Birds love drama. Are you screaming? Jumping up and down? That's good in and of itself! That's fun! The bird will join in!

This is a problem because us hairless, bipedal mammals tend to create drama when we're angry, when the bird has done something bad. A bird screams, we scream at it to shut up. What does the bird learn? We're screaming together! Fun! A bird bites, we yell. What does the bird learn? Biting creates fun! In both cases, our drama reinforces negative behavior.

Suppose we use the bird's love for drama against it? When the bird screams, we whisper to it, demonstrating the proper behavior -- and, being a flock animal, the bird joins in. The tactic's even more effective with biting; my bird once bit a friend on the thumb, and she didn't react at all. Disappointed, this was the last time my bird even thought about biting her. Follow that example. Show no drama during negative behavior.

In contrast, if the bird is being well-behaved, or you want to play some, have some drama! Jump around, yell, sing, the bird will join in. Because drama is fun!