As the year draws to a close, I’d like to share an update on what I’ve been doing in 2025. My work this year feels especially meaningful—not just to me, but to parrot owners everywhere. Since I don’t post frequently on social media, I like to pause occasionally to offer a broader update on my projects and progress.
Mentoring the Next Generation
What excites me most right now is my mentoring program, which is producing exceptional consultants. This year, Dr. Amy Zhao launched her business, The Budgie Academy. Amy understands budgies in a way that few people do. She’s also an indispensable member of our group—brilliant, capable, and generous with her technical expertise. You should follow her work; she’s one to watch.
Rei Rosenquist, our Conure Expert, will soon be doing the same. Rei’s first love is conures—especially those feisty little Green-cheeks—but, like Amy, they can consult effectively about any parrot species. Each mentee may have an area of special interest, but all are capable of addressing any behavior problem at any time. I’ll be devoting a full blog post to introducing Rei soon. Next year, I’ll feature Emily Roe and Susan Marett, CPDT-KA, CPBT-KA, who will also be launching their own consulting practices.
The Collective Model
My mentoring program has grown from a small group of interested individuals into a solid collective of committed professionals who are dedicated to one another’s success. We call ourselves The Parrot Steward Consulting Collective.
The educational program follows a responsive and highly structured curriculum that typically takes about two years to complete. Once a student is ready to begin independent consulting, the entire group supports that launch—offering help with everything from website design to proofreading. It’s a collaborative and remarkably effective model.
Certification in 2026
In 2026, I plan to introduce a certification program for my own graduates. The exam I’m developing will be more inclusive and rigorous than that of the former International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Parrot Division—of which I was a founding member. Having helped to design that earlier exam alongside Susan Friedman, PhD, and others, I know its content well. My new version will be more demanding; I will not certify anyone who is not thoroughly prepared. There are no politics in our group and visibility is high.
When I hired staff for the Oak Hills Veterinary Clinic, I was instructed to look for Super Stars. Skills can be taught—but integrity, curiosity, and compassion cannot. Those are the traits I still seek in every student: individuals who strive for excellence, who care deeply, and who are driven by genuine curiosity. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to mentor exactly that kind of person.
My System for Solving Behavior Problems
Second, I’m eager to share more about my system for solving behavior problems—a method that has evolved over more than 30 years of consulting. I began my work back when Sally Blanchard was publishing The Pet Bird Report—a name some of you may remember.
I was writing for that magazine at the time, which is really nothing to brag about since none of us knew much about different species or behavior back then. Some of the incorrect information that was published in that magazine persists today, such as the 12 hours of sleep myth.
Seeking Knowledge and Experience
Over the decades, I have sought out continuing education and hands-on experience to increase my own knowledge and skills. My background includes countless hours of training parrots and other animals alongside Barbara Heidenreich and Chris Shank, 18 years as an exotic veterinary technician, and years teaching applied behavior analysis with Dr. Susan Friedman. I have trained horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, and parrots using positive-reinforcement methods and have consulted with hundreds of parrots and their caregivers. I can now teach owners to train their parrots through Zoom.
My personal history with parrots runs deep. I have bred Congo African Grey Parrots, taught outdoor free-flight, and fostered many parrots in need of temporary homes. I have lived with a wide variety of species—some of which are pictured throughout this blog. Each bird, each case, and each client has contributed to the growth of my understanding.
Over time, my approach has evolved. My clients and their parrots have shown me what truly works—and sometimes what doesn’t. As I learned, I revised my methods, placing more focus on the relationships between humans and parrots, in addition to using science to solve problems.
A Dawning Awareness
We treat parrots differently than we do our dogs and cats. Our interactions with mammals are shaped by social norms and often rely on touch. With parrots, the relationship is more intimate and less participatory when it comes to touch. However, we bring them to the dinner table. We establish bedtime rituals with stories and treats. They accompany us to the bathroom while we get ready for the day. They perch on our shoulders so we can stay close. In many ways, we treat them as family—and they often expect it.
