Parrot EXPO keynote speaker Debbie Foster has “had birds all her life” and is now a Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant, accredited through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Avian Trainer and Educator, through the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.

She has trained with many gifted trainers and educators:

• Cockatoo Downs: Chris Shanks, Pam Clark, Sid Price, Barbara Heidenreich

• Natural Encounters, Inc.: Steve Martin, Dr. Susan Friedman, and NEI’s staff

• Living and Learning with Parrots: Dr. Susan Friedman

• Chicken Training Camp: Bob Bailey, Parvene Farhoody

One of her most valuable experiences was hands-on training at Companion Parrots Rehomed, a local rescue, where she worked with birds and people, and developed several classes for people interested in bird care (Positive Reinforcement, Problem-Solving, and Foods and Your Flock).

She has volunteered for the last two years with Phoenix Landing (Asheville, NC) and works on the team to present STEP-UP (Skills to Empower People to Understand Parrots), and the advanced STEP-UP class. These are three-day workshops which are divided between classroom lectures and discussions, and hands-on activities with a variety of birds.

Debbie is a teaching assistant for Living and Learning with Animals with Dr. Susan Friedman, and an instructor in the parrot division for Companion Animal Sciences Institute.

She has her own business called Parrot Ps and Qs, which you can find on Facebook. She is an enthusiastic lifelong learner and loves to share current, science-based information to benefit people and parrots. Check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Parrot-Ps-and-Qs-100063774360710/.