About Us
Kelli Inglis
Before starting Winging It Bird Training, I worked as a zoo keeper and animal trainer for almost 10 years. Working with a wide variety of species from lions and tigers, giraffe and rhino, to meerkats and lemurs, birds and reptiles, I found my love and passion for cooperative care training with all species, but primarily birds. In 2014 I took in my first two rescue parrots, Fry and Leela (cockatiels, who have sadly since passed) and in 2015 and 2016, took in Billy and Merlin, my rescue eclectus. In 2017 I started a pet services business providing training, pet sitting and dog walking, called Wings Paws and Claws, helping many clients with pet care and training. Over the years, Billy (pictured) has had several medical issues as well as plucking, resulting in many vet visits. The stress this caused Billy was upsetting for all involved and I wanted to do more for all my birds ensuring vet visits were as stress free as possible. This spurred on the idea of Winging It Bird Training as I want to guide and support as many bird owners/carers as possible, to enhance the welfare of their birds and their relationship together.
I have completed several online courses, attended many conferences and workshops and is working towards becoming a Certified Parrot Behaviour Consultant with the IAABC. I am also a member of International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants, International Associations of Avian Trainers and Educators, and Animal Training Academy.
Billy
Billy is an approximately 26 year old Solomon Island eclectus. I rehomed him in 2015 and the last 8 years has had a lot of ups and downs for us both. When I took him in he was missing all his flight and tail feathers due to extreme feather plucking. Within 6 months of living with me he was almost fully feathered again, but once plucking has been going on for over 6 months it can become habit and much harder to fix, therefore he never fully re-feathered. Unfortunately in 2017 he got a crop infection which led to more plucking. It was treated and he recovered well but in 2018 he got really sick and we were back in the vets. He was in and out of the vets for a year, which caused him a lot of stress and the plucking got worse again. He has been back in the vets again this year (2023) and has now been diagnosed with kidney disease and arthritis. Despite all the illnesses and vet trips, he is a fighter and keeps pulling through. He is very happy and loves to go out for adventures to the beach or the woods. He cannot fly but he loves to exercise by flapping his wings when we're out exploring.
Merlin
Merlin is a red sided eclectus who hatched in 2006. He joined the flock in 2016 but he was a nervous boy and it took him quite a while to settle in. When he first moved in he would often try and bite me so we worked together to build trust in each other. By teaching Merlin how to communicate with me, he quickly learnt he could control his interactions with me and became a lot more confident and happier in the new home. Merlin has a big personality and loves to say hello to people when we're out on walks. He also likes to wolf whistle at strangers, which causes some funny looks!
CERTIFICATIONS
Living and Learning with Animals
Living and Learning with Animals
Living and Learning with Animals
A course on the science and technology of behaviour change by Susan Friedman
Educating Animals
Living and Learning with Animals
Living and Learning with Animals
Animal training practical skills workshop by Jo Mason
Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Living and Learning with Animals
Training from Core to Complex
Online course through the University of Edinburgh
Training from Core to Complex
Living and Learning with Animals
Training from Core to Complex
The many faces of a modern trainer seminar by Ken Ramirez