#exoticscon

[barbaraheidenreich]

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As an animal trainer, I believe in luring as a tool in my tool box to get an action started so that I can reinforce desired behavior. I'll have this box of doughnuts at my vendor booth tomorrow morning.... just sayin' #exoticscon #veterinaryconference #doughnuts #portland #portlandia #portlandoregon (at Voodoo Doughnut)

[barbaraheidenreich]

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Exoticscon veterinary conference has begun! Kicked off with our lab on training flighted parrots at Cockatoo Downs.#avianvet #avianveterinarian #veterinaryconference #exoticscon #trainingparrots #parrottraining #parrotsofinstagram #cockatoosofinstagram #cockatoo #freeflight #flighttraining

[dragonfeathergazette]

Dear Portland,

The band singing somewhere outside the Hilton is charming. Thank you for the dose of culture. Now please go to bed, I have a conference in the morning. Love, A Sleepy Vet Tech

[barbaraheidenreich]

Just finished putting together my powerpoint presentation for the ExoticsCon veterinary conference about this superstar named Jackson. The words from my last slide...."Animal training is often considered a luxury. However, Jack’s example demonstrates that training significantly contributes to high standards in animal welfare. Training should be as essential as daily feeding, cleaning and veterinary care. When professionals begin to embrace training as a part of a well-rounded approach to providing best practices in animal care we can reduce or eliminate stress for many animals in regard to medical procedures." Hope his example will inspire many others. #parrotsofinstagram #parrottraining #avianveterinarian #avianvet #avianvets #exoticscon

[barbaraheidenreich]

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Delbert demos how to appropriately handle junk mail and reinforce stationing on desired perches for flighted birds. Which reminds me…..Veterinary professionals! Don’t miss a unique opportunity. Learn how to manage the behavior of flighted birds at Exotics Con in Portland, OR. This off site lab is only possible at this conference due to the proximity of world class training facility Cockatoo Downs. You will work hands on with parrots in free flight and in aviaries. Prices increase 7/29. Info here http://www.exoticscon.org/hands-on-laboratories/ lab #49 #parrottraining #parrotflighttraining #veterinarian #veterinarytechnician #veterinaryprofessionals #veterinaryconference #veterinarytraining #flightedparrots #flightedparrotproblems #exoticscon #avianveterinarian

[aviansharpeleven]

ExoticsCon 2015

I’m not a big blogger, but every once in a while I have an experience by myself that I like to have the opportunity to reflect on. My Thailand experience being the ultimate example.

I’m currently sitting in the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN, awaiting my plane to Dallas/Fort Worth to take another plane to San Antonio, the locale of the 2015 ExoticsCon- a conglomeration of AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians), ARAV (Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians), and AEMV (Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians).

Why am I going, you ask? How did I get off of the invigorating rotation of Field Services to get to go? Well, since this is my blog, I guess I’ll tell you without trying to “toot my own horn”. I submitted a manuscript to the AAV for their student manuscript competition back in late May-ish. I don’t know how I did it, but I won! As the winner, I get the opportunity to present my research at the conference. I was super excited about this when I first won, but as it draws nearer, the anticipation is building. My presentation is solid, my knowledge of the material is solid, and the research, while preliminary, is solid… But I always get the pre-show jitters, even back when I was playing in Nashville all the time. It doesn’t matter how much you prepare, something can always go wrong.

I’m confident, just ready to get it done.

Anyway! I’m waiting on my plane out of Knoxville to board, and they’re late (of course). Apparently the airplane needs some random plastic piece replaced on the inside of the cabin before we can board, which shouldn’t be an issue, except we’re about thirty minutes late to get on the plane for something that should’ve taken “no longer than five minutes”. At least I don’t have a connecting fli…. Oh wait, I do.