Guest Speakers

The AVES International Parrot Convention is very proud to announce an exciting and engaging lineup of guest speakers for our 2009 Convention. We will once again be bringing some of the best aviculturists from around the world together in one location to share their knowledge and insights. We invite you to take the time to read through our guest speaker biographical information. A list of past AVES speakers is acknowledged below the 2009 lineup.

Speaker: Jerry Jennings
Home: USA
Website: www.emeraldforestbirds.com
Lecture Topic at AVES 2009:
Biographical Information: Jerry Jennings is the Director of Emerald Forest Bird Gardens in Fallbrook, California near San Diego. He began his career in aviculture in 1971 with the development of a large collection of Australian, African, and Asian finches on a small farm near Los Angeles. After several years working with finches and a first captive breeding of the Black Cap Waxbill in 1975, he turned his interest to the management of toucans and large psittacines.

In 1978 Jerry received two world first breeding awards for the Ariel Toucan and the Emerald Toucanet. Eight more first breedings of toucans followed over the next ten years and an eleventh North American first breeding for toucans was accomplished in 2006 with the Ivory Bill Aracari. This flurry of activity lead Jerry to creating the world’s largest collection of toucans that has numbered as many as 25 species and currently over 350 individuals.

Jerry’s interest in breeding toucans led him to Central and South America, where he acquired land in Costa Rica and Peru. The Peru property, located in Puerto Maldonado, has been developed into a breeding and conservation facility for several species of Ramphastids not currently maintained in collections in North America. Some of the offspring from this farm have been imported into the United States beginning in 2002.

Jerry has also developed a Peruvian oriented ecotourism company, Emerald Forest Tours, which provides unique tours to Peru both for the adventurer and bird watcher, visiting locations of a historical interest as well as the rainforests.

Jerry has written numerous articles on the management of toucans, toucanets, and aracaris and has lectured on the subject in North and South America. He is a contributor to the book, “Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of South American Wild Animals”, 2001, Iowa State University Press.

Jerry is the founder of the American Federation of Aviculture and served as its president from 1973-76 and 1985-87. He also served as Assistant Editor of the AFA Watchbird Magazine in the early 1990’s as well as Advertising Sales Manager.

Jerry is the Conference Coordinator for the Avicultural Society of America, of which he is also a Patron. He is Director of the Toucan Preservation Center - a non-profit research foundation, and Emerald Forest Bird Gardens. He is fluent in Spanish and German.

Speaker: Heike Mundt-Poettgen
Home: Germany
Website: www.papageienpark-bochum.de
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: Experiences at Parrot Park Bochum | Parrot Breeding in Germany
Biographical Information: Heike has 20 years experience in breeding parrots and has a multi-faceted organisation. With her good husband they have an establishment “Parrot Park Bochum” where they have about 60 active breeding couples of different species. They also usually have about 250 birds for sale at the retail side of the Park. The Park holds many functions, including various events, seminars, children's birthdays and guided tours.

Heike will present her Park and breeding facility along with an overview of some of the German avicultural practices along with some of the unique birds from Birds International.

Speaker: Anton Vaidl
Home: Czech Republic
Lecture Topic at AVES 2009: The Collection & Management of Psittacines at Prague Zoo | The Breeding of the Jamaican Amazons
Biographical Information: Anton was born in 1975. After his studies at the Veterinary High school he started work at the Prague Zoo as a keeper in `Baby Station’. Over the next 7 years Anton gained experience hand-rearing many birds species, ranging from Ostriches, Cassowaries, Pelicans, Humboldt Penguins, Cranes, Spoonbils and Ibises, Storks, Flamingos, Eagles and Vultures, Ground hornbills and Hornbills (hand and parent reared), owls, kookaburas, Go-away bird, pheasants, ducks and geese, woodgrouses and black grouses, pigeons and doves (Goura, Otidiphaps, Ducula, Calloenas, Ptilinopus, Gallicolumba, Nesoenas meyeri,etc.), many Passerines (e.g.genus Garrulax, Chloropsis, Zootera, Leucopsar,etc.)

