep flightless birds happy and safe. I have heard too many stories of escape, injury and behavioral difficulties.

So, what is a proper clip? A proper clip is one that allows a bird enough lift so that he can "fly" downward at a 45 degree angle. The "thud" protective clip. Any less lift and you risk severe injury and any more angle is dangerously close to controlled flight. Now, thudproofing will take different forms in different birds. There is a general rule, but first, a little avian physiology.

On the top surface of the wing you will see two rows of overlapping feathers. The longer row are the flight feathers and the shorter, overlapping feathers are the coverts. Starting at the tip of the wing is the number 10 primary flight feather, moving inward to 9, then 8, all the way down to 1. Now to confuse you, next to the number 1 primary is the number 1 secondary flight feather, which feathers increase in number as they move toward the body. Got it?

A fully grown feather is like hair: cutting it does not hurt but pulling it out does. However, unlike hair, the growth process takes place externally during which time there is blood and nerves in the developing portion of the shaft. Cutting, breaking or damaging this area is very painful to the bird and the resultant blood loss can be fatal (although this is rare with a healthy, mature bird). These "blood feathers" can clearly be seen as the portion of a developing feather still encased in the wax-like karatin sheath. Nature, in it's infinite wisdom, has developed this growth process so that all "living" portions of primary feathers are hidden and protected by the coverts. In other words, if you just trimmed all primary flight feathers along the line of the coverts, you would never hit living tissue. Even with feathers that are still growing underneath the coverts, the portion that extends past the coverts is always fully mature and will have no nerve or blood supply.

Contrary to popular opinion, I like to see owners clipping the wings of their birds. My reasons for this are simple:

1. It is a good idea to know how to do this just in case your bird surprises you one day with a bit of aeronautical prowess which exceeds your expectations as to his current abilities;

2. The better you are at toweling and handling birds, the better you will be at assisting with emergencies (yours or others); and

3. I actually believe that clipping your own bird can, if done properly, be a positive, bond enhancing experience. Call me a rebel.

For most birds, grooming means toweling. Everyone should be taught how to towel a bird in a stress-free manner. Although this is clearly an in-person, hands on experience, here are a few things to remember:

1. Birds should be taught that towels are good and fun. Associate play and cuddling with towels;

2. Never towel a bird by swooping down from above and dropping the towel on the bird. Parrots instinctively believe this to be a predator, which does not make for a calm bird. Birds should be toweled from the front;

3. Birds should be toweled every now and then, even when they do not require grooming, just so that they do not develop a negative association with toweling. Being proficient at toweling will make even emergency situations considerably less stressful on your bird.

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