Sunday February 26

Ken Lockwood, Eagle Valley Raptor Center
Rehabbing and Keeping Raptors
A co-presentation with ExoticHobbyist.com
Sunday, February 26, at 10 PM Eastern in the Aviary
In 1999, Ken Lockwood became head keeper at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. He has trained at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis on all aspects of rehabbing and exhibiting birds Of prey. In 2001 he received his certification from the International World Rehabilitation Council (IWRC). Ken will discuss a wide range of topics relating to rehabbing and keeping raptors, including initial exams, wing wraps, tube feeding, dehydration, flight training/exercise, diets, cage requirements and permits for raptors.

Wednesday March 1

Brian Speer, DVM, ABVP(av), ECAMS, Birds for Dummies co-author
Veterinary Care of Birds
Wednesday, March 1, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
BirdHobbyist.com is very happy to once again welcome Dr. Brian Speer, co-author of Birds for Dummies, and owner and director of California's Oakley Veterinary Medical Center and The Medical Center for Birds. Since 1989, Dr. Speer has limited his practice exclusively to birds species, including psittacines, ratites, gamebirds, raptors and waterfowl. An active member and past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, he serves as chair of the Aviculture Committee and on their board of directors, Research Director for the American Ostrich Research Foundation, Veterinary Advisory Council for the American Federation of Aviculture, as a director for the Model Aviculture Plan, on the advisory board for the Advocates for Bird Conservation, and as an avian consultant for the Veterinary Information Network.

Dr. Speer is also a co-author of the textbook The Large Macaws, and is a popular guest speaker at veterinary seminars, avicultural conventions and bird clubs throughout the United States and abroad. When he's not working, he can be found with his own breeding collection of ostriches, emus, macaws and waterfowl.

Friday March 3

Mike Hutchison, Iowa Parrot Rescue
Rescue Protocol
Friday, March 3, at 10 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Sometimes people buy parrots for the wrong reasons; they look cute, or they can talk, or they're colorful and decorative. Sometimes people's lives change... divorce, graduation, job loss, illness. Sometimes a parrot becomes more than a person can deal with; they bite, make messes and noise, and can be destructive. Sometimes people need to find a new home for a parrot, one where they can be retrained or where their habits won't be a problem, or there's time and space for them.

That's when you need to find a rescue or a sanctuary or a rehabilitator. And that's what Mike Hutchison of Iowa Parrot Rescue does - rescue, rehabilitate, and gives sanctuary to parrots in need. Come talk to him about the challenges and successes of doing parrot rescue, and what should be done when a bird is taken in, and about adoption processes.

How to Attend

These events will be held in chat rooms listed above. To access the chats: