World Parrot Expo 2025

World Parrot Expo is an annual fundraiser for Flight Club Foundation (FCF), a 501c (s) licensed Parrot Humane Society and Networking Organization.   FCF's mission is to increase awareness of and advocacy for the environment our parrots rely on by uniting communities, improving welfare, supporting conservation, assisting research, creating educational programs, inspiring adults and involving the youngest generations in the changes we need to make.   

When - September 27 (10-5pm0; September 28 (10-4pm), 2025

Where - Emerald downs Racetrack, Auburn, Washington, USA

We met Debbie Goodrich, one of the founders and current president of FCF in 2012 when we joined AFA conference for the first time.   She greeted us with warmth and helped us setting up for the event.   Training to free-flying parrots was just started then.

Amongst all the great speakers at the event, the virtually presentation of "Brief Update on the Spix's Macaw Release Project" by Dr. Cromwell Purchase, PhD from Caatinga, Brazil is a must event for us.   The Spix's was extinct in the wild.   We made a gift human bag with a Spix's Macaw image for one of the speakers at the Phoenix Landing Foundation's Wellness Retreat Program in 2016 based on a picture of the very last Spix's macaw in Brazil.   We were not aware of such program started in Germany then.   Can't wait!

American Federation of Aviculture 2025 Conference

The American Federation of Aviculture (AFA) is a nonprofit national organization established in 1974, whose purpose is to represent all aspects of aviculture and to educate the public about keeping and breeding birds in captivity.   The mission and purpose of AFA is be to promote the advancement of Aviculture through educational programs that support the advancement and improvement of breeding practices, husbandry practices, and living conditions for exotic birds, conservation, research and legislative awareness.  The goal of AFA is to insure long-term, self-sustaining populations of exotic birds both in captivity and in the wild.

When - September 3-6, 2025
Where - Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
From great presentations to bird shows and many fun events, see the Conference Agenda here.

This was the fifth time we joined the conference; the last time was in 2019.   When a detailed spreadsheet of all the big macaws information showed up in the email in 2003 asking us to make a carrier.   "What is a macaw?" we asked.  We came a long way, didn't we?

AFA core members often call themselves "crazy" bird people.  Yes they are :-)!  They are specialty bird store owners, some breeds birds but all are enthusiasts of parrots and partake in rehomed parrots and conservation.   At this conference, A Caique quietly perches on any willing shoulder through out all the presentations. The Cape Parrot, the Black Palm Cockatoo, the Moluccan Cockatoo, the Blue & Gold Macaw, the Galah (Rose Breasted Cockatoo) , the Blue Fronted Amazon Parrot attended all stayed near their family members free and were happy to sing or chat with any willing passerby. 

Tom Marshall, the resident of AFA in late 80s, who we attended his talk about Caiques during this conference has recently published a book titled "What Parrots? Why Aviculture?".  The book provides a summary view of parrots, related developments and the value of aviculture from his perspective and experiences.   We find the book very informative and enjoy the reading very much.   We understand AFA will take a more active role in educating the public about responsible parrot ownership and also reach out to rehomed and rescue groups across the country to share their knowledge, bridge any mis-understanding and work together for love of parrots.  Please stay tuned.