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A Look at the Hagen Aviculture Research Institute by Melanie Allen

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A Look at the Hagen Aviculture Research Institute by Melanie Allen A Look at the Hagen Aviculture Research Institute By Melanie Allen When it was suggested that I write an article could be more true when one looks at the on the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute many spokes of the avian community and all (HARI) for the Watchbird, especially since that the world of psittacine encompasses - be it this year’s AFA Convention Key Note Speaker companion bird, retailing birds and bird prod- is Mark Hagen, I truly thought the article ucts, breeding, rescue and adoption, veterinar- would just write itself! There are so many ian contributions and especially wild parrot things to say about HARI that I wanted to conservation. HARI has contributed to each share, but when it came down to just an article of those spokes of the avian community with that explained the dedication and rich history financial as well as supportive experience and of a parrot breeding facility in Canada , there knowledge that stems from the facility’s mea- was just too much to tell. And, honestly, the ger beginning in a rented warehouse in 1985 initial article sounded much too much like a to the self sustaining state of the art facility in polished press release. After giving much con- Riguad, Canada that it is today. With that sideration to the process, I decided to tell the being said, HARI has its roots well planted HARI story from not just an employee of Rolf with a solid foundation fed by experiences of C. Hagen perspective, but from an avicultur- successes and failures, and then coupled with ist’s perspective. After all, it is from that per- budding innovative philosophies to ensure the spective that I came to appreciate what HARI future for parrots and the avian community. stands for! With the passion of keeping parrots as pets, And, this is HARI…. all while having a strong and committed con- The most significant thing to say about HARI cern for parrots in the wild, Mark Hagen, stems from a statement that is widely ex- Director of Research at Rolf C. Hagen Inc. pressed by the HARI Team -“nothing is ab- and HARI, has lead his facility with a “share solute - we are always learning”. And nothing the knowledge” philosophy within the avian community on a global scale for decades. In Mark Hagen 24 Volume XLII • Number 2 & 3 • 2013 How HARI started… be viewed at www.Hagen.com. In HARI’s infancy, Mark Hagen’s first facility HARI’s support for wild parrot conserva- was set up in a converted warehouse to hold tion has not always been a matter of writing a the flock. His initial objective was to study check or sending product. Sometimes neces- the nutrition, husbandry, and captive breed- sary support for important field work comes ing strategies for captive bred parrots. While with a different approach. Here’s an exam- the founding HARI flock of parrots consisted ple of how one spoke of the avian community of 400 wild-caught pairs and included a broad serves another which begs the question, how array of species including Amazons, macaws effective can a field researcher be with in situ and cockatoos, today, there are now about 250 parrot conservation projects if he requires ex- pairs, many of which are captive bred from perience and skills to evaluate and safely re- the original founding flock members. In fact, strain wild parrots? many of the original founding flock at HARI Such was the case for Charles Britt, Avian today are still part of the collection today. Field Ecologist, with regards to a collaborative These older birds continue to provide a valu- effort with Dr. Janice Boyd of Schubot Ex- able and continual source of data for one of otic Bird Health Center, Dept. of Veterinary HARI’s longest ongoing research projects in Pathobiology, Texas A & M University, in an longevity studies in parrot nutrition. Some ongoing study using telemetry devices to track of the Amazons, a particular favorite genus of macaw movements in Belize. Mark Hagen’s, have produced 2nd generation It is one thing to climb up Ceiba trees that of- on 100% extruded diet. ten reach 230 feet to inspect macaw nests, but (photo of DYH pair-among the oldest resi- it is a whole new ball game when it comes to dents at HARI) installing these telemetry devices on wild ma- fact, Mark Hagen and members of the HARI Wild Parrot Conservation - Always a caws! Britt spent a very intense week with the Team have spoken on all topics at avian semi- forefront with HARI philosophy… HARI staff and the HARI macaws as they nars and conferences all over the world. provided training that included compassion- In one of my most memorable aviculturist While many members of the avian