Meeting a Mini Macaw

Question
Hi, I am going to be meeting my friend's green mini macaw for the first time tomorrow. I have no experience with birds. How do I get it to like me? Is there anything I should or shouldn't do? Will it help if I bring a pack of unsalted sunflower seeds and offer a few to it?

Thanks for the tips. :)  

Answer
Hi, Macy.  Thanks for posting!

You can't force a parrot to like you.  A bird either likes a person or it doesn't.  Be aware that you will be a stranger to this bird, and sometimes parrots don't take kindly to strangers...it just depends on if/how bonded this bird is to it's owners.  In fact, the bird might try to bite you when you get close to it...it just depends on how the bird has been socialized to humans during it's lifetime.

Normally, a parrot will take any type of treat from a person, if the bird recognizes the treat you provide (birds won't eat things they don't recognize as being food).  You can try the sunflower seeds as a peace offering, but you might ask the bird's owner if there's something in particular the bird really likes.

It might actually take you many visits with this bird to become friends with it...it just depends on the bird's personality.

Chrys