PH>The following is based on my training in behavioral therapy:
PH>If I were going to try to modify a parrot's behavior, I would first
PH>try to determine some sort of baseline data.

PH>Hmm...maybe I should write a book...
Y'know, once you've gotten a parrot and learned a bit about the details
of the actual behaviors that cause the most people the most problems,
you SHOULD! This was a great post with a lot of information in it. I'm
going to save it.
In fact, I'm going to PRINT it and give it to someone. I sold a baby
conure to a young lady last January, and she's had MAJOR problems
recently because the bird is a nonstop screamer. I KNOW she did what you
mentioned and "rewarded" the bird for screaming despite my advice and
warnings, and she's gotten evicted from her apartment over it. I'm going
to be boarding "Cherry" at my father's house until she can figure out
what to do with either the bird, or her life... I'm hoping that a few
weeks of B-mod at my Dad's will do something about the screaming fits
this baby has (she's only 10 months old). Wish us luck here...I may end
up brokering my own baby again for the owner (I can't afford to, nor do
I want to, buy her back and keep her).
But your advice and observations are dead-on accurate, and I really
think that with a little more bird-specific info thrown in, you could
write a great best-seller on bird behavior! (If you knew what I know and
can't tell about the author of the bird behavior book you have right
now, you'd agree!! 
--Kathy
 * SLMR 2.1a * The Borg assimilated me & all I got was this lousy Tshirt
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