From Experience to System
Recently, I experienced an epiphany that changed the way I view our work with companion parrots. I realized that those of us who live with parrots have unwittingly created a new echelon of pet companionship—one that resembles human-to-human relationships more than traditional pet ownership. Because of this, parrot behavior consulting must follow a very different model than that used for dogs or cats.
Parrots and Language Comprehension
I have also realized that most parrots over the age of seven years or so understand most of the English language. Pepperberg proved that parrots have the intelligence of a five or six year old child. If that is so, then they must understand what we say. We have immersed them into our culture much the same way that a person moves to another country to learn that language. Just because a parrot doesn’t talk, or sticks to silly words to make us laugh, doesn’t mean that understand of our language isn’t happening
The longer one lives with parrots, the clearer their intelligence becomes. Dr. Irene Pepperberg revealed much about parrot cognition through her work with Alex, but laboratory settings can capture only part of the picture. As Frans de Waal argues in Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, we can understand a species’ intelligence only when we allow it to use its own strengths—its natural “organs of advantage.” For example, we would never test an elephant’s problem-solving ability without allowing it to use its trunk, or we shouldn’t.
After living with multiple Congo African Greys for three decades, I can say with confidence that we will never fully comprehend their multifaceted intelligence unless we observe fully-flighted greys living in multi-grey environments. Their social and emotional intelligence easily rivals our own.
Parrots are flock animals. They are hard-wired to maintain constant social contact from a distance, adjusting proximity as needed. Humans are social animals too, managing closeness in similar ways. Thus, every home shared by people and parrots becomes a unique social system that must be viewed as a whole if problems are to be corrected.
The Social System Approach
Understanding this has reshaped my consulting. When a parrot exhibits problem behavior, it signals a social imbalance within the household system. Once that system is repaired, the problem behaviors resolve.
Using this model, I can now resolve even complex cases—such as an older male Umbrella Cockatoo that screams, bites, and engages in feather-destructive behavior—within roughly eight weeks of structured meetings. I can solve the problems of multiple parrots in the home without doing multiple consultations. Feather-destructive behavior can often be resolved completely if addressed within two years of onset; even beyond that point, improvement is typical. I have also successfully treated cases involving self-mutilation and cloacal prolapse.
Teaching the Next Generation
Teaching this system to other consultants is deeply rewarding. Soon, we will have a cadre of professionals capable of solving any parrot behavior problem with consistency, compassion, and precision.
With this foundation in place, I’ve begun expanding the ways I share these insights with the broader parrot-care community.
The Parrot Steward Community
To make behavior help more accessible, I have launched The Parrot Steward Community—a membership-based online platform providing affordable, trustworthy behavior support for parrot caregivers everywhere.
- Members enjoy weekly two-hour live streams with me every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT, plus recordings for later viewing. These sessions are interactive—members share updates, ask questions, and receive individualized feedback. The meetings are also a great deal of fun as we discuss cutting-edge information about parrots. Our group grows in attendance with each week.
- The community also features a discussion forum, a reference library, and the ability to direct-message me for personal guidance. Together, we’re building a supportive environment where science-based knowledge and friendship intersect.
- The atmosphere is lively, compassionate, and inspiring. Many members share weekly progress on their parrots’ improved behavior, providing reassurance and hope to others. When you belong to a community led by a trustworthy expert, you can count on accurate answers—usually within 24 hours.
- You can learn more or join us at The Parrot Steward Community.
Facebook: The Herbal Parrot
In addition to loving parrots, I’ve always loved plants. My third major in college was Ornamental Horticulture, and in recent years I’ve become a self-taught herbalist.
The more I learn about herbal medicine, the more I see its potential applications for parrots. Some plants act as tonics—gentle herbs that can be steeped in water and offered to support overall health. Others yield oils and poultices that may offer safer alternatives for wound care.
When Marko developed an upper respiratory infection this past spring, I was able to clear it up with Canada Goldenrod tincture and Elderberry syrup. Herbal medicine should never be considered a replacement for Western medicine, but it can offer significant benefits and can serve as an adjunct. I’m especially interested in exploring herbs that will prevent disease rather than treat it.
