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| Feature Release |
| BRANCHING OUT IN AVICULTURE! Highlights of the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE'S National Convention Copyright © 2009 Linda S. Rubin AFA Specialty Vice President & Pubic Relations |
| Page 2. on “The Hornbills,” and Francine Anderson, on “Lineolated Parakeets.” Highlights on the third day included Dr. Donald Brightsmith who spoke on this year’s convention theme bird, titled, “Ecology and Conservation of the Blue-headed Pionus Parrot,” Dr. David Waugh spoke on “Avicultural Challenges and Successes: Highlights of the Loro Parque Fundacion Psittacine Collection,” and Rick Jordan presented the well-attended talk, “Conures: World’s Greatest Pet Bird and Breeder Bird.” Additional avicultural talks featured Kashmir Csaky on “A Comparative Observation of Hyacinth Macaws in Captivity and in the Wild,” Jason Crean spoke on “Whitebacked Mousebirds,” Ron Mazzoni on “A Practical Guide to Feeding Softbills,” and Juan Cornejo presented “Captive Breeding and Husbandry of the Horned Guan.” Several veterinary talks included “Sharman Hoppes, DVM, Ph.D. on “Allergic Alveolitis,” and “Update on Proventricular Dilatation Disease,” and Natalie Antinoff, DVM, Avian Diplomate ABVP on “Avian Reproduction: Breeding and Egg Development.” Plus, Caroline Efstathion spoke on “Structure and Function of the Avian Respiratory System,” Marshall Liger on “Practical Safe Avian Restraint and Basic Grooming,” and Michael Dalton presented “Passive Speech Research, Language and the Animal Mind.” Numerous pet bird and avicultural behavior talks were included throughout the program, featuring Robin Shewokis (sponsored by Bird Endowment) on “Do Breeder Birds Benefit from Enrichment?”, Kashmir Csaky on “Easing the Transitions in the Life of Captive Birds,” Adrianne Mock on “Branching Out: Birds in the Classroom, at the Fair and at the Park,” and Laurie E. Baker on “No Bad Birds: Bird Instincts vs. Human Interpretation.” Chris Biro (sponsored by the International Conure Association), spoke on “The Importance of Flight and the Freeflying Lifestyle,” and gave several demonstrations during the Specialty Organization meetings of the International Conure Society, the Bird Endowment Friday evening reception, and during the Saturday night gala banquet. The convention offered a meeting opportunity for officers and committees to further brainstorm. Board of Directors meetings were held by AFA before and following the convention, as well as during the convention by some of the Affiliated Specialty Organizations. One of the more unique meetings that has been occurring the past several conventions is led by North Central Regional Director Lisa McManus, who organized an annual meeting with the State Coordinators and members of her region. Discussion includes the region’s events, exchange of information, the email newsletter and what the participants would like, and support issues. In attendance at the 2009 meeting were Lisa McManus (chair, Colorado), Lisa Sladyk (Utah), Audrey Hollaar (Utah), Cindy Ryder (Wyoming), Carol Drennan (Nevada), Madeleine Franco (Nevada), and Nancy Steinke (Nevada). Lisa McManus states, “I started the regional meetings in 2005, because we need to communicate in order to unify the Region.” Of special interest were some of the birds at the convention, including Lisa McManus’ 9-year-old phenomenally tame Greater Vasa Parrot that Lisa had won in the Las Angeles AFA convention Super 8 Raffle in the year 2000. The Specialty Organizations met each evening and the Bird Endowment held their generous annual reception on Friday night where all were invited to attend, with Chris Biro free-flying both conures and macaws in the atrium venue where the “blues” party - complete with blues music - was held. The festivities came to their conclusion at the Saturday evening gala banquet, where aviculturists dressed in their finest, or avicultural attire, and enjoyed the good fellowship of one another, no doubt due in large part to the success of the week’s schedule of lectures, meetings, exhibit hall offerings and other festivities throughout the week. Banquet highlights included the President’s service awards presented to those who performed outstanding contributions to AFA, special drawings and Super 8 Raffle winners, and the fund-raising art auction, with major pieces shown throughout the banquet hall by sturdy Australian aviculturist and speaker, Matt Baird. New Life Member, the youthful (and beautiful!) aviculturist Alex Culp, was introduced, and the announcement of the winner of the 2009 Honda Four Trax Rancher, won by past president Dr. Benny Gallaway who immediately gifted it to a delighted, Florida and Puerto Rico Regional Director Fred Smith. Following dinner, Chris Biro and Susan Hilliard “worked the room” with their adorable and entertaining free-flying sun conures, collecting single dollars, and some larger bills, from those in the audience who enthusiastically contributed again to a worthy cause. Sunday morning closed with the AFA Board of Directors meeting and most attendees flying back to their return destinations. Some of us had a last meal together in the hotel atrium and pondered last thoughts of the convention. Former president Dr. Benny Galloway concluded, “I continue to be impressed by the loyalty and dedication of Wayne Smythe. I enjoyed the talks and the venue. I look out on a sea of face and missed those I did not see - but enjoyed those I saw again and hope to see everyone in St. Petersburg next year!” This was my 27th AFA convention since the one I first attended in 1979 (I only missed three since 1979). Each time I attend, I learn a great deal and I highly recommend the AFA convention to all bird owners. It is an enjoyable and educational event and one I look forward to every year. I would certainly feel something was missing had I not attended. According to 2010 Convention Chair Jamie Whitaker, “The Board of Directors have pledged to make this a more fun convention with even more entertaining events in St. Petersburg, Florida next year.” One hint I wangled, “The President’s Gala - which is still under wraps - promises to be the best one yet!” And no amount of coaxing would yield more - but I’m working on it! One of the more unique features of the American Federation of Aviculture convention are the Specialty Organization meetings and Houston was no exception. Beginning Thursday evening, the Pionus Breeders Association gathered together for a chance to meet, lasting several hours. There was much enthusiasm among these keen specialists and according to PBA director, Mark Sargent, “The Pionus meeting is experiencing increased attendance and had several new members join at the meeting.” It is no doubt PBA is on an upswing and exposure at the convention helped in that effort. I slipped out of the meeting, which ran overtime, to attend the International Conure Association, which met in a slightly larger hall to accommodate their increased attendance and later talks. The conures have enjoyed great popularity in recent years as evidenced by this burgeoning group. The highlight of the evening included Chris Biro and Susan Hilliard with their amazing, entertaining sun conures. A blaze of yellow and orange could be seen streaming around the room as “the green” collected ended back up front in the |
| Specialty Organizations Meet at the 35th AFA Annual Convention in Houston |
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