BACKGROUND...

Jim McKendry has built a reputation as the most active and experienced companion parrot behaviour, training and enrichment consultant in Australia since first offering consultative services to parrot owners back in 1999. His `weekday' gig is Learning Coordinator for Middle Years Science and Senior Biology at St. Teresa's Catholic College in Noosa, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Weekends find Jim working with parrot owners to support them in achieving their relationship, training and enrichment goals through client consultations and special workshop events. As well as his one-to-one consultative work, Jim writes a regular column, `Pet Parrot Pointers', for Australian Birdkeeper Magazine, also serving as editorial consultant on parrot behaviour for this publication.

In partnership with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, he has established the most progressive and comprehensive educational workshop experience available in Australia for companion parrot enthusiasts, and is an active member of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.

Jim is proactive in maintaining his own personal and professional development through engaging in opportunities to learn from his peers and to share his own knowledge. As a founding member of the Parrot Society of Australia Inc `Parrots Convention' organising team, Jim has helped develop this unique event into a world class educational opportunity that brings together the best aviculturists, avian trainers, avian veterinarians and conservation biologists in their respective fields. The Parrots Convention will be held again in July 2010 and Jim will once again be working on bringing the best speakers from around the world to Australia to continue the educational journey that we are all on as parrot owners.
 

Conservation of parrot species is especially important to Jim and he is an active supporter of the World Parrot Trust. Jim is a member of the `Ask the Experts' panel on the WPT Website and provides insightful replies to questions on parrot behaviour, enrichment and training from around the world. You can check out some of Jim's contributions via his webpage on the WPT site. Every companion parrot owner is encouraged to support parrot conservation - become a World Parrot Trust Member today and help make a difference!

As well as conservation initiatives worthy of support, Jim has been a regular contributor to the Parrot Rescue Centre e-Newsletter and would like to encourage Australian parrot owners to consider purchasing enrichment products for their pet birds via the PRC Shop. Funds raised via the shop support the ongoing welfare of a large number of needy parrots in captivity. Check it all out at www.parrotrescuecentre.com

Jim's interest in avian species extends beyond the colourful world of psittacines. He is an avid birdwatcher with a particular interest in Australian raptor species. He is keen to establish a small scale rehabilitation flight area, specifically designed for birds of prey on his own property on the Sunshine Coast. Just one of many projects currently in the melting pot of an enduring passion for birds!

 
Combine over 15 years experience as a parrot owner and aviculturist, two University degrees in the fields of Education and Animal Science, professional experience in the field of zoo animal training with free-flighted birds as a Presentations Keeper at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, globe-trotting to observe parrot behaviour in the wild, and having successfully worked through `first hand' some of the most challenging behaviour management issues presented by pet parrots, and you have the collective knowledge and skills behind Parrot Behaviour & Enrichment Consultations.
 

PHILOSOPHY...

Jim's approach to the keeping, training and behaviour management of parrots is built on a foundation of understanding of the science of behaviour and the application of positive reinforcement based training. He considers Flight, Socialisation and Enrichment as the three cornerstones for establishing a successful captive environment for parrots. Providing an environment that facilitates these three elements offers the most suitable set of conditions for setting companion birds up to succeed.
 

INFLUENCES...

In a world full of `instant experts' it is important for parrot behaviour and enrichment consultants to acknowledge the pioneers who really helped to shape the knowledge and application of behaviour analysis and positive reinforcement based training that are the common buzz words used today. Jim has been privileged to have worked with, and been influenced by, some of the world's most gifted animal trainers and behaviourists. Take some time to find out about the following influences on Jim's work with birds...
 

JIM'S FLOCK...

Jim has been privileged to keep a wide variety of bird species since his first backyard habitat aviary was built when he was just 11 years old. Finches, Quail, Asiatics, Conures, Neophema Grass Parrots, Budgerigars, King Parrots, African Lovebirds, Cacatua Cockatoos, Calyptorynchus Cockatoos and a variety of Lories and Lorikeets have all been worked with over the years. His current flock includes New Guinea Lories, two species of Amazon parrot, two species of Australian Cockatoo, A Black-headed Caique and an African Grey parrot. The flock is kept company by Jim's two dogs - `Stella' the Hungarian Viszla and `Rosie' the Rottweiler.

Images of some of Jim's birds can be viewed in the Image Gallery

If you would like to read more about Jim's work with birds and his philosophy, approach and experiences then check out an in-depth interview with Jim that was conducted for the World Parrot Trust `Flock Talk' e-Newsletter.
Click here to read the interview.