| My interest in aviculture began with a baby chicken given to me
when I was a very small child. When that chick grew up to be a hen,
she came to the house and laid her egg in my bed each morning.
My interest in psittaculture was awakened by the receipt of a
baby cockatiel, only a few days old, again, as a gift. I had to
learn to make homemade formula and to hand feed the baby with an eye
dropper. My interest quickly became a passion. I have bred and
raised many species (including some non-productive ones) of Conures
and a smattering of other species of psittacines over the years,
including Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Noble Macaws, Rosellas, Indian
Ringnecks, Parrotlets, Brotogeris, Severe Macaws, Double Yellow Head
Amazons, Senegals and four species of Lorikeets.
In 1993 I was fortunate enough to be able to enlist the services
of one of the Nation's top Board Certified Avian Veterinarians, Dr.
Alison Archambault, ABVP, Diplomate. (There were less than 20 in the
WORLD at that time.) This association continued on a quarterly basis
for about five years until her retirement. During those years I
eagerly absorbed all the information I could about Psittacines and
their diseases and the medical care of them. It was at her urging
that I finally decided to specialize in the two I love most: Sun
Conures and Quaker Parakeets.
For the last several years I have been sharing my knowledge of
the diet, care, housing and breeding of Psittacines as often as
possible by teaching novice aviculturists and pet owners by speaking
at bird club meetings, private discussions and most recently in
"chat lists" on the internet. I believe conservation begins with
knowing the needs of the birds we are attempting to save.
I am currently a member of the American Federation of Aviculture
(AFA) and the new Quaker Parakeet Society.
-Joy Thompson
Owner, Wings of Joy Aviary
|
