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2025 #ParrotCrisis Action Summit

Sept 19, 11:30am-4:30pm EDT

The 2024 #ParrotCrisis Summit attracted 1000+ attendees from across the world seeking to protect parrots from the global pet trade. We inspired, informed, and planted the seeds of a movement. Since then, much has occured:

 

  • The Trump administration has cut funding for conservation around the world drastically.

  • Thousands of parrots have been taken from the wild -- and thousands have died en route to points of sale. 

  • Diseases fueled by the pet trade are spreading – the first death of a wild macaw from Beak and Feather Disease was documented in Costa Rica. The liberated Spix macaws in Brazil have been confirmed to have this same disease.

  • Surrender requests to parrots sanctuaries in the global north are increasing. One IAPP sanctuary partner reports a 25% increase since 2024.

  • Many U.S. municipalities are considering banning the sale of parrots as pets -- Massachusetts, New York State, New York City, Rhode Island, and multiple cities in California.

  • One IAPP conservation partner reports more successful nests of Yellow-Headed Amazons in Guatemala, even while poaching pressure and loss of parrots increase in other areas.

We're facing urgent crises on one hand, but progress on the other. Join us September 19, 2025 for a series of collaborative workshops to inspire and empower anyone who wants to join our movement to fight for all those who suffer from the global pet trade, including:

  • Wild and captive parrots, as well as animals of many other species

  • Humans that live where parrots fly free

  • Ecosystems that rely on parrots as seed dispersers and pollinators

  • Parrots, other animals, and humans that suffer when parrots are unintentionally introduced to ecosystems

 

The goals of the 2025 #ParrotCrisis Action summit include:

  • Highlight the connection between trade and its harmful impacts to parrots and people all over the world, as well as the unsuitability of parrots to captivity

  • Support the rescues unable to provide sanctuary for the millions of captive parrots in need of place and protection, as well as front-line conservation organizations addressing the illegal wildlife trade head-on

  • Discuss and grow legislative and/or policy efforts that limit or stop the sale of captive wild animals

  • Provide pathways for attendees of all backgrounds, educations, and ages to protect parrots wherever they are and however they can.

Agenda

11:30am | Welcome & Logistics

Julie Kuntze, Heartland Avian Rescue Project

11:45am | Keynote: The #ParrotCrisis​

Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, One Earth Conservation

12:00pm | Messaging & Social Media: 
Ethically Promoting Parrots & Combating Disinformation

Facilitators:

 Josh Anderson | @ThePeacefulPandora

Discussants:

Juan-Carlos Cantu, Defenders of Wildlife | @Birdhism@Can_of_Nutella

1:00pm | Education & Awareness:​

Inspiring Your Community and the Next Generation

Facilitators:

Betsy Messenger, Institute for Humane Education

Sylvia Margarita de la Parra Martínez, One Earth Conservation

Discussants:

Kelly Nix, Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary

Jill Lewis, Northeast Avian Rescue
Isaac de la Parra Martinez, Escuela Secundaria Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos

​​

2:00pm | Pro-Parrot Policy:​

Advancing Legislation & Collective Action

Facilitators:

Liz Cabrera Holtz, World Animal Protection

Nicole Martinez, Foster Parrots

Discussants:

Laura Keisell, Save Arlington Wildlife

Steph Harris, Animal Legal Defense Fund

Judie Mancuso, Social Compassion in Legislation 

3:00pm | Break

3:15 pm | Break-Out Workshops

Capacity-Building for Rescues & Sanctuaries

Facilitators:

Karen Windsor, Foster Parrots

Janet Trumbule, Oasis Sanctuary

Discussants:

Niki Buxton, Belize Bird Rescue

Kim Hannah, Exotic Avian Sanctuary of Tennessee

 

Capacity-Building for Conservation

Facilitators:

LoraKim Joyner & Gail Koelln, One Earth Conservation

Discussants:

Julian Serrano, Government of Guatemala

Bonnie Zimmerman, Indonesian Parrot Project

Roan McNab, Wildlife Conservation Society

Ginger Deason, formerly of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Paul R. Reillo, Rare Species Conservation Foundation

Pathways to Helping Parrots: Careers & Callings

Facilitators:

Bradley Kaye, Best Friends

Anthony Pilny, DVM Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital

Discussants:

Vanessa Shakib, Advancing Law for Animals

Madeline Krasnow, Justify

 

4:15pm | Closing Keynote

Acting to End the Parrot Crisis: Realities and Reasons

Dr. Pat Latas, DVM - SoCal Parrot

4:35pm | Concluding Remarks

The 2025 #ParrotCrisis Action Summit will be recorded and posted to YouTube. If you do not wish to appear in the recording, please do not turn your cameras on. Any attendee that turns their camera on may appear on the recording.

Register

Thanks for registering! We'll be in touch with a Zoom link so you can attend soon.

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© 2025 by the IAPP

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