com- munity focus on their companion birds, the ate and ethical handling techniques as well conferences many years ago, Mark as advice and lessons in general health assess- Hagen, while presenting his talk at a US HARI philosophy has regarded efforts in wild parrot protection and conservation with high ments for the nestlings and the adult birds conference, “The Acquisition of Amazons”, that proved to be vital in this study. openly discussed HARI’s Pacheco’s virus out- respect and utmost importance. This is due HARI - Now and the future… break. That was remarkable to me! After all, to a sense of duty, as many of our companions back in the 1980’s when so many of the avian and breeding livestock are just a few genera- HARI’s breeding program challenges have diseases were still a baffling and heartbreak- tions from their wild counterparts. In recent evolved to reflect the dynamics of the par- ing experience for many aviculturists and years, Mark has traveled extensively to ob- rot world as we know it today. Much like avian veterinarians, here was an avicultur- serve the many wild parrot conservation proj- the avian community over the past 28 years, ist willing to admit that a disease was pres- ects he and the company have supported, as HARI has faced challenges in the avian com- ent at his facility. He offered not just solutions the HARI philosophy has always included a munity with regards to pet bird industry. One in husbandry protocol, but also support to strong message to support wild parrot conser- of those challenges includes an increase of the veterinarian community, with hopes that vation endeavors such as the re-entry of the awareness for parrot adoption and rescue facil- the avian community would benefit. I have Great Green macaw (Ara ambiguus) through ities in North America as well as some of the learned that from that point forward, sharing the ARA Project as well as the Abaco Parrot various reasons these facilities exist. With that knowledge is probably the most notable aspect Project in the Bahamas to name a few. High- being said, one of the highlights of HARI’s of Mark Hagen and HARI, which benefits lights from his visits to Costa Rico facilities evolvement in this area has centered on how the entire avian community. are captured in his photo journal, which can to raise a parrot so that the young fledgling is Flexible Egg Candler—Candling without Handling $27.95 Extra bright bulb on a 10”-flexible shaft to facilitate candling in the nest. Detects cracks in the shell and non-developing embryos. Operates on 2 “AA” batteries (included). 4422-C Replacement Lamp $6.00 www.mdsvet.com • 1-800-435-9352 AFA Watchbird 25 better prepared as a companion pet. This strat- veterinarians and veterinary technicians today. egy, known formally as the HARI Early Par- Historically, the HARI flock has served as re- rot Education or EPE program, developed as search subjects for veterinary colleges for many a structured approach to prepare young fledg- of the diagnostic and preventative procedures ling parrots deemed for a life as a companion we know today. We must keep in mind that, at animal to thrive and ultimately make a well HARI’s inception, avian veterinary medicine adjusted and better pet than uneducated birds. was in its infancy. One of the most interest- The EPE program also addresses many of the ing advancements that aviculturists and avian negative attributes associated with maturity veterinarians utilize today basically originated and mishandling on the part of the pet owner. as a “win-win” benefit for both HARI and for While an EPE graduate is not guaranteed to Dr. Michael Taylor, Ontario Veterinary Col- stay in one home for its life, the potential of lege, University of Guelph. care facility, HARI provides students of avian re-homing a pet bird in need, which may very While veterinary medicine utilized fluoros- health technology with internship programs well be expected due to the average life span copy or endoscopy procedure for many ani- in order to gain valuable hands-on experi- of some species, is much easier as the bird will mals, the sheeths or tools used to do this diag- ence with parrots and other exotic animals at not have developed the negative attributes nor- nostic work on psittacines did not exist in the the facility. Momentarily, internships such as mally associated with parrots relinquished to 1980’s. Dr. Taylor, in association with Karl these are granted as time and space permit. parrot rescues. For pet retailers and breeders Storz Endoscopy, created these tools specifi- However, the HARI Team, along with retired in Canada, EPE birds sell quickly and hold a cally for psittacines , using the HARI birds HARI birds, often participate in nearby cur- higher value, as the lessons they learn remain as his first subjects.
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