Certifications and Awards
- Certified Aviculturist
Affiliations and Memberships
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- World Parrot Trust
Detailed Experience
Parrot Expertise
While Kristen is a huge animal lover, she is very passionate about birds, especially parrots. Her experience and expertise include her first-hand experience as a bird owner for 20 years, as well as her intensive research, education, and study in the field of ornithology. Birds are fascinating and intelligent creatures. She has owned, trained, studied, and worked with her own birds, as well as those of other pet bird owners, on education, training, and behavior modification. Over the last 20 years, she has owned many types of birds, including budgerigars, African Greys, and Cockatoos.
Certified Aviculturist
In addition, Kristen is a Certified Aviculturist. She has taken numerous courses and received extensive education and training, as wells as many certifications, in ornithology from prestigious organizations and schools. Some of her coursework includes classes offered by the American Federation of Aviculture and the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. As with her other passions, she is an avid reader and researcher. She owns and has read cover-to-cover (1,248 pages), one of the pre-eminent books on birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology, written by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Bird Care Advocate
Kristen is involved in several pet bird groups that promote education and proper care of birds and advocate adoption over breeding or buying from pet stores. These groups offer advice and share helpful information and resources with each other, as well as funny stories, pictures, anecdotes, and more. She is a strong supporter of historic preservation and animal organizations, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Parrot Trust.
Published in Birds USA
Kristen wrote the article, Before the Bird, which educates potential and first-time bird owners on what they need to know before purchasing a bird as a pet. It is a serious consideration (as any pet is). Having a pet bird requires a tremendous amount of patience, time, and education, as many birds have life spans of 50 years or more. The article appeared in the popular national magazine, Birds USA, which was a yearly publication associated with the popular monthly national publication, Bird Talk.
Other Interests and Hobbies
Kristen absolutely loves spending time with her two parrots. Tango is a Citron-Crested Cockatoo and Kahlua is a Congo African Grey.
