Conversations with Brandon Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Harris.

Hi Brandon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

My passion and love for all things bird related began at a very young age via my great grandparents Bryce and Helen Growing up In the Pacific Northwest my great grandfather Bryce introduced me at the very young age of 5 to birds my very first being a small budgie parakeet named Pepper he was my best friend and even learned to mimic a few words and whistles which eventually sparked my interest in all things avian and grew into what was to become one of the largest avian breeding programs in the area I started working with parakeets breeding and raising many different color varieties after Pepper in which turned into my teenage years and expanded to small parrots namely Senegals , kakarikis and conures of many species in my adult years meeting my husband now of 17 years Michael we decided to move to a warmer climate Arizona and that led to me meeting a wonderful woman Theresa Lungwitz a visionary business woman and exquisite life long friend whom also shared my passion and desire for all things avian and so….. Royal T Aviary was born and we along with Morgan Brown of Wildlife World zoo in AZ many thanks to her as well as wildlife world zoo and their incredible staff we breed to preserve several species of hookbills and softbills for several generations to enjoy in the future and maybe one day be able to help with decreasing populations in their wild habitats through activism and preservation breeding in captivity

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a long journey with many bumps along the way cages always need proper repairs , finding the best diets for our feathered friends is not always easy many species have a special diet that is. It often carried by the usual pet stores and must be special ordered and is costly many long labor intensive days and nights nursing sick or injured birds , handfeeding baby birds when the parents decided not to the list goes on and on but I wouldn’t change one thing it’s made me a stronger and better person

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in the conservation of rare and endangered species of hookbill and softbill birds I’m most proud of being a part of a team that only wants the best for these wonderful winged friends and the passion and heart we all share for it

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that we don’t see these beautiful beings become extinct as so many are threatened , vulnerable or critically endangered in their natural habitats without propagation of these species in captivity they will surely seace to exist an example is the outstanding work in Brazil with the Spix Macaw and how they’ve captive bred them now for release back into the wild where they were just a few short years back classified as extinct

Image Credits
Brandon Harris