Anton has a close relationship with parrots and has been a private parrot breeder for more than twenty years. From 2002 to present, Anton worked as deputy curator of birds at Prague Zoo and in 2007 spent three months in the Philippines where he worked as a curator-consultant at Birds International Inc., the biggest parrot farm worldwide. Occasionally Anton works as a Consultant to The Czech Environmental Inspectorate.

Prague Zoo is a rescue center for parrots and other birds from illegal trade. Among the interesting parrots species we have obtained are Loriculus vernalis, Amazona agilis, amazonica, collaria, festiva, leucocephala, Probosciger atterimus, etc. Anton married his wife in 2008 and in October opened up a Veterinary Clinic `MADA’ specialising in parrots and other birds.

Speaker: Marc Cremedes
Home: France
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: The Palm Cockatoo | Rare Hornbills of South-east Asia
Biographical Information: Marc Cremades is a French citizen who has spent most of his life abroad doing field research, specially focusing on Birds and Lemurs. Living and working in South East Asia for a number of years, Mark is currently based in Singapore. He is a reknowned wildlife photographer and film producer with some of his work making publications such as National Geographic.

Mark’s main energy goes toward the study of some rare and unique avian species, such as Hornbills and the Palm Cockatoo. His setting of cameras in and around wild nest sites has rewritten accepted knowledge on some species. His energy and first class presentations will avail delegates to AVES 2009 some never before seen footage of some of Asia and New Guinea's incredible avian species.

Some of Marc’s projects are listed below...

• Field researcher associated with the French Museum of Natural History in Madagascar.
• Curator and private bird collector in France and Switzerland
• Manager of breeding projects in Russia, Iceland, Senegal, USA and Canada
• Advisor of the Breeding & Conservation program at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore
• Co-initiator and Co-Coordinator of the Singapore Avian Conservation project for Singapore National Park and Jurong Bird Park
• Co-initiator of the Singapore Hornbill project for Singapore National Park and Jurong Bird park

Speaker: Ricardo Valentin
Home: Puerto Rico
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: Aviary Management of the Puerto Rican Amazon | Behavioural Management of Puerto Rican Amazon Flocks
Biographical Information: Ricardo is the person most responsible for saving the Puerto Rican Amazon Amazona vittata. He was given the task because of his Avicultural expertise.

One of the ten most endangered species of parrot in the world, the Puerto Rican parrot is the focus of an intense effort to restore its populations. A formerly extremely abundant bird whose population was counted in the hundred of thousands, if not in millions, it's wild population suffered a catastrophic decline and dwindled to 13 in the 1970's due to habitat loss and other causes. Now there are about 250 individuals and two wild populations, including a new one in the Karst region of Puerto Rico. Some endangered species are superbly adapted to their enviroment but have great trouble dealing with highly unnatural pressures, such as being captured for the pet market. This is one of the reasons for the decline of the Puerto Rican parrot. Ricardo has dedicated his life to saving these extraordinary creatures which are profoundly emotive, very independent and a true nightmare to breed in captivity.

Ricardo will deliver two talks, one will be focused on the key aspects of aviary management that have been the reason the success of breeding the Puerto Rican Amazon. The second lecture will be on the behavioral management of the flock to produce breeders that are fertile, well behaved and that breed reliably.

Speaker: Steve Garvin
Home: USA
Website: www.feathert.com
Lecture Topic at AVES 2009: Yellow-headed Amazon Parrots
Biographical Information: Steve Garvin resides in Long Beach, California USA. Steve, who was a very popular presenter at AVES 2001, will deliver two presentations this year.

