Watch my conversation with Rei Rosenquist below:
(Prefer to listen: You can find this recording on YouTube on the Parrot Steward Channel.)
It’s a special day when you get to watch someone you’ve mentored spread their wings and fly right into their own consulting practice. I could not be prouder today to introduce you to Rei Rosenquist. Although they work with all parrots, they have a particular gift for working with Pyrrhura conures.
A Journey of Dedication
Rei’s parrot journey began in 2018, but what sets them apart is the depth of commitment they brought to understanding these remarkable birds. Their professional journey began at Oasis Parrot Sanctuary in Tuscon, Arizona where they worked hands on with over 900 parrots of all sizes.
The most striking lesson of sanctuary work was this: so many well-meaning people who genuinely love their birds end up in difficult situations and feel there is no way out. Thousands of beloved feathered friends end up at sanctuaries because owners who need help managing behavioral issues don’t know where to turn. Owners left their birds behind crying and full of a hopelessness that is hard to put into words.
Watching this same story unravel time and time again, Rei committed to change that narrative for parrots and their people alike. This road led to the Parrot Steward mentorship, as well as working as a handler at a private aviary, raising baby parrots, and working in the field of exotic and avian veterinary medicine — all with the goal of gaining a deeper and richer understanding of parrots and how to foster better relationships with them. While working as an exotic veterinary technician in California—giving Rei daily hands-on experience with parrots in medical settings—they pursued advanced education in animal behavior.
In 2024, Rei earned their Learning and Living with Animals Certificate from Dr. Susan Friedman, one of the most respected names in applied behavior analysis. But they didn’t stop there. For the past two years, they have been an active member of my Parrot Steward Consulting Collective, completing the full consulting program with excellence and distinction.
Why Pyrrhura Conures?
Throughout her studies, Rei developed a special expertise with Pyrrhura conures—those charming, complex little parrots that can challenge even experienced bird owners. Their combination of veterinary knowledge and behavior expertise makes them uniquely qualified to help conure guardians navigate everything from typical conure antics to more challenging behavioral concerns.
Connect with Rei
Rei has created multiple ways to support the conure community:
- The Feathered Protectorate: Her education and outreach organization (@featheredprotectorate on Instagram)
- Conure Counseling Community: A social network specifically for conure owners (find them @conurecounselors on Instagram and @conurecounseling on TikTok) – now open for public enrollment!
- Private Consultations: One-on-one behavior consulting for personalized support
Whether you’re dealing with a screaming Green-cheeked conure, a nippy Crimson-bellied, or just want to enrich your parrot’s life, Rei brings both scientific knowledge and genuine passion to every consultation.
Ready to Work with Rei?
Please join me in congratulating Rei on this achievement. It’s behavior consultants like them—combining formal education, practical experience, and genuine dedication—who are elevating the field of parrot behavior consulting.
Please support her in her efforts as a new consultant. I guarantee she knows what she is doing and practices excellence in all she does
Author: Pamela Clark, CPBC, the Parrot Steward
Leave a Reply