Canaries have kids flocking to Fort McMurray barbershop

Some might say they got a trim at a Fort McMurray barbershop because a little birdie, or two, told them to. 

Max Barber Shop has a new attraction drawing the attention of local kids: canaries. 

Shukri Safadi, manager of Max Barber Shop, spent months training the birds, making sure they would come to him when he whistled or held out a piece of food. 

He's been a bird-lover since he was a kid, and he got the inspiration after his friend, who breeds canaries, invited him over.

"It clicked in my head that I should try to get two baby canaries," said Safadi. 

He hand-fed the birds for about four weeks each. He trained them to come to him by whistling and luring them with gum. 

The two birds, Lemon and Pepper, are social and Safadi wanted to make sure that if he got birds, they wouldn't be caged up all the time.

"They go in and out of the cage whenever they wish to," said Safadi. 

Initially, Safadi trained the birds using broccoli, but it was difficult to have on hand at the store all the time. One day, when he was grabbing a piece of green gum for himself, the birds flew to him right away. Now he uses gum to call the birds to him. 

"They want it so bad," said Safadi. 

The birds are not only companions, but they are also improving business. 

"I have a lot of families they come just to see the birds and play around with the birds," said Safadi. 

Sometimes the bird will land on the customers while they're getting their hair cut. 

"They're pretty much therapy birds," said Safadi.