Steve has been at the forefront in the development of Green Cheek Conure mutations, with no less than two world firsts - the "Pineapple" and, just last year, the "Sun-Cheek". The Sun-cheek is a mutation not too dissimilar to the normal colour of the Aratinga conure the Sun Conure Aratinga solstitialis. Steve also produces magnificent Double Yellow headed Amazons and will describe just how and why the sub-species are so varied.

Steve is also a breeder of African species and has travelled to the African continent to study and film parrot life. He has also spent many weeks in Guatemala with the parrots in that country. Steve is a very accomplished & respected aviculturist.

Speaker: Steve Duncan
Home: USA
Website: www.avianresources.com
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: Nursery Management at a Commercial Breeding Facility | Naturalized Parrots of Southern California
Biographical Information: Steve is a life-long bird watcher who began raising pigeons at age 11 and now has over 30 years of experience with many different species of birds in captivity. Steve worked in the retail pet industry for 12 years while building his bird collection.

In 1988, he established Avian Resources, a commercial bird farm, which he continues to run today. The assortment of birds is still growing and currently includes finches, softbills, doves, pheasants, cranes, geese and a large variety of parrots. Steve attended California State Polytechnic University at Pomona where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. As part of his degree, He completed an internship at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Steve developed a passion for nature photography as well during his college years.

In addition to running Avian Resources, Steve is also the CFO of Bearings and Drives, Inc, a distributor of industrial power transmission equipment. Steve is the President of the Avicultural Society of America, the original and oldest national avicultural organization in America devoted to promoting aviculture and educating the public on the proper care of birds in captivity. He is a regular writer for the Avicultural Bulletin, published by ASA. He has been very active on legislative issues on behalf of the avicultural community. Steve is eager to create ASA programs that will bring the organization to aviculturists all across the U.S.

Speaker: Simon Bruslund Jensen
Home: Germany
Website: www.vogelpark-walsrode.de
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: The Walsrode Birdpark, its parrot collection and its importance for parrot keeping in European zoos | The Walsrode Birdpark Foundation and current projects for parrots
Biographical Information: Simon started his career as an aviculturist in Denmark with a "pair" of two male Canaries at the age of 7. Intrigued with the fact that they did not breed he became “trapped” in a lifelong obsession with bird breeding and ornithology.

He has worked and traveled widely in the name of birds. Simon has been responsible for developing the breeding programs for Parrots such as the Spix’s Macaw and Birds of Paradise at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar. Simon left AWWP to take the prestigious position of Zoological Director of the Walsrode Birdpark. “Walsrode” is possibly the world’s most famous zoological garden located in northern Germany, housing one of the largest and most diverse bird collections on the planet. He is also chairman of the Walsrode Birdpark Foundation. The park remains renowned for its ongoing breeding success of rare species and dedication to conservation.

Speaker: Des Boorman
Home: Australia
Lecture Topics at AVES 2009: Husbandry & Breeding of Fig Parrots | Natural Plant Foods for Parrots
Biographical Information: At 39 years of age, Des enjoys his position as a supervising Noxious Weed Officer in Northern NSW. With numerous agricultural and horticultural qualifications and a wealth of experience in these areas Des combines these expertise with his love of all things natural especially birdlife.

Des has an extraordinary knowledge of just what natural foods can be and are consumed by a variety of birds including many members of the parrot family. His knowledge is derived from numerous observations and also experimentation with his own avicultural subjects.

Des has a passion for fig parrots and this has become his specialty over the past few years with an impressive record with the reproduction of fig parrots.  Des will deliver two presentations, one on the husbandry and breeding the Fig Parrot and the second on natural plants that may be fed to avian subjects.  

Speaker: Russell Pringle
Home: Australia
Lecture Topic at AVES 2009: Rosella Mutations
Biographical Information: Coming Soon!

AVES Past Speakers

The AVES International Parrot Convention Committee would like to acknowledge the speakers who have presented at previous AVES Conventions and helped to create a history of outstanding multi-national information sharing at this event. AVES is now in its 16th year and has succeeded in bringing together the global avicultural community like no other event of its kind.