Co-Sponsored by Dr. Greg Burkett and
8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Pay one price to attend sessions in either Saturday program.

AAV Pre-Conference Program: Behavior
Moderators: Heather Barron, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian, AAV Conference Chair and Immediate Past-President and Anna Osofsky, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian

1000 Addressing Undesired Sexual Behavior in Kakapo (Strigops habroptilia),
Barbara Heidenreich, BS Zoology
A highly endangered imprinted male kakapo frequently presents sexual behavior towards humans. Rather than suppressing reproductive behavior, this paper will explore alternative methods to influence the presentation of behaviors classified as fixed-action patterns.

1005 Positive Reinforcement Training with Laboratory Macaws, Kelsey Daugette
Positive reinforcement was used with nine laboratory macaws to teach behaviors useful in veterinary practice and research. The goal was to have the birds cooperate with research procedures in order to minimize stress and improve welfare.

1010 Case Studies Applying Behavioral Science to Patient Care, Melody Bedford, AA Science RVT
Avian species with a large variety of medical problems can benefit from the emphasis and integration of behavioral medicine as a component of our in-patient management strategies. Through the implementation of target training, medical behavior training and other behavioral interventions as a component of in-patient and out-patient care, a higher degree of ethical care can be delivered. Additionally, medical success can be achieved quicker and the human-animal bond strengthened.

1015 One Health: Psittacine Conservation Medicine, Humans, Behavior, and Welfare, LoraKim Joyner, DVM, MPVM, MDiv
This presentation reviews psittacine conservation medicine methods including
cognitive ethology, conservation psychology, rehabilitation, and the human dimensions of avian conservation. I plan to link the methods used to study and manage these birds with how they forage, reproduce, interact, and survive in the wild in order to provide tools for practitioners who are also concerned with the medical and behavioral conditions of their captive counterparts.

1020 Developing Foraging Enrichment Protocols for Captive Waterfowl, Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Common problems with captive waterfowl include arthritis, obesity, bumblefoot and reproductive tract diseases. Well designed enrichment protocols may help reduce select diseases in captive waterfowl. This presentation will cover varied enrichment items using case examples.

1025 Aggression in Pet Psittacines, Lori Gaskins, DVM, DACVB
A case-controlled study will be presented. The study investigated owner/bird interactions and owner, bird and environmental characteristics and how these relate to aggressive behavior in pet birds.

1030 Small-Mammal Training, Barbara Heidenreich, BS Zoology
This presenation features an overview of science based training technology and how it is being used to train small mammals to cooperate in medical care.

1035 Disease Risks Associated with Rearing Imprinted Raptors, Neil Forbes, BVetMed Dipl ECZM-Avian, FRCVS
The hand rearing of young raptors as ”social imprints” has significant advantages but also carries certain management-related disease risks, e.g. MBD, atherosclerosis, splay leg, aspergillosis, inhaled toxicosis, ingestion of GIT foreign bodies and malimprinting. As veterinary advisors, we should all be aware of these and how to minimize them.

1040 Feather Picking in Pet Psittacines, Lori Gaskins, DVM, DACVB
A case control study will be presented. The study investigated owner/bird interactions and owner, bird and environmental characteristics and how these relate to feather picking behavior in pet birds.

1045 Treating Behavioral Problems in Rabbits, Lori Gaskins, DVM, DACVB
This class will investigate behavior problems in pet rabbits and how to devise an individualized treatment plan for these problems.

1055 Development of an Enrichment Protocol for a Group of Captive Southern Ground Hornbills, Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
A small family group of captive Southern Ground Hornbills kept at a public aviary was used as a test group for a varied enrichment protocol. The presentation will cover the set up and design of the enrichment protocol with an emphasis on foraging products.

1060 Rodent Enrichment, Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Rodents are commonly kept as pets and for research and can develop numerous problems, including barbering, cage mate aggression, wire chewing, etc. Well designed enrichment protocols are designed to reduce stress and increase exercise and will be discussed in this presentation.

Psittacine Conservation & Welfare Symposium
Moderators: LoraKim Joyner, DVM, MPVM, MDiv and Gregory Burkett, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian

A special thanks to the Psittacine Conservation & Welfare Symposium Committee for their collaboration on this session. Members include: LoraKim, DVM, MPVM, MDiv; Gregory Burkett, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian; Scott Ford, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian; and Jesse Fallon, MS, DVM

The objective of this symposium is to share information so that we can come together to determine pertinent areas of research, conservation, and welfare that we as avian caretakers could pursue as individuals and as an organization. Our goal during the day is to create a trusting and creative atmosphere so that by considering each other’s experiences and views, we can formulate action steps that contribute the most to avian well-being. Each presentation will end with the author’s subjective views of what we need to do, as well as with pertinent questions that will encourage discussion and action. The session will end with Round table discussions.

