Phoenix Landing Buddy
PL Banner

PARROT ENRICHMENT CLASSES
Phoenix Landing hosts educational seminars featuring speakers with special knowledge or experience related to the welfare of parrots. Come and learn more about how parrots think and behave, how you can be a better parrot guardian, and what we can all do towards improving the welfare of parrots both in captivity and in the wild.

You can also meet some of our adoptable birds at most of our events, from parakeets to macaws. However, for health and safety reasons, we ask that you do not bring your birds. We are very careful to insure that foster birds at our events have been vetted, and we strive to minimize the spread of disease.

No registration or fees for our classes are required, unless otherwise specified, so please join us often! Of course we appreciate donations to help cover our facility and speaker costs, and sometimes we will even suggest one. However, we want everyone to come regardless of money. Please take the time to learn something new for your parrot.

We sell lots of wonderful parrot toys and supplies at most of our events, and appreciate your support (except the ones at the Fairfax, VA vet offices). This is one of our primary means of paying for the needs of the parrots under our care. Shopping discounts are available through our Membership Program at www.phoenixlanding.membership.html

(*) indicates those classes that satisfy our adoption requirements such as Things I Wish I'd Known or A Parrot's Point of View. These are comprehensive care seminars, one of which is recommended for all adoptions. The behavior workshops (**) are especially important for those adopting the larger parrots, but are highly recommended for everyone who aspires to a positive relationship with their birds, from parakeets to macaws.



step up!
seb


Skills to Empower People to Understand Parrots (“STEP-UP")

Four intensive workshops in Asheville, NC in 2013 designed to give people an abundance of information about parrot care, from behavior and health, to nutrition and enrichment. In addition to discussions and lectures, there will be hands-on training sessions, cooking classes, and time to discuss issues of specific importance to you. Limited to 6 participants. We will work with the current foster birds at The Landing, so you will be able to teach behavior, foraging and feeding new foods first hand. Cost is $325 per person.
2013 Dates: April 19-21; June 7-9; August 23-25; and November 8-10
For more information go to phoenixlanding.org/stepup.html

ABINGDON, VA
SUNDAY
May 19th
CANCELLED
** BUILDING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARROT- CANCELLED
Learn new skills for communication and companionship with your parrot. What do you expect from your parrot, and how do you relate to each other? We will address various ways of keeping the exchanges rewarding and positive, and discuss some specific training tools. We’ll also explore trick training and other activities to keep your parrot active and occupied in acceptable ways. Come learn some new tricks!
ABINGDON/OTTER CREEK, MD
SUNDAY
May 19th
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
700 Otter Point Road

www.otterpointcreek.org
LAURA FORD: THE BENEFITS OF PLANTS FOR PARROTS
Although we consider the parrots who live in our homes our companions, they are still biologically wild animals, designed to live in and among trees and plants. Researchers are finding that parrots in the wild eat an abundance of leaves, flowers, twigs and bark. There are micronutrients and trace elements found in whole living plants, and these nutritional benefits are not yet fully understood, and cannot be completely replicated in a pellet. Providing your parrot with as many natural materials as possible will enhance both their physical and mental health. In this class we will explore easy ways to add more plants into your parrot’s life.
SRPINGFIELD, VA
SATURDAY
June 1st

10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Grace Presbyterian Church
7434 Bath Street

NOURISH TO FLOURISH: LET'S MAKE MASH!
A good diet can help prevent disease and ill health. Food can also be restorative, helping our bodies to heal. Providing a parrot with a varied diet is important for both physical nutrition, as well as mental stimulation and emotional well-being. Let's talk about the different food groups as well as some ways to prepare meals that combine all the important ingredients for a well-rounded diet. Making a mash that can be stored for future use is a terrific way to make sure your birds receive a varied diet without daily cooking time and effort.
CARY, NC
SUNDAY
June 2nd

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
AniMall
Cary Towne Center Mall
1105 Walnut St
New Suite! H8808

*A PARROT'S POINT OF VIEW
Parrots are built to fly, forage, and flock together, and in the wild they must be continually on alert for predators. These physical and social attributes still govern how a parrot adapts to their lives in our homes. Do you consider your parrot’s perspective in your daily routines and interactions? Perhaps sometimes you just don’t understand each other because you see things differently? Let’s talk about life from a “Parrot’s Point of View.” [also satisfies our adoption process requirement].
step up! seb

Skills to Empower People to Understand Parrots (“STEP-UP")
ASHEVILLE, NC: JUNE 7-9

An intensive workshop designed to give people an abundance of information about parrot care, from behavior and health, to nutrition and enrichment. In addition to lectures, there will be hands-on training sessions, cooking classes, and time to discuss issues of specific importance to you. We will work with the current foster birds at the Phoenix Landing facility, so you will be able to teach behavior, foraging and feeding new foods first hand.