These explorations led me to create the Facebook group The Herbal Parrot, a serious and respectful forum for sharing information about botanical and herbal medicine for both human and avian health.
Facebook: The Parrot Fact Lab
I also founded The Parrot Fact Lab, a Facebook group devoted to evidence-based behavior support.
Members can submit questions about their parrots’ behavior and know that responses will be scientifically grounded and professionally reviewed. Every post is moderated. Questions are answered by mentees from The Parrot Steward Consulting Collective, giving them valuable hands-on experience as they move toward independent consulting. I personally review all responses before they’re published.
My goal with both groups is simple: to make reliable help available to everyone, regardless of financial means. Those who can’t afford a consultation can find trustworthy advice through The Parrot Fact Lab, while The Parrot Steward Community provides ongoing, affordable learning, support, and friendship.
Together, these projects form a comprehensive support structure—one that ensures parrot caregivers can access expert, compassionate help in any situation.
Looking Ahead to 2026: My Concerns and Hopes
As 2026 approaches, I remain deeply committed to improving the lives of parrots and the people who care for them. While I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, there is still much work to do.
Below are six areas of concern that I believe deserve urgent attention from the avian community, avian veterinarians, the pet industry, and all who love parrots.
1. Food Labels Must Include Metabolizable Energy (ME)
Parrot food manufacturers must list the amount of metabolizable energy (ME) on every package. Dog and cat foods already include this information—parrot foods should too. This is displayed as kcal/kg.
Why it matters:
Diet is the foundation for both health and behavior. If a diet provides too much energy, parrots often become louder, more aggressive, or more prone to feather damage. Without ME values, owners and professionals can’t adjust a parrot’s diet accurately.
Manufacturers omit this data only because they aren’t required to share it. Let’s change that by writing to companies and requesting transparency. Calcium content must also be shown.
2. Misplaced Confidence in Commercial Foods and Veterinary Nutrition Advice
Too many parrot owners assume that all commercial diets are equal and that veterinarians design or vet them. This is only true of a handful.
Many vets have proactively sought additional information in parrot nutrition. However, it must not be assumed that every avian veterinarian is capable of speaking knowledgeably about parrot foods and methods for creating a healthful diet.
Recently, a client reported that her vet told her that her Scarlet Macaw lacks yellow feathers because it wasn’t eating yellow foods—then suggested switching from Roudybush to Zupreem, a nutritional downgrade. In reality, many Scarlet macaws lose their yellow feathering as they age. Scarlet hybrids may also not have them.
Veterinarians are essential for medical care, but nutrition training in veterinary schools is limited. Owners must seek evidence-based nutrition information from true experts and question commercial claims. I imagine this would take quite a few vets off the hook as well. We can’t expect them to deliver in a knowledgeable way information that they never got.
3. Collaboration Between Veterinarians and Behavior Consultants
Parrot welfare improves dramatically when avian veterinarians and qualified behavior consultants collaborate.
Historically, this relationship has been strained. Two decades ago, Dr. Brian Speer advised veterinarians not to refer clients to behavior consultants—a view I witnessed firsthand during a conference presentation on low-stress handling.
That advice, though once understandable, has outlived its relevance. Today, many consultants are highly trained in applied behavior analysis, differences between species, and ethics. It’s time for both professions to work together for the sake of the parrots we serve. This is especially important when the condition bridges both disciplines, such as with feather damaging behavior.
4. Understanding and Managing Triggers for Reproductive Hormones
Over decades of consulting, I’ve pursued extensive research on the environmental triggers that stimulate reproductive hormones, and Dr. Amy Zhao now joins me in this work. I have pioneered this work as I gathered more and more data from the consultations that I did.
The bottom truth is that parrots are neither domesticated nor neutered. This means that their primary goals once adult will be to try to access anything that causes them to feel just a little closer to that ultimate goal of reproduction. This is one reason why most parrots like fats (nuts, seeds) and carbohydrates (pasta, rice, bread).
