Author, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

Bittner spent 14 years in the streets of San Francisco after his dream of becoming a professional musician fell apart. After many years of doing odd jobs, he found a flock of naturalized parrots, mostly cherry-headed conures, in the area of Telegraph Hill. His book, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, and the documentary of the same name, by Judy Irving, describe that encounter and the relationship he formed with the birds. In 2006, Judy married Mark Bittner after the two fell in love during the filming of Parrots. The book and film reveals moving relationships between Bittner and the birds and explores passionate dynamics among the parrots, often linking their antics to human behavior.
 

Cognitive Psychologist

Dr. Irene Pepperberg, adjunct associate professor at the Dept. of Psychology, Brandeis University, and research associate at Harvard University, studies Grey parrots. The main focus of her work is to determine the cognitive and communicative abilities of these birds, and compare their abilities with those of great apes, marine mammals, and young children. She is studying the mechanisms of their learning as well as the outcomes. Through her life with Alex, one of the most famous parrots of all time, Dr. Pepperberg has expanded her work to other birds and her studies have continued to yield fascinating results.
 

Avian Veterinarian & Holistic Practitioner

In 1989 Dr. Karen Becker attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point majoring in Wildlife and International Resource Management. In 1990 she worked at the Raptor Center of Pueblo, Colorado, rehabilitating hawks, eagles, owls and falcons. In 1991 she worked under the head veterinarian at the Berlin Zoo, Germany. In 1993 she studied the native flora and fauna of Australia at Macquarie University in Sydney. In 1996 she completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society’s certification course in Houston, TX. She graduated from the Iowa State School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 and completed an exotic animal internship in California that same year. Dr. Becker completed the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy’s certification course in Virginia, 1998. In 1999 she compiled her extensive training and opened Natural Pet Animal Hospital. Dr. Becker became a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor in 2003. She is owner of NPAH and Feathers Bird Clinic as well as Covenant Wildlife Rehabilitation.
 

Director, Bird Lovers Only, Inc.

Irena Schulz directs Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service, Inc, a 501(c)(3) designated not-for-profit donation-based bird rescue which takes in unwanted, neglected, abused, and special needs birds. One of their permanent residents, Snowball the cockatoo, has gained worldwide fame for his dancing ability and has been showcased in newspapers, television programs, and periodicals like Bird Talk magazine. Snowball is now being observed for scientific purposes, to track how synchronous birds are when it comes to rhythm and tempo.
 

Animal Behavior & Training Specialist

Mick McAuliffe, a native of Australia, is co-owner and manager of The Houndry and has served as the Director of Animal Behavior and Training for the R.S.P.C..A. Queensland, where he developed world-leading assessment, modification and training programs for multiple species. In addition to his extensive work in canine training, Mick has applied his training skills to a variety of animals, from Sea World Australia's large marine mammals to serving as head avian keeper and trainer for a collection of 130 native and exotic birds and developing free-flight shows for visitors. Mick has lectured on Animal Behavior across 4 continents, working extensively in Australia, Japan, China, England, Saudi Arabia and now the United States. Currently living in Chicago, Mick provides Behavior and Training Consultations for Dogs, Cats, Birds and Horses.
 

Save Our American Raptors, Illinois

SOAR is a non profit organization dedicated to the welfare of our native birds-of-prey; founded in 1989 and incorporated in Illinois by George and Bernadette Richter - licensed Master falconers, rehabilitators, falcon breeders, raptor banders, and educators with decades of hands-on experience and knowledge. The mission of SOAR is to educate the public on the importance of raptors and habitat, to promote the scientific study of free-living raptors, to train raptor handlers, and help improve conditions for all raptors in captivity, to rehabilitate ill, injured, and orphaned raptors and return them to the wild, and to help resolve human/raptor conflicts.
 

Photo by: Nic Bishop

Photo by: Nic Bishop

She's been called "part Emily Dickinson, part Indiana Jones." To research her previous award-winning books, Sy Montgomery has been chased by a gorilla in Zaire, worked in a pit crawling with 18,000 snakes in Manitoba, been hunted by a swimming tiger in India and been bitten by a vampire bat in Costa Rica. Her newest books--both on birds--brought her new challenges: in the Australian rain forest she came face to face with a 150-pound cassowary, its bright blue head topped with a tall helmet of bone and its huge feet equipped slashing tonenails that make it the most dangerous bird in the world. And for a new book for kids, researched on a remote island off New Zealand, one of the rarest parrots on Earth attempted to copulate with her head.

For BIRDOLOGY, to be published this May from Free Press, Montgomery rocked out with Snowball, the dancing cockatoo; visited Irene Pepperberg's lab to meet Alex's successor, Griffin; worked with a bird rehabilitator to rescue and release orphaned baby hummingbirds, who hatched from eggs the size of Navy beans; and recounts adventures with crows and pigeons as well as with her flock of extremely friendly, highly individualistic chickens.

Montgomery met the love-struck parrot while working on KAKAPO RESCUE: SAVING THE STRANGEST PARROT ON EARTH. To be published this April by Houghton Mifflin, the book is the dramatic story of one of the most ardent and extensive efforts ever to save an endangered bird. Feared extinct for half a century, fewer than 100 of these uniquely friendly (see above!) huge (11 pounds!), flightless (!) nocturnal (!) tunnel-nesting (!) parrots now survive. At the bird show, she'll be showing slides of her encounters with an endearingly curious and friendly species of parrot that few humans have the privilege to see.
 

A Very Exciting Show for ALL ages!!!
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Some comments from past MIDWEST BIRD EXPO attendees: "I would venture to guess you might still be fast asleep following yesterday's spectacular expo! I just wanted to tell you how much fun we had, both helping and enjoying so much of what the event had to offer. I thought I might regret not participating in the programs, and I did in some ways, but being our first time at such a huge local event, we felt more connected by helping and "Shopping"!!! :o) Next year we will plan to enjoy more that TASC has to offer since I know each part sounded so beneficial, interesting and fun. Meeting many of the members through participating made both of us feel like we belonged. Each person was just as nice as the next. We were amazed at all the work that was taking place all day long, not to mention the realization of what must have had to go into the entire process. Many of the vendors commented on how well publicized and organized things were and I'm sure they were extremely pleased by the number of people attending and the resulting sales they surely had. Jason, you and your team did an awesome job. Jeff and I look forward to being involved and having many more opportunities to share in the fun of "birds" with people who appreciate them as much, if not more, than we do!" Joyce and Jeff Ernst "WOW-WHAT A GREAT EVENT! I WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE VENDORS I FORGOT TO ATTEND ANY OF THE WORKSHOPS." THANK YOU," DEBORAH HOOVER "Great Job! I imagine none of you will be rested for a week or so. The seminars were great. I was so pleased to meet Dr. Pepperberg (hope I got that right). Would have loved the meet and great, but we were pretty tired. Stayed the whole day, surprise to me! Boy, did I spend money - Ha!" Vernadene "I just want to say THANKS to all the TASC members that helped put together a great bird fair. My wife and I had a great time and it was my best fair yet! The space provided was awesome and folks felt free to wander around and get up close and really take a good look at what we had to offer. This show was a huge success by my standards! I even came home with a new feathered friend that I am just in love with!  Keep up the great work! I can't wait until next year! Now if I could only convince you to do this twice a year... Thanks Again, John BirdontheRocks.com" "It really was a great Expo.  Boy, did I buy toys, etc." Member, Vernadene Tolman