Melissa D Madrid Odom
Former Employee
I began working at Free Flight in January of 2009. I am a graduate of University of Southern California Santa Barbara with a degree in Zoology. I then went to Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management program. I fell in love with birds while attending Moorpark and after graduation I went to work in Florida at Gulf World Marine Park doing shows with Parrots. Because my passion is education and conservation I left Gulf World to pursue work in free flighted bird shows. I worked at Tracy Aviary in Utah, Sea World San Diego and for Steve Martin's Natural Encounters, Inc. at the San Diego Zoo.
Free Flight has been such an amazing experience for me because I have grown stronger as a bird handler and caretaker. I have worked with some amazing birds and people and I get to educate the public on the task of keeping birds in captivity. Free Flight inspires me all the time and I always say I have the best job in the world. My future goals include becoming a falconer and doing field/conservation of endangered bird species.
I am married to Jeffrey Odom another Free Flight graduate. Together we have an American Eskimo named Roxy and one Senegal parrot named Trixie.
