Behind the Feathers-The Language of the Avian-1CPD
Join me as we pull back the feathered curtain to assess bird behaviour, both in a wild and housed setting.There are so many clear markers for a birds planned response to a stimuli in their environment, we just have to look for them.
Chad Crittle is an experience animal trainer and keeper with a special interest in all things feathered. He is the Senior Keeper of Birds and Free flight at Adelaide zoo, supervising the most diverse bird collection of any major zoo in Australia. Chads passion for birds started at the age of 7 while watching the free flight bird show at Taronga zoo, fast forward 23 years and Chad is still as nerdy for the feathered friends he shares his professional life with. From support feeding wild cassowary after cyclone yasi in 2011, to releasing birds from the Texas star Ferris wheel at the legendary “Birds of the World” show at the Texas state fair, Chad has many a story to share.
During roles working at bird and pinniped shows Chad has enjoyed learning from amazing trainers and teams. Chad’s passion for zoo conservation has seen him become the chair of the captive management group for the orange-bellied parrot and currently acting in the role of chair for the national recovery team for the orange-bellied parrot, the most endangered Australian parrot species.