ASHEVILLE, NC
SATURDAY
June 15th

10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
434 Cedar Hill Rd
Alexander, NC
Click for Directions
**CLICKER TRAINING FOR PARROTS
Clicker training is a fun way to interact with your bird, but it's also a useful tool for addressing behavioral issues. Once you apply the principles of clicker training to your daily interactions -- regardless of whether your bird is young, old, tame or not-yet-tame, a clown or a perch potato -- you will be amazed at how effectively you will be able to communicate with each other, how much faster you'll build trust, and how quickly your parrot will learn tricks that delight and amaze. This class will be an introduction to clicker training for birds, how it works, why it works, strategies for dealing with "problem" behaviors, ideas for getting started, and pitfalls to avoid.
FAIRFAX, VA
SUNDAY
June 23rd
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services
4105 Rust Road


DR. GREG COSTANZO: SPECIES SPECIFIC SYNDROMES and DISEASES, PART 2
It is helpful to do our homework and be attuned to the most common syndromes and conditions associated with our bird's particular species. A basic knowledge of the common ailments by species helps us to practice preventative measures, decrease disease, and increase health and longevity for our companion birds. Come meet Dr. Costanzo, the newest resident at Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services in Fairfax, VA. This will be part 2 of a class that was started at the January Springfield, VA event.

EDGEWATER, MD
SATURDAY
June 29th

10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

Knights of Columbus
2600 Solomon's Island Road
* THE CONTENTED COMPANION
Looking for techniques to keep your parrot happy and calm? Come explore some ideas for meeting our parrots’ many needs, including tips for keeping those birdbrains thinking and engaged. We’ll touch on nutrition, socialization, and other stress relievers for our feathered companions. We hope you’ll join us for Leigh Ann Hartsfields’s creative and informative class.
Pepper
EDGEWATER, MD
SATURDAY
June 29th

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Knights of Columbus
2600 Solomon's Island Road

NOURISH TO FLOURISH: EDIBLE ENRICHMENTS
We all understand that our parrots need sustenance from nutrient-dense foods in order to maintain physical health and longevity, but how often do we consider the enrichment qualities of food for fun and mental stimulation as well? Join us for Leigh Ann Hartsfield's class about how to explore crafty ways to offer foods that are sure to pique your parrots' interest.
In addition, we'll having an Edible Enrichments contest, with a prize for the best idea.
Bring your examples of an edible enrichment, and we'll let the birds chose the winners!
FAIRFAX, VA
SUNDAY
June 30th

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Pender Exotics Veterinary Centre
4001 Legato Road
**CLICKER TRAINING FOR PARROTS
Clicker training is a fun way to interact with your bird, but it's also a useful tool for addressing behavioral issues. Once you apply the principles of clicker training to your daily interactions -- regardless of whether your bird is young, old, tame or not-yet-tame, a clown or a perch potato -- you will be amazed at how effectively you will be able to communicate with each other, how much faster you'll build trust, and how quickly your parrot will learn tricks that delight and amaze. This class will be an introduction to clicker training for birds, how it works, why it works, strategies for dealing with "problem" behaviors, ideas for getting started, and pitfalls to avoid.

(*) For classes that satisfy our adoption requirements. Things I Wish I'd Known, The Contented Companion, A Parrot's Point of View and Synergy: Caring for the Whole Parrot are comprehensive care classes, one of which is recommended for all adoptions. (**) The behavior workshops are important
for those adopting the larger parrots, but are highly recommended for everyone who aspires to a positive relationship with their bird(s)
.