1070 Keynote Speaker - Role of Diseases in Selected Avian Extinctions and Reintroductions, Noel F.R. Snyder, Ph.D
After working a life time as a parrot biologist and conservationist, Dr. Snyder will give us an overview of what he has learned working with parrot species in the Americas, most notably the extinct Carolina Parakeet, the Thick-billed Parrot, and the Puerto Rican parrot. His wisdom and experience guides us in how we might use our knowledge, skills, and passions to formulate conservation plans that will sustain vibrant avian life upon this planet.

1072 Australian Parrot Conservation/ Welfare, David Phalen, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Australia is often thought of as a living Eden. But, in fact, Australia is no different than any other country, in that all of its many and diverse ecosystems are in one way or another significantly impacted by the hand of man. Australia’s birds, particularly its parrots, have not been immune to these threatening processes and many species of parrots are in decline and a few are near extinction. This presentation will review the recovery efforts and current status of 3 endangered species of Australian parrots as a measure of the willingness of Australians to save their iconic wildlife.

1075 Species Recovery Efforts for the Orange-bellied Parrot, James Harris, DVM
Efforts, frustrations, failures and lessons learned from a 30-year conservation project.

1080 Avian Welfare In the Sanctuary Setting, Karen Windsor, Marc Johnson, and Hank Wiestma, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
With numbers of unwanted parrots on the rise, working with rescue organizations has become an important part of the equation for the veterinary community. Avian welfare in the sanctuary setting requires a new approach that combines social, psychological, and environmental elements to ensure a high quality of life for long-term or life-long residents and a new perspective on old aviculture.

1081 Parrot Behavior and Welfare Through the Eyes of Parrots, Jan Hooimeijer, DVM CPBC
Addressing the welfare of parrots is the responsibility of avian veterinarians and caretakers. It is important to acknowledge and to deal with behavior problems in parrots. A 5-step protocol is presented to enable veterinarians and caregivers to show respect for the birds and to handle parrots in a professional way, to reduce the stress of handling, and create mutual trust and respect.

1082 Walking the Talk, Talking the Walk: Practical Ethics in Avian Welfare and Conservation, LoraKim Joyner, DVM, MPVM, MDiv
Here we review both principled and process ethics so that we might institute ethical practices and programs within our avian welfare and conservation management plans and organizations. By doing so, we improve our ability to care for ourselves, other humans, wildlife, and ecosystems.

1087 Attitudes of People who Adopt and/ or Relinquish Birds, Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Relinquishment of pet parrots has become fairly prevalent. In an effort to understand why people either adopted or relinquished a pet parrot, individuals were interviewed either in person (on camera), over the internet, or via phone. This presentation will cover the results of those interviews.

1090 Psittacine Rehabilitation in the Dominican Republic, Adrell Núñez, DVM
Description of the procedures used to rehabilitate the endemic Hispaniolan Parrot and Hispaniolan Parakeets using wild individuals confiscated by the local authorities from the illegal pet trade.

1092 Saving One of the Most Endangered Birds Through the Successful Integration of Conservation, Wild Bird Research, and Aviculture, Jafet Vélez-Valentín, B.S., M.S., Antonio Rivera-Guzmán, DVM, and LoraKim Joyner, DVM, MPVM, MDiv
There are many paramenters that result in the successful conservatin of psittacines, including in depth information-gathering and sharing. Through the lens of successful Puerto Rican Parrot Conservation efforts, factors that can bring parrots back from the brink of extinction will be presented in detail.

1095 Conservation and Aviculture – What We Can Learn by Considering Both Together, Darryl Styles, DVM, PhD
There is much that the understanding of wild parrots can do to improve the well being of birds in captivity. Similarly having avicultural expertise can do much to augment conservation practices. Through an overview of how conservation and aviculture work together to improve the lives of birds, attendees will have a chance to see how these principles can support their work with birds in many different situations.

1097 Human Dimensions of Psittacine Conservation, LoraKim Joyner, DVM, MPVM, MDiv
In particular, we highlight conservation psychology, ethnoornithology, and social and emotional intelligence. Though it is not possible for everyone involved in psittacine conservation to become proficient with the sociological aspects of human and avian relationships, there is much merit in forming multidisciplinary teams that include social scientists or facilitators to help us navigate the complexity of human thinking and behavior.

Psittacine Conservation & Welfare Symposium Round Tables
3:45-5:30 p.m.