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HARI Avian Health Technician Josee Bermingham demonstrates the importance of allowing a parrot, like this Hyacinth macaw, to exercise its wings.
Jennifer Trescastro of Jacksonville, FL, won the grand prize of a first aid kit filled with HARI-approved items valued at $200.
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About 100 bird product retailers, rescue facility mangers and bird keepers recently attended Hagen Avicultural Research Institute’s (HARI) second annual Parrot Life One-Day Seminar held in Kissimmee, Fla. The educational event is designed to familiarize aviculturists with HARI-approved bird care methods and products.
HARI, located in Rigaud, Quebec, Canada, studies the captive breeding and maintenance of companion birds. The institute was founded in 1985 by pet food and product manufacturer Rolf C. Hagen Inc. of Montreal, Quebec.
During the 2009 Parrot Life One-Day Seminar, HARI avian health technician Josee Bermingham demonstrated the importance of allowing a bird to exercise its wings for muscle development. Bermingham also explained how to use HARI’s new product, Living World Clay Cal, a calcium-enriched food supplement. The product, which is sprinkled on bird food, is designed to aid in a bird’s digestive process and strengthen its bones.
HARI avian product specialist Melanie Allen was also on hand to explain the meaning of caloric density, a key element in Living World’s Tropican bird food, manufactured by Hagen.
In addition, aviculturist Fred Smith brought his Hyacinth and Blue and Gold macaws to demonstrate how to properly towel, health check and groom a bird with HARI-approved products.
Attendees received a Parrot Life Seminar booklet and door prizes, such as HARI-approved bird food products and scales for weighing birds. Jennifer Trescastro of Jacksonville, Fla., won the grand door prize, which was a first aid kit containing $200-worth of items on the HARI-approved list.