* A core parrot care class that coincides with our adoption process
** A behavior class that is highly recommended for everyone with parrots

VIRGINIA
January 5 Springfield DR. GREG COSTANZO from SEAVS: Species Specific Syndromes and Diseases. PART I
January 26 Fairfax/SEAVS *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
January 27 Abingdon *The Contented Companion
February 2 Springfield A Virtual Tour of the Wild Parrots of Brazil
February 24 Fairfax/Pender *A Parrot's Point of View
March 2 Springfield 6th Annual Mardi Gras, Meet More Adoptable Parrots!
March 10 Abingdon *A Parrot's Point of View
March 23 Fairfax/SEAVS **Behavior Workshop: Biting Matters
April 6 Springfield Pamela Clark, CVT: The Social Relationships of Parrots
April 21 Fairfax/SEAVS *The Contented Companion
May 4 Springfield Get That Parrot Playing! by Laura Ford
May 18 Fairfax/SEAVS *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
May 19 Abingdon **Behavior Workshop
June 1 Springfield Nourish to Flourish: Let's Talk Nutrition and Make Mash
June 23 Fairfax/SEAVS DR. GREG COSTANZO from SEAVS: Species Specific Syndromes and Diseases. PART II
June 30 Fairfax/Pender **Behavior Workshop: Clicker Training for Parrots
July 13 Springfield 10th Annual Luau, Meet More Adoptable Parrots!
July 27 Fairfax/SEAVS *A Parrot's Point of View
August 3 Springfield Roundtable: Common Problems and Solutions
August 25 Fairfax/SEAVS
*The Contented Companion
September 7 Springfield A Birdie Glossary, Terms You Should Know
September 21 Fairfax/SEAVS **Behavior Workshop: Biting Matters
September 29 Abingdon Nourish to Flourish
October 5 Springfield 3rd Fall Festival, Meet More Adoptable Parrots!
October 27 Fairfax/Pender *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
November 2 Springfield Deb White: The Importance of Avian Play and DIY Enrichment Ideas
November 16 Fairfax/SEAVS *A Parrot's Point of View
November 17 Abingdon *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
December 7 Springfield Hillary Hankey: Making Lemonade-Using the Lemons in Our Avian Relationships to Strengthen Bonds through Positive Reinforcement
December 15 Fairfax/SEAVS **Behavior Workshop: Clicker Training for Parrots
MARYLAND
February 9 Towson *A Parrot's Point of View and Fun with Foraging
March 16 Frederick Frank Rutowski, DVM: The Avian Physical Exam; PLUS Keeping Your Bird Safe: Emergency Care and Disease Prevention
April 20 Jessup **Principles of Positive Reinforcement Training
May19 Abingdon/Otter Creek The Benefits of Plants for Parrots
June 29 Annapolis *The Contented Companion and Nourish to Flourish: Edible Enrichments
July 20 Towson Patricia Sund: CHOP CHOP!
August 17 Jessup *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
September 28 Frederick *A Parrot's Point of View and A Parrot's Family Tree
October 13 Abingdon/Otter Creek *Caring for the WHOLE Parrot
December 15 Annapolis Perches and Playstands
NORTH CAROLINA
January 19 Asheville *The Contented Companion
February 3 Cary *The Contented Companion
February 16 Jacksonville *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
February 23 Asheville Linda Patterson: Gardening for Parrots (and Everyone Else Too!)
March 16 Asheville *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
April 19-21 Asheville STEP-UP! Workshop (Skills To Empower People to Understand Parrots)
April 27 Asheville Aviaries and Play Areas: Nyla Copp from My Birdie Buddy
April 28 Cary Aviaries and Play Areas: Nyla Copp from My Birdie Buddy
May 18 Asheville *A Parrot's Point of View
June 2 Cary *A Parrot's Point of View
June 7-9 Asheville STEP-UP! Workshop (Skills To Empower People to Understand Parrots)
June 15 Asheville **Behavior Workshop: Clicker Training for Parrots
July 20 Asheville *The Contented Companion
August 4 Cary **Behavior Workshop: Clicker Training
August 17 Asheville Parrot Recreation: Playgrounds, Puzzles and Diversions by Michelle Czaikowski
August 23-25 Asheville STEP-UP! Workshop (Skills To Empower People to Understand Parrots)
September 21 Asheville *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
October 6 Cary Parrot Recreation: Playgrounds, Puzzles and Diversions by Michelle Czaikowski
October 19 Asheville **Behavior Workshop
November 8-10 Asheville STEP-UP! Workshop (Skills To Empower People to Understand Parrots)
November 16 Asheville *A Parrot's Point of View
December 8 Cary *Things I Wish I'd Known, A Comprehensive Parrot Care Seminar
December 14 Asheville Nourish to Flourish