Harrison Avian Research & Conservation Collaborative

06/22/2026

🌼🐝 Happy Pollinator Week! 🦋🌻

Pollinators play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems around the world. From bees and butterflies to birds, bats, and other wildlife, these remarkable species help plants reproduce, support biodiversity, and contribute to the food systems we all depend on.

At HARCC, we recognize the importance of protecting pollinators and