We’ve identified seven triggers that influence hormonal activity. Day length is not one of them. When caregivers learn to recognize and reduce these triggers, harmony and good behavior often return quickly. Ninety-eight percent of my consultations involve behavior problems that have arisen because of increased hormone production. If knowledge like this can get a toe-hold in social media, owners will have far fewer problems.
5. Ending the Sale of Parrots from Storefronts
We stopped selling dogs and cats in pet stores years ago; parrots deserve the same ethical consideration.
Store-front sales perpetuate impulsive purchases, poor breeding practices, and inadequate education for buyers. Parrots are intelligent, long-lived, and emotionally sensitive. When raised and sent off in this manner, the parrots themselves will be at a lifelong disadvantage and the owners will be deprived of the parrot they might have had. When parrots are placed for adoption, it should only be through reputable breeders or rescues who educate and support owners post-adoption.
6. Low-Stress Veterinary Medicine
I speak frequently with clients who are reluctant to take their parrots to the veterinarian because of the trauma that resulted from the last time. There is simply no excuse for scaring the hell out of a parrot for the sake of a thorough exam. I have worked for a low-stress clinic, so I know what’s possible. It’s a much happier place for all concerned.
My convictions in this area lead me to assist in writing the avian educational program for the Fear Free organization, along with Barbara Heidenreich, Dr. Alicia McLaughlin, and Dr. Anneliese Strunk. At the time of the writing, I was optimistic that our efforts would have some impact on veterinary medicine. I have not seen that.
I have since been to Fear Free certified clinics that showed no evidence of using those methods. I believe I know the problem. The Fear Free certification is expensive and it isn’t easy to spare staff for continuing education. Therefore, clinics tend to send just one staff member to the training. The goal is that this person will bring back the knowledge and share it with the whole team. Having written the educational module, and worked previously in practice management, I can tell you that is impossible.
To achieve a low-stress clinic, it takes different training for each team member, changing protocols, and even changing language used with clients. That will be a huge commitment for any clinic. I have had only one request from a veterinary college to speak about the low-stress exam.
I do not believe we will see much change until you, the consumer, begins to demand it. At your next exam, remember to mention to your vet that you would like to see more low-stress techniques used.
At the same time, realize that low-stress medicine requires something of the owner as well. Training to accept towels, teaching nail trimming, and getting on a scale makes everything easier once in the veterinary exam room. In this way, you can partner with your vet to create the very best experience possible.
If creating a low-stress exam isn’t possible, the use of midazolam should be considered. Midazolam is a benzodiazepine used for relaxation in people. It has become quite useful in stress-free clinics, because of it’s many features.
It can be dispensed as drops that go into the nares, but can also be given as an injection. It can be given to effect, which means that we can achieve any level of sedation desired. It can be reversed, meaning that we can give an injection to reverse the effects, returning the bird to a fully-conscious state.
Most importantly, it prevents the formation of fear memories in the parrot. It should be considered as an option anytime a parrot reaches the point of open-mouthed breathing, well-past the point of trying to escape. If your vet doesn’t suggest it’s use, you should ask about the option.
Moving Forward Together
I’m profoundly hopeful about what 2026 will bring. My consultations, the Parrot Steward Consulting Collective ,and The Parrot Steward Community are creating meaningful change—one caregiver, one bird, one household at a time.
Our mission is simple: To ensure every parrot can live a healthy, enriched, and harmonious life with humans who understand and honor their needs and to ensure that every client gets to live with a problem-free, enjoyable parrot.
If you share these goals, I invite you to join me—through the community, a consultation, or simply by sharing this post. Together, we can build a better world for parrots and the people who love them.
Thank you for reading my blog. I am Pamela Clark, CPBC, also known as “The Parrot Steward.” I provide behavior consultations to owners that solve current problems and set them up for success in the future with their parrots.
Website: https://pamelaclarkonline.com
The Community: www.the-parrot-steward-community.mn.co
Facebook: The Parrot Fact Lab and The Herbal Parrot
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