American Federation of Aviculture

10/20/2026

Regulatory Roost: What Effective Testimony Can Look Like

Testifying before a public body doesn’t require a perfect speech. The most persuasive testimony is often personal, focused, and grounded in direct experience.

In this example, AFA Regional Director Keriellen Lohrman:

- Introduces herself and explains her relevant experience.
- Clearly states her position.
- Describes the real-world effects of the proposed policy.
- Offers an alternative approach centered on animal welfare.
- Remains respectful and concludes with a direct request.

Notice that she speaks naturally, uses concrete examples, and connects the proposal to the people, businesses, and animals it could affect. That authenticity can be more valuable than delivering a heavily scripted statement.

When preparing your own testimony, consider this simple structure: Who are you? What is your position? Why does it matter? What should policymakers do?

10/19/2026

Lemon Grove, CA voters will have the final say on the proposed bird sales ban, and it is important that they hear from people who understand responsible aviculture.
AFA supports strong standards of animal care, responsible ownership, education, and enforcement against neglect. But a blanket bird sales ban is not the right solution. It could remove responsible, educated aviculturists from the process while doing little to address poor care where it actually occurs.
Birds are best protected through education, accountability, inspections, and clear care standards, NOT by banning lawful bird sales and pushing people toward sources with less oversight.
Please take a moment to send a letter to the editor and help explain why responsible aviculture is part of the solution.
Take action here:

https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4499/actions/public?action_id=6944

Vote NO on the Lemon Grove Bird Sales Ban.

If specific businesses are failing to meet proper standards, those concerns should be handled through inspections, enforcement, care requirements, and accountability. A broad ban does not distinguish between poor operators and responsible aviculturists who provide education, healthy birds, proper ca...

10/13/2026

Join the Birds of a Feather Avicultural Society for the 2026 Fall Show and Mart! Please see the flyer for full event details.

The American Federation of Aviculture is also seeking an AFA member to help staff the AFA information table during the event. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Schwartz at [email protected]

We hope to see you there!

10/11/2026

THE WORK BEHIND THE WINGS
Sometimes the right tool is… your fingers.

Hanging nest boxes, bending wire, making adjustments, and figuring things out as you go it’s all part of the hands-on work behind good aviculture.

A nest box is more than just a box on a wall. Placement, stability, access, security, and the way it’s attached can all matter. Sometimes getting everything just right means making a quick adjustment by hand, even if that means bending wire with your fingers.

The small details behind an aviary setup can make a big difference in how safely and effectively it functions. Healthy birds depend on a lot of little jobs getting done right.

Toolbox: nearby.
Pliers: probably somewhere.
Fingers: already on the job.

Aviculture has a way of turning every bird keeper into a builder, repair tech, problem solver, and occasional human pair of pliers.

Just another day doing **The Work Behind the Wings.**

10/10/2026

FEATHERS & FRIGHTS: 31 DAYS OF BLACK BIRDS
DAY 10 — MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

Today’s featured bird is the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), a spectacular member of the frigatebird family, Fregatidae.

These large seabirds are built for life in the air, with extremely long wings, deeply forked tails, and lightweight bodies that allow them to soar effortlessly for hours over tropical and subtropical oceans.

Adult males are almost entirely black and become especially dramatic during breeding season, when they inflate their enormous bright red throat pouch like a balloon to attract females. Females are mostly black as well, but typically have a contrasting white breast.

Magnificent Frigatebirds are famous for their aerial skill. They sn**ch food from the ocean’s surface, pursue flying fish, and sometimes chase other seabirds until they drop or regurgitate their catch a behavior known as kleptoparasitism.

Despite spending so much time over the ocean, their feathers are not highly waterproof, so they generally avoid landing directly on the water.

With its huge black wings, forked tail, and almost prehistoric silhouette, the Magnificent Frigatebird makes a striking addition to our October lineup.

Day 10 of 31

Feathers & Frights — 31 Days of Black Birds
AFABirds.org

10/10/2026

FEATHERS & FRIGHTS: 31 DAYS OF BLACK BIRDS
DAY 9 — SOUTHERN GROUND HORNBILL

Today’s featured bird is one of the most dramatic-looking birds in Africa: the Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri).

These large, mostly black birds are found across parts of southern and eastern Africa, where they spend much of their time walking through savannas and open woodlands rather than flying from place to place.

Adults are especially striking because of the bold bare red skin on the face and throat, which contrasts sharply with their black plumage. Females can be distinguished by a patch of bluish-purple coloration on the throat.

Southern Ground Hornbills are powerful hunters, feeding on a wide range of prey including insects, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and even other birds. They often forage cooperatively in family groups.

They’re also known for their deep, booming calls, which can carry long distances and have an almost eerie quality making them a perfect addition to our October lineup.

Day 9 of 31

Feathers & Frights — 31 Days of Black Birds
AFABirds.org

10/08/2026

FEATHERS & FRIGHTS: 31 DAYS OF BLACK BIRDS
DAY 8: COMMON BLACKBIRD

It wouldn’t be 31 Days of Black Birds without a bird that actually carries the name! Meet the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula).

Native across much of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, the Common Blackbird is a member of the thrush family. Adult males are unmistakable with their glossy black plumage, bright yellow-orange bill, and striking yellow eye-ring. Females, however, are generally brown with mottled or streaked underparts.

And despite its name, the Common Blackbird isn’t closely related to the American birds we usually call “blackbirds.” Instead, it’s a true thrush, related to birds such as the American Robin.

Common Blackbirds spend plenty of time searching through leaf litter and lawns for earthworms and insects, while also enjoying fruits and berries. They’re also celebrated for their rich, flute-like song, one of the familiar sounds of gardens and woodlands throughout much of their range.

With jet-black feathers, glowing yellow eyes, and a hauntingly beautiful voice, this one feels right at home in October.

Day 8 of 31

Feathers & Frights — 31 Days of Black Birds
AFABirds.org

10/08/2026

Join two AFA commercial members, Robin Sullivan of The Leather Elves and Daniel Cone of World Bird Sanctuary for a conversation about how captive breeding works hand in hand with conservation.