It all started with Xelha, my daughter, wanting a budgie for her birthday. Well, Key Lime was the best little pet I'd ever seen, so I had to have one too. And one more. And then one more…
Then I met my sidekick, my personal parrot, Lorenza. This Yellow-naped Amazon was ten years old but had fatty liver disease, so she acted grouchy. She grouses about other birds, the dog and any person besides me. She chose me, so she made room for me in her life. Now, she's always near by or on me.
I find parrots to be addicting. They draw you in because they are stunningly beautiful on the inside and out. They are smart, authentic, playful and serious — brave, outgoing and lion-hearted. I aspire to some of these characteristics myself.
To learn about parrots I work with experts, including my mentor Tony Silva — one of the foremost authorities in parrot aviculture, conservation, and field study. Tony has authored landmark works including Psittaculture and Amazon Parrots in Field and Aviary, and has hands-on experience breeding and studying 82% of all parrot species. Learning from him has shaped everything about how we care for our flock.
