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The 2026 Wellness Retreat in Asheville, NC is scheduled for May 30-31, 2026. Save the date so you can join us! |
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2024 Wellness Retreat
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We thank our sponsors and their highly recommended products!
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Thanks to the Lafeber Company for sponsoring veterinarians Susan Orosz, Cyndi Brown, Bob Dahlhausen, and Scott Echols.
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12 RACE, IAABC, and IATBC CEUs approved
Lafeber hosted a webinar with Dr. Susan Orosz and Ann Brooks to talk about the upcoming Wellness Retreat, the topics, speakers, auction and meet/greet event on Friday night.
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Live Zoom Event Only, No Recordings ~ Pre-Registration Required
REGISTRATION CLOSED
REGISTRATION CLOSED
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2022 Virtual Wellness Retreat
"Avian Medical Challenges" This mini-Retreat will address some of the more common medical challenges that pet birds face. These are often related to reproduction, kidneys, or the ingestion of foreign bodies. Our four guest veterinarians will address these often encountered problems, and how to diagnose and treat when possible.
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Parrots are unique in their care due in large measure to their unique anatomy and husbandry needs. Some birds live in less than optimal conditions because of inadequate diets, access to unsafe materials, or a natural drive to procreate that has become dysfunctional. Veterinarians are on the front line for solving problems and providing solutions to these challenges. Our goal is to help veterinarians, as well as owners, to avoid or treat these challenges when possible!
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FREE for current Phoenix Landing members. If you joined our membership program after September 1, 2021 of last year, email us at [email protected] for a Zoom registration link. Scholarships for vet students as well, email us for more information.
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This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. This event is also approved by IAABC for 6 CEUs.
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Our Guest Speakers: |
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10:00am - 11:30am ET
Scott Stahl, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services Reproductive Issues, The Sexy Parrot |
11:45am - 1:15pm ET
Rachel Baden, DVM Resident Medical Center for Birds Diagnosis and Management of Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies |
1:30pm- 2:15pm ET
3:45pm - 4:30pm ET Susan Orosz, PhD, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Dipl ECZM Bird and Exotic Pet Wellness Center The Renal System: Anatomy and Physiology (1:30); and Critical Care Nutrition (3:45) |
2:15pm - 3:45 ET
Stephanie Lamb, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital Common Diseases Related to the Kidneys |
Wellness Retreat | June 4-5, 2022 | Asheville, NC
"In Sickness and In Health"
"In Sickness and In Health"
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Our 6th Wellness Retreat will once again be held at the University of NC-Asheville, at the Sherrill Center. The theme this time is "In Sickness and In Health."
A healthy, happy bird is one that has good veterinary care, things to do that are mentally and physically active, a positive environment of trust, and always good food! Our Wellness Retreat theme this year, "In Sickness and in Health", aims to address many of the things needed for your bird's quality-of-life. And let's talk about how wild birds live too!
Click here to see the final agenda Would you like to learn to make toys or teach your bird to read? Or perhaps you'd really like to learn more about avian bornavirus, feather destructive behavior, or reproductive issues with accomplished veterinarians in these areas. REGISTRATIONOnly $129 for an amazing weekend!
Deadline for registering online was June 1st. CONTINUNING EDUCATION:
This program has been approved for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Also approved by IAABC for 12 continuing education hours. AUCTION:
Since we could not be together in 2020, we will have a robust auction and many great deals! |
OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
Health and Welfare, Guest Veterinarians
We Are Grateful to Our Sponsors!!
Thanks to the Lafeber Company for sponsoring
three of our speakers - Drs. Susan Orosz, Laura Wade, and Robert Dahlhausen. 
Thanks also to Harrison's Bird Foods
for their sponsorship again as well! 
