The NPRPF Parrot Festival

The NPRPF Parrot Festival is hosted by the National Parrot Rescue & Preservation Foundation, or NPRPF. Their selfless efforts to rehabilitate rescued parrots and exotic birds has led to many unwanted birds being placed in loving homes and being able to spend the rest of their days surrounded by love, care and much needed attention. The National Parrot Rescue & Preservation Foundation also educates trainers and owners in the care of parrots and how to re-establish trust and eliminate unwanted behavior that stems from emotional instability and neglect.

To bring awareness to the plight of these magnificent birds, the foundation launched the NPRPF Parrot Festival, to educate and reach out to current and future pet bird owners, breeders and trainers. The festival brings leading bird specialists to the festival, who assist the public to address various issues and to lend support where needed. This year, the festival will be presenting speakers such as Dr. Geoff Olsen, who will be speaking on A Comparative Study of Laboratory Test Results Using Duplicate Avian Samples; Dr. Rebecca Fox, on the Harmony for Feathered Set: Why Personality Matters to Parrots Too; and Leslie Moran, on the Body and Spirit Preventative and Alternative Holistic Care. Other speakers such as Dr. Ian Tizard, Jill Bell, Barbara Heidenreich, Dr. Debra McDonald, Dr Susan Friedman, Nancy Speed and Dr. Natalie Antinoff will be looking at various topics including, behavior, nutrition, diseases, hand rearing and health.

Visitors to the festival can also join in on attractions such as a Toy Making Workshop which will be presented by the Leather Elves. A great number of vendors will also have exhibits and stalls available for visitors to browse through and do some shopping. Vendors at the NPRPF Parrot Festival for 2008 will include the Bird Talk Magazine, Bird Toys Etc., Amazona Society, About Birds, NPRPF Psitta Market, Antique Beak, Bernie’s Creations, The Feather Mart, Cavalier Bird Toys, Gulf Coast Exotic Bird Sanctuary, Parrot Chest, Star Bird and Wingtastic.

The festival will be held from the 25th of January to the 27th of January 2008, and will be a event filled with attractions, information and assistance. Assisting the public to become better parrot owners, the NPRPF hopes to improve the relationship between parrot and owner, and reduce the number of feathered friends being abandoned. Prospective owners are able to contact the NPRPF, in regard to adopting a bird, assistance with a lost bird or just for educational purposes. The festival hopes to highlight the joys of owning a parrot and create greater awareness with regard to the care needed when owning one of nature’s most colorful creatures.