cocatiel behavior modification

Question
How can i get my 6 month old male hand-raised white-faced cinnamon cockatiel to stop nipping my nostrils?  I have owned over 10 cockatiels and I have never had this problem.  Some will rest their beak against my nose while I pet them, and some will not want to.  This new baby bird is very tame and I think he is trying to kiss me but it hurts!  I always say NO and drop my hand down and now I have started setting him down when he does this but I'm not sure he understands since he keeps doing the same behavior.  I hate to punish him if he doesn't even understand why.  Any ideas to stop this now while he is young?

Answer
This is pretty common in smaller birds, but usually happens more with lovebirds. Instead of dropping your hand, take your free hand, gently pinch the sides of his beak and remove his beak from your nostrils. Say "no biting" and go back to petting him. He'll probably keep trying to grab your nose a few more times, but soon he'll understand what you're trying to tell him.