pet bird restraint

Question
Hi, I am wondering if you have any pictures and wording to show me how to actually restrain a pet bird without hurting them and not using a towel.  I really cannot find any information on this and I have a bird rescue and I really would love to show my helpers how to do this correctly.l  Thank You!!

Answer
Now that you've asked that question I'm working on providing exactly that, so you're making even more of a difference.  Until I have them, I'll try to describe our method.  However, I must express that toweling isn't a bad thing if done right.  The trick to it is to not come at the bird from above, but from underneath and then up from the sides, trying to stay at or below their eye level.  Coming down from over the bird is too "predatory" and this is where the excessive stress comes in.  
  It's not easy to master the toweling from below to the sides, so practice on a shoe.  No kidding - the 'tongue' or highest eyelet of the lacing would be the bird's eye level - now with that in mind, and the shoe balanced on a perch or even at the bottom of a cage/on the floor, try to capture it.

 Another thing I find is that once the bird is captured in the towel, holding it gently, but firmly at the sides just below the shoulders, gives it a sense of security and for the most part keeps your fingers out of harms way.

When capturing without the towel we do the same thing, but bravely with our hands.  Do not hesitate to wear thick gloves - there is nothing wrong with this when you consider that a well placed bite will cause a knee jerk reaction in the human, quite often displacing the bird and upsetting everyone, making things worse.

 Come at the bird from the sides and below eye level.  Grasp both sides at the wings.  Holding the wings to the birds' body in a natural and comfortable position of course.

 I'll try to get some pics up at my site inside of the month.  If I don't, just remind me.

 www.4AnimalCare.org