Joanne Abramson started raising macaws in 1976. Her research of macaws let to the publication of over 40 articles in the journal of the American Federation of Aviculture's "The Watchbird," "Bird Talk" and "Bird World Magizine", as well as other periodicals and books. Joanne received the AFA, AVY award for writing in 1989 and 1992. She also chaired the AFA Conservation Small Grants Committee from 1992 to 1995.
Joanne is a frequent guest lecturer nationally and internationally. Among the groups she has addressed are the American Federation of Aviculture Conventions, the Conservation and Management of Macaws in Central America Conference in Honduras, The United Kingdom Parrot Conference, the Avian Research Seminars, the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the International Aviculturists Society Conferences.
She lives in rural Northern California with her husband Keevan, their macaws German Sheperds, miniature horses, cats and koi.
Brian Speer grew up in a small town in California's central coast area. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences with a concentration in zoology from California Polytechnical State University in 1978, and his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis. Since 1989, he has limited his practice to birds including psittacines, ratites, gamebirds and waterfowl. An active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, he chairs the Aviculture Committee and is on the board of scientific editors. Brian has been published in the AAV annual proceedings, in veterinary medical texts on pet birds and ratite topics, and has served as guest editor of the journal "Seminars in Avian and Exotics Pet Medicine."
Along with his wife Denise and their two children, Brian shares his "spare time" with his own breeding collection of emus, macaws, cockatoos and waterfowl. It is this first-hand knowledge of aviculture that provides a unique insight into aviculture and the mechanics of successful propagation.
Jørgen Thomsen's life-long involvement with birds began with his childhood walks along the beaches of Denmarks west coast, where he grew up. From collecting oil-soaked seabirds as an eleven-year-old, he expanded his interests to include raptors and parrots, both of which were amongst the responsibilities of his post with the CITES office of the Danish Ministry of the Environment. A subsequent move to the United States, and a position with TRAFFIC USA, one of the offices of the international TRAFFIC Network (the joint wildlife trade and monitoring program of WWF - the World Wide Fund for Nature - and IUCN- The World Conservation Union), Enabled him to pursue field and policy research on parrots and the parrot trade. This included participation in a field assessment of the Hyacinth Macaw in Bolivia and Brazil in 1987.
Currently Executive Director of TRAFFIC International, the coordinating office of the TRAFFIC Network based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Jørgen has less time for birds than in the past. In addition to the many, persistent demands of his position in international conservation, he and his wife Amie enjoy their two cats, remodeling a century-old Victorian house and a quintessential English Garden.
Marsha Mello - Illustrator: Marsha is recognized for her fine illustrations and prints drawn from a wide range of natural subjects. Her limited-edition etchings can be found both at the California's famed Monterey Bay Aquarium, and on the Mendocino coast, exclusively at Gallery One. Marsha's detailed portrayals of animals and birds make her a widely collected artist. Her work also includes the illustration of several childrens books.
Marsha lives in Northern California with her husband John, a marine biologist. They share their home with two border collies and a cockatiel.