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Showing posts from September, 2016

Portrait of a Bird Trainer

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Meet Aron Smolley, Senior Bird Trainer at the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah. This lucky duck has been working at the Aviary for the last five years. He has worked with many types of birds, including toucans, parrots, vultures, roadrunners, hawks, eagles, owls, crows, cranes, and more! Here are some of the bright birds he's currently working with... Zazu, the wrinkled hornbill Grunt, the colorful king vulture Precocious kea parrots Tropical turaco named Kambo Aron and the Aviary contribute to conservation efforts on a daily basis by using education birds to inspire curiosity and love in those who visit. A love for the natural world and its animals is important in instilling a desire to protect it. Aron not only cares for the birds at the Aviary, he is also responsible for creating and presenting the Aviary's bird shows, which focus on educating visitors about the simple things they can do to protect the environment, birds and their habitat.