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2021 Virtual Wellness Retreat
Understanding Common Issues with Eclectus Parrots Sunday, July 25, 2021, Online via Zoom. 1:00p.m. EDT - 5:30p.m. EDT The live question and answer period will be from 5:00p.m. - 5:30p.m. EDT. 4 hours CE credit through RACE. Speakers: Dr. Rob Marshall and Tailai O'Brien $35 USD Registration has closed. |
Dr. Rob Marshall is a renowned veterinarian in Australia, and Tailai O’Brien is a professional animal trainer. They have spent years learning about the natural history, behavior, living conditions, and habitat of Eclectus parrots in the wild, while also working with them in captivity. They base their care recommendations on what they have learned about wild Eclectus to avoid or treat some common issues experienced with Eclectus parrots in homes.
The common health-related issues they see in homes include feather destructive behavior, male hypersexual behavior, and female opportunistic egg-laying behavior. These behaviors will be the primary focus of their presentation. They will also discuss behavior issues that arise as a result of inadequate training, which include habitual behaviors.
Marshall and O’Brien have developed novel modalities of captive care for Eclectus parrots that act to prevent behavioral disorders before they occur. The ultimate purpose of our treatment and prevention plans is to promote the full expression of natural behaviors in the home setting in order to realize the Eclectus parrot’s cognitive potential for the mutual benefit of the bird and its human companion. This goal can be achieved by organizing daily routines and living conditions that emulate those of the wild setting. They will share what we can do to achieve this in our homes!
There are 5 parts to their presentations on July 25, with short breaks, followed by a question and answer period at the end. The session is for anyone who lives with or works with Eclectus parrots, but has also been approved for 4 hours of RACE credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians seeking continuing education hours.
Part A - Instinctual & Learned Behaviors
Part A starts by describing the differences and relationships between instinctual and learned behaviors. These behaviors act together and have shaped the evolution behind the characteristic life history traits of each species in the wild. Accordingly, each parrot species has evolved a schedule of daily behaviors according to the living conditions of their chosen habitat. These behaviors balance the energy intake and expenditure necessary for survival. Characteristic reproductive behaviors that connect the breeding and moult stages of life have evolved to ensure a positive energy balance is maintained during the overlap of these two critical periods. This part of the presentation concludes with a detailed description of the scheduled daily behaviors and breeding-moult overlap of the Eclectus parrot in its wild setting.
Part B - Cognition & Behavioral Plasticity
Part B introduces the notions of temperament as a species trait and personality as an individual characteristic born from temperament but shaped by early life experiences. This information is provided in the context of cognitive development as the foundation of behavioral plasticity and coping mechanisms in both the wild and home setting. Behavioral plasticity is necessary for survival and reproduction in the wild where environmental stochasticity (unpredictable spatiotemporal fluctuation in environmental conditions) constantly interrupts the scheduled daily behaviors. Cognitive development starting at an early age and continuing into later life provides the means by which behavioral disorders can be prevented in the home setting.
Part C - Health Related Behavioral Disorders
Part C revisits the scheduled albeit plastic behaviors of Eclectus parrots crucial to survival and reproduction in the wild. These observations serve as a backdrop for understanding the origins of feather plucking behavior, feather damaging behavior, male hypersexual behavior and female opportunistic egg-laying behavior in the captive setting. The pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of these often inter-related behavioral disorders are further explained through clinical case reports.
Part D - Training Related Problem Behaviors
Part D outlines the origins of training-related behavior problems. Training advice is presented as a means to prevent and remedy these problems which are often habituated.
Part E - Prevention
Part E details the critical ages and processes of cognitive development in Eclectus parrots. This information forms the basis of our prevention methods for circumventing behavior problems in this and other parrot species.
The common health-related issues they see in homes include feather destructive behavior, male hypersexual behavior, and female opportunistic egg-laying behavior. These behaviors will be the primary focus of their presentation. They will also discuss behavior issues that arise as a result of inadequate training, which include habitual behaviors.
Marshall and O’Brien have developed novel modalities of captive care for Eclectus parrots that act to prevent behavioral disorders before they occur. The ultimate purpose of our treatment and prevention plans is to promote the full expression of natural behaviors in the home setting in order to realize the Eclectus parrot’s cognitive potential for the mutual benefit of the bird and its human companion. This goal can be achieved by organizing daily routines and living conditions that emulate those of the wild setting. They will share what we can do to achieve this in our homes!
There are 5 parts to their presentations on July 25, with short breaks, followed by a question and answer period at the end. The session is for anyone who lives with or works with Eclectus parrots, but has also been approved for 4 hours of RACE credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians seeking continuing education hours.
Part A - Instinctual & Learned Behaviors
Part A starts by describing the differences and relationships between instinctual and learned behaviors. These behaviors act together and have shaped the evolution behind the characteristic life history traits of each species in the wild. Accordingly, each parrot species has evolved a schedule of daily behaviors according to the living conditions of their chosen habitat. These behaviors balance the energy intake and expenditure necessary for survival. Characteristic reproductive behaviors that connect the breeding and moult stages of life have evolved to ensure a positive energy balance is maintained during the overlap of these two critical periods. This part of the presentation concludes with a detailed description of the scheduled daily behaviors and breeding-moult overlap of the Eclectus parrot in its wild setting.
Part B - Cognition & Behavioral Plasticity
Part B introduces the notions of temperament as a species trait and personality as an individual characteristic born from temperament but shaped by early life experiences. This information is provided in the context of cognitive development as the foundation of behavioral plasticity and coping mechanisms in both the wild and home setting. Behavioral plasticity is necessary for survival and reproduction in the wild where environmental stochasticity (unpredictable spatiotemporal fluctuation in environmental conditions) constantly interrupts the scheduled daily behaviors. Cognitive development starting at an early age and continuing into later life provides the means by which behavioral disorders can be prevented in the home setting.
Part C - Health Related Behavioral Disorders
Part C revisits the scheduled albeit plastic behaviors of Eclectus parrots crucial to survival and reproduction in the wild. These observations serve as a backdrop for understanding the origins of feather plucking behavior, feather damaging behavior, male hypersexual behavior and female opportunistic egg-laying behavior in the captive setting. The pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of these often inter-related behavioral disorders are further explained through clinical case reports.
Part D - Training Related Problem Behaviors
Part D outlines the origins of training-related behavior problems. Training advice is presented as a means to prevent and remedy these problems which are often habituated.
Part E - Prevention
Part E details the critical ages and processes of cognitive development in Eclectus parrots. This information forms the basis of our prevention methods for circumventing behavior problems in this and other parrot species.
Let's learn more about some of the aspects of parrots that draws us to them with this great lineup of speakers! Dr. Todd Driggers will talk about wing anatomy, flight, and a new style of wing clip (if you must clip wings). Dr. Richard Burdeaux will discuss feather destructive behavior with parrots. Behaviorist Pam Clark will share insights concerning our body language around birds, and how it may influence a parrot's behavior. Heidi Hellmuth will look deeper at wild behavior in parrots, and provide insights into enriching their lives in captivity based on that.
This is an event you will not want to miss!
The tentative schedule is below. This event is geared towards everyone who loves, lives with, or works with parrots. It has been approved for 5 RACE credit hours for veterinarians and veterinary technicians (2.5 medical, and 2.5 non-medical credit hours). It is also approved for 5 CE hours for IAABC members and IATCB.
This is an event you will not want to miss!
The tentative schedule is below. This event is geared towards everyone who loves, lives with, or works with parrots. It has been approved for 5 RACE credit hours for veterinarians and veterinary technicians (2.5 medical, and 2.5 non-medical credit hours). It is also approved for 5 CE hours for IAABC members and IATCB.
10:00am ET/7:00am PT
Richard Burdeaux, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) Lange Animal Hospital "Feather Destructive Behavior." |
11:30am ET/8:30am PT
Heidi Hellmuth St. Louis Zoo & Gateway Parrot Club "Enrichment Action Planning: Using Natural Behaviors to Enrich Companion Parrots." |
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2:30pm ET/11:30 am PT
Pam Clark, CPBC, CVT IAABC Consultant Pamela Clark's website "Imperceptible Human Speak." |