Under the directorship of Mark D. Hagen (MAg), HARI continues as a world leader in psittacine aviculture. From the humble beginnings in a warehouse operation with imported parrot species to the state of the art psittacine aviculture facility located on a mountain side in Rigaud, the HARI Team has learned and shared a great deal in the way of companion bird keeping. While some things in aviculture have changed, some things remain the same such as experiencing the passion of parrots.

What’s changed?

First of all, the vast variety of parrot species that make up the HARI Flock.

At one time the HARI flock consisted of quite a variety of parrot species to include many cockatoo species as well as smaller South American species. Currently, the HARI flock consists of ten main core species that excel as companion pets in today’s society. This is especially beneficial with the HARI developed technique of raising companion birds – the 6 stages of Early Parrot Education. We have touched on some of the stages in previous blog posts, with lessons in towel cradling, flight harness training, bathing, preening as well as nutrition. These lessons are critical in weaning parrot chicks so that they are prepared for their life as a companion pet.

The many faces of the Avian Community reflected in Parrot Life Magazine- the official publication of HARI. Unlike many other companion animal segments, the Parrot community is so varied with interests in companion, aviculture, medical, and especially a topic dear to the hearts of the HARI Team, conservation. While the publication is limited in print, we do invite readers to get the complete volume set in PDF form at the HARI web site. And, not to worry, there will be more!

What’s the same?

Aside from the many challenges the day to day facility brings, it is the passion of parrots that keeps HARI running! As anyone who cares for animals can attest, the caretaker’s day is not always smooth. HARI has experienced aviculture diseases such as Pacheco’s Virus, PDD, as well as everyday diseases that have resulted in depth research investigation in natural therapies. Mark Hagen and members of the HARI Staff have shared their experience and have spoken at Avicultural conferences all over the world. Work in the areas of disease continues as the HARI staff members collaborate with top avian veterinarians and veterinarian techs throughout the year.

HARI continues to serve as the testing facility for HARI Approved products such as Tropican, Tropimix, Prime and Living World products such as foraging and enrichment Natures Treasures Toys and new Clay-Cal.

The HARI Team wishes to say thank you to all that have supported our work and especially to those in the Avian community. IT is truly a shared Parrot Passion that will keep us going for the next 25 years!

Is the Internet replacing monthly companion bird clubs?

As the Internet becomes even more popular with endless threads of information, the avian community often reaches out to other flock members with the press of a button.   And, thanks to the power of social network sites, blogs, and so many choices in state of the art portable devices, immediate gratification is merely a click away. Without a doubt, the power of instant communication might be a positive aspect in building camaraderie with other avian enthusiast. However, one must question this trend and whether cyberspace education alone is an adequate replacement for “real time socialization” with other avian enthusiasts.

Organized companion bird clubs can offer a lot in the way of avian education coupled with a kindred fellowship, and of course community outreach events such as bird expos, adoption and fostering events,  companion bird awareness  to name a few.

Don’t let the Internet be your only source of information for your bird.

If you’ve been following the HARI Blog, you might have picked up a few lessons in caring for your bird such as “how to detect pododermatitis” or “how to use safe non-invasive towel restraint“.  Now imagine a qualified avian care specialist demonstrating these lessons with a real towel and a real bird. Can’t get that on your computer or your portable device!  But, when a thriving bird club features  a guest speaker to show the members how to do this first hand, the lesson is  more meaningful. And, who benefits from that?

For many of our followers, locating an organized companion bird clubs may present a challenge.  We suggest looking for a club that offers well rounded activities or benefits that are in line with the membership and the positive aspects of companion birds. A bird club is as empowering as its membership. While that can be a challenge, we do encourage avian caretakers to seek out friends and support their local bird clubs.  Local companion bird clubs are the ties that bind the avian community.  Need to find a bird club near you…yeah…you guessed it. Check the internet!

LIPS 26^th Year!

With that being said, we’d like to acknowledge one of the largest companion bird clubs in the United States, the Long Island Parrot Society.   This year, LIPS celebrates their 26^th year as 501c3 organization and serves the New York avian community with many projects that promote responsible bird ownership based on education and example. With a membership of over 600, the club caters to the many facets of the avian community to include companion bird owners, breeders, pet shop professionals as well as support for the  fostering and re-homing of companion birds in need.

And, now for an HARI EVENT announcement!

Calling all of the avian community in the Long Island New York area and set the date! JULY 23, 2011!

