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and Companion Parrots
Copyright © Linda S. Rubin | CockatielsPlusParrots.com
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
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glass vase. Another worthy cause that got its money’s worth!

Friday evening hosted the specialty meeting of the newer, growing Lineolated Parakeet Society, which shared informal discussion
and imparted lots of species information. Although I’m not a “linnie owner” I did stay and join in the later discussion on genetics. It
was evident to me this group had a lot to offer.

The extravagant Bird Endowment Reception, run by Executive Director Laney Rickman, followed in the hotel atrium, replete with eye-
catching decorations and party novelties to honor the “saving the blues” theme. Many attendees, speakers, and exhibitors gathered
to enjoy the party and blues music, with an open cash bar. Chris Biro and Susan Hilliard entertained the crowd with their free-flying
sun conures and blue-throated macaws that catapulted into the upper rafters before returning in broad, winding sweeps to the
assembled. Much to the interest of all, a fun-filled auction of impressive items, including art work, followed into the late night hours.

The AFA arranges Specialty Organization meetings in advance of the convention. If you are an affiliated Specialty, or would like to be,
please contact Specialty Vice President Linda S. Rubin at LSR@CockatielsPlusParrots.com or 617-469-0557. Your Specialty will
receive further information on how to arrange meetings, speakers, and a booth for the upcoming convention, plus a complimentary
listing in the AFA Watchbird publication, and among the Specialties with your Specialty’s website link on the AFA website.




The Houston Zoo trip followed the AFA House of Delegates meeting during the pre-convention activities before the main convention
was underway. With no time to spare, and a quick change in our rooms, those with prepaid tickets mounted the comfortable, air-
conditioned buses to head to the Zoo. Each year, we have an excellent zoo tour and this year was no exception, including a “behind-
the-scenes” excursion of Bird World and its inhabitants.

From pairs of rare St. Vincent Amazons, to meeting a friendly White-bellied Go-a-Way bird held by keeper Megan Neal, there was a
wide variety of birds to suit most every interest, both on display and behind the scenes.

At our leisure, we were separated into smaller groups for the behind-the-scenes tour of the bird flights housing psittacines, softbills,
ground birds, and many others. At the end of the tour, each group was led in to inspect the incubation room where selected eggs
were hatched, to view the kitchen where the fresh produce and protein diets were prepared, and see the working facilities where the
staff conducted daily activities. A group of high school students involved in a program for credit were currently busy at one table
working on their observations and studies.

What made the visit special for me was the extraordinary opportunity to view a Double-wattled Cassowary again at close range.
These birds can be deadly, but this juvenile the zoo recently acquired was well contained and even somewhat friendly. Known for
being capable of disemboweling a human if provoked, a special pen with a trap door to protect keepers enabled daily maintenance.
I like to describe this species as a bird that most resembles an emu - with florescent blue skin on its neck and face, with a red
wattle, a triangular projecting horn topping its crown, displaying thick feet, toes, and spiking nails - simulating a cross between a
space alien and a dinosaur. (I certainly don’t know what a space alien looks like, but that is what I could imagine one to be).

I saw the exhibit with AFA First-timer, Brenda Horn, an enthusiastic AFA member who first learned about the convention at the AFA
booth at the Parrot Festival in Houston. Brenda then attended a rummage sale at ABC Pets and South Central Regional Director
Jamie Whittaker suggested she go online at www.afabirds.org  to join.  Brenda, registered for the full convention and her husband
joined her for the banquet.

The time just flew by and with a brief stop for refreshments at the air-conditioned Parrot Cafe restaurant, and another quick stop at
the zoo’s gift shop, we were finally ushered back onto the buses to return to the hotel, delightfully satisfied with the day’s adventure.

If you haven’t joined us for a zoo trip yet, you may wish to give it serious consideration next time.  It’s well worth attending and seeing
a number of species you might never come across otherwise, as we all naturally tend to acquire “tunnel vision” for only those
species we keep. I have always greatly valued learning about and enjoying the many other fascinating species of birds out there,
even if I am unable to keep them myself.

For further information on next year’s trip and convention, read the upcoming AFA Watchbird publication and be sure to check out
the AFA website at www.afabirds.org, which publishes up-to-the-minute news on the convention and all activities.


The American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. was established in 1974 as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the
advancement of aviculture. This is accomplished through AFA’s dedication to the conservation of bird wildlife through the
encouragement of captive breeding programs, scientific research and the education of the general public. AFA funds grants to avian
research and conservation for the betterment of avian species and aviculture. Individual membership is $40 and includes its world-
class publication, the AFA Watchbird, among many other benefits. For further information, visit www.afabirds.org.


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Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Houston Zoo