Shelley Parker
Former Employee
In the summer of 2004, I responded to a classified ad from Free Flight seeking an Avian Caretaker, and to my great delight I was hired. I sought this position in order to gain experience handling birds, as I was to begin a program in Avian Sciences at the University of California at Davis the following summer. Little did I know how profoundly impactful, both academically and personally, that short period of time at Free Flight would prove to be.
To begin with, Free Flight exposed me to an extremely diverse number of parrots; 26 different species representing 9 distinct genera. Many Zoos are unable to boast such a selection! I gained a broad familiarity with the Order Psittaciformes, expertise in identification, knowledge of dietary needs and common medical conditions, and insights into species-specific behaviors and temperaments. I learned practical skills including how to safely catch and handle birds, recognize early signs of stress and illness, administer topical medications and subcutaneous injections, and professionally groom beak, wings, and nails. I also learned a great deal about the social and emotional needs of these gregarious creatures. In the wild, parrots tend to live in family groups or extended flocks. When in captivity as pets and companions, they still need to interact with others in their environment. Parrots are also very active by nature, spending the vast majority of each day foraging and playing. Therefore, in captivity they likewise require adequate space and challenge-oriented stimuli. Above all, parrots thrive on routine, so it is important to establish a healthy sleep-wake cycle and dutifully maintain it!
Part of my duties included hand-rearing baby parrots. Parrot chicks are hatched altricial and therefore have strict temperature, humidity, and dietary requirements. I learned all these criteria for early development, as well as the specific needs of fledgling birds learning self-sufficiency. One of the more common mistakes made when inexperienced individuals attempt to feed neonates is allowing food to pass into the trachea, which can lead to inflammation of the lungs and death, a condition called aspiration pneumonia. I learned how to properly hold the baby and orient the feeding instrument to avoid this tragic outcome. Another common condition inexperienced feeders encounter is crop stasis, also known as sour crop. If food is too hot or cold, or administered in a greater quantity than the neonate can process prior to the next feeding, crop function can cease, leading to death. I learned how to determine the correct food temperature, and also food quantity, which varies by species and developmental stage. Free Flight visitors would gather around the nursery window during feedings and delight in watching us feed the babies as if it were a favored television program. They would remark on how adorable the babies looked and how fun the feeding process appeared to them. Indeed, feeding the baby birds was my favorite duty of all, however it is important to realize the tremendous amount of knowledge and skill that goes into a successful feeding.
Deserving of special mention is Free Flight’s Executive Director Mary Struble. Mary has a very keen sense for getting inside the minds of animals. Birds communicate their needs and wants using various types of cues. Vocal cues are usually easily interpreted, however their physical cues can often be hard to figure out, and even appear to indicate a meaning contrary to the bird’s true motivation. Mary taught me some of those nuances in parrot behaviors. I feel that Mary is Free Flight’s most valuable resource, and it was a great pleasure to learn from her!
Finally, and no less importantly, I had the opportunity at Free Flight to interact with other companion parrot owners and members of the general public interested in birds. This diverse group of people derives from various backgrounds, life-styles, and nationalities – yet the common bond we share in appreciating parrots forges us into a unique and sharing community. I still correspond with some of those wonderful people, and for that my life is greatly enhanced.
Reflecting back now, some six years later, I can say that my time at Free Flight stands among the most enjoyable and formative experiences in my life.