Join Mark Hagen, Director of HARI and Josee Bermingham, AHT and head veterinarian Technician for the day as they present A Parrot’s Guide to Surviving in a Human Household for the Long Island Parrot Society.

Whether you’re a companion pet owner, a breeder, or pet shop, you don’t want to miss this all day event!  LIPS, one of the largest companion bird clubs in the United States present this special opportunity to all. Special discounts are available with multiple registrations. For more information on this event, please visit the Long Island Parrot Society web site: http://www.liparrotsociety.org/

Some of the” Spokes of the Avian Community”

Companion, Conservation, Aviculture, -none exist without each other and we don’t exist without all of them!

Whether you’re a companion bird owner, an aviculturist, or conservationist, the common love and respect for the parrot is so tightly entwined…much as stated by the theme for the 7^th Annual Parrots International Symposium in Miami, Florida June 2-3rd. “One World For Parrots: Conservation, Aviculture, Companion”

As Mark Hagen, director of HARI, prepares his HARI Presentation for this conference, the theme for Parrots International, very much like the sub title of Parrot Life Magazine, helps to bridge the gap between the “spokes” that make up the wheel of the avian community.

Let’s face it, many folks have pets. And of those pet loving folks, many have a pet dog. Of those people that have dogs, how many are concerned about the welfare of a gray wolf? After all, the companion or domestic dog that dominates today’s pet industry is a descendant of the gray wolf. Not a whole lot when we consider the number of pet dogs! This is somewhat understandable. Our companion dog today, regardless of breed, is over 15,000 years removed from his wild counterpart.

Well, so what does conservation, aviculture, and the companion bird communities have in common and why is it so important that these spokes maintain a close relationship? In a nutshell, it’s a constant evolution and a very synergistic relationship. While it is widely documented that Man has had a close relationship with the pet parrot as early as 400 BC, there is still so much we learn about our modern world when we take a look at parrots in our homes or in the wild. Our feathered companions, especially if they’re fairly young, are possibly only a generation or two from its wild counterpart. With the lifespan of some parrot species, many wild caught parrots are amongst the companion or aviary populations. Some of the behavior challenges that plague the companion birds can be attributed to a stifling or better explain, a lack of understanding of parrot’s innate behaviors derived from living in the wild. How about nutrition for companion birds? In the 1980’s, HARI director, Mark Hagen studied the caloric metabolism of a nesting pair of Scarlet macaws’ diet in the wild in comparison to that of captive parrots to determine the needs of a companion parrot’s caloric energy needs. This information was the corner stone in the development of HARI Approved Tropican. What if these parrots were not there?

Let’s switch to captive breeding populations of parrots. Look at the plight of the Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii.) While there are many parrot species that are considered critically endangered, the Spix’s macaw is the probably amongst the most well known in the avian community. It is believed the last known Spix’s macaw disappeared in the wild in 2000. What caused this? Some would say it was greedy collectors for the illegal captive parrot market. Some would say the destruction of environment due to over development of lands for cattle grazing and the need to fulfill man’s progress in the world that outsourced the trees and food sources for this little blue parrot. A combination of all of these to be sure! Parrot populations in the wild are like the looking glass or microscope of how things are in an ecosystem. It is said that when a species goes extinct-it is quite possible that at least 10,000 living things go with it…trees, plants, insects and more! We’re in a bit of a quandary with global warming….

The work and unity of concerned avicultural facilities such as Loro Parque Foundation and Al Wabra Preservation , to name a few, have been of great importance in rebuilding populations of the Spix’s macaw with captive breeding practices. While production in captive breeding programs have brought the world population to over 70, the current population is not sufficient enough to repopulate the wild bird numbers-but it’s better than zero! More studies on the behalf of the conversationalist communities is necessary is required to understand the demise in the Spix’s wild habitat. Meanwhile, captive populations of this species needs to be responsibly maintained and remain fruitful and healthy. Success of this species is in the hands of professionals that have committed to years of dedicated aviary management.

While these are only brief examples of how the spokes come together, we at HARI celebrate the endeavors of all them and we hope you do!

Each year, the HARI Team attends several avian seminars throughout the world and quite often, our Team members are featured speakers at national events in efforts to keep up with and share in the ongoing educational process. When it comes to avian education-whether it is on the bird’s end or the human’s, nothing is absolute. It’s ongoing.

Avian Seminars provide an opportunity to meet other avian enthusiasts and gather information. Local bird clubs and an increasing number of pet supply retailers regularly offer educational events to bring the education awareness to the avian community with closer proximity.While the avian community is a bit tighter with the many internet sites, newsgroups, and even blog sites such as this one, participation in some of these events tightens the avian community bond. It’s often more enlightening to get this information first hand with real people all sharing a mutual interest. And, let’s face it; workshops are not quite the same without hands on experience.With that said, we do encourage avian caretakers to attend some of the conventions or seminars available. Whether it’s one of the larger conventions or seminars listed below, or your local bird club or a specialty retailers, take the opportunity to attend and to support the group. Your Feathered Companion will be glad you did!

AUSTRALIA

So often we accept our bird’s spring like moods as part of sharing a life with a parrot. And, in most cases, accept that our feathered companion can be aggressive with their cage, or even with certain members of the household. The following series of articles, by HARI Manager and Parrot Life Magazine editor, Josee Bermingham, offers explanation and causes of these undesirable behaviors. And, solutions that will help!

Versatile living quarters and lifestyle for your parrot

How this can benefit a long lasting relationship with your avian companion

Many parrot companions are not given the appropriate exposure to versatile living quarters needed to continuously challenge their intelligence & instinctive potential for adaptability and independence. What stimulating lifestyle are we offering our companions?

Furthermore let’s explore the dramatic & life-threatening health conditions that could possibly be linked to the monotonous lifestyle of numerous cage bonded birds. Obesity, lack of exercise, and prolonged states of hormonal overdrive are suspected to be frequently responsible for the compromised life expectancy of our companion parrots in recent years. An alarming reality reveals the correlation made with prolonged states of hormonal overdrive, inevitably responsible for numerous undesirable behaviors leading to abandonment.

Ironically, despite the significant advancements in avian medicine, behavior analysis and modification, nutrition, husbandry and aviculture, numerous individuals in our care live shorter lives than what used to be expected! Where have we gone wrong?

Stay tuned for continuing suggestions and helpful modifications in parts 2 & 3…

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Bird product retailers, rescue facility managers and aviculturists recently flew down to Kissimmee, Florida for the second annual Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (HARI) Parrot Life One-Day Seminar, an event dedicated entirely to avian topics focused on HARI-approved methods and products.

This year’s event was designed to appeal to retailers and also be educational for bird owners in general.  Because of this, and the Florida Federation of Aviculturists promoting the event as a commitment to education in avian care, the One-Day Seminar saw an increase in aviculturist attendance over last year’s event.

At the seminar, Hagen introduced its new Living World Nature’s Treasure line of all natural, multi-textured bird toys made with buri leaves, coco shells and husks, bamboo and abaca rope.  The chewable, non-toxic toys are safe for all birds and do not contain tree wood from wild or endangered trees, rubber, plastic, latex or toxic chemicals. Only food-grade coloring agents are used to give the toys their fun, fiesta-style hues.

The toys were offered at a special seminar-only price with proceeds going toward the American Federation of Aviculture (AFA) Conservation Fund, which offers financial assistance to wild avian conservation projects throughout the world.

One of the highlights of the seminar was a live demonstration of HARI-approved products by aviculturist Fred Smith who brought two of his macaws.  Smith used his Hyacinth Macaw to show attendees how to properly towel, health check and groom a bird. He also demonstrated the proper way to give baby birds a well check on his five-week-old Blue and Gold Macaw.  The brilliantly-colored birds are ideal for demonstrations because their large size makes audience viewing easier and their vibrant hues make them stunning to watch.

Other demonstrations included HARI Avian Health Technician Josee Bermingham showing the importance of allowing a bird to exercise its wings for muscle development and explaining the use of a new HARI product, Living World Clay Cal.  Additionally, HARI Avian Product Specialist Melanie Allen explained the meaning of Caloric Density, a key element in Living World’s Tropican bird food.

Attendees were treated to a catered lunch and everyone received a Parrot Life Seminar Booklet that summarized the information provided at the event.  Those in attendance also received door prizes, which included items such as HARI-approved bird food products, scales for weighing birds and jewelry designed exclusively for the seminar by HARI customer Jean “The African Queen” Pattinson.  Aviculturalist Jennifer Trescastro of Jacksonville, Florida, won the $200 grand door prize, a first aid kit containing many of the items on the HARI-approved list in the Parrot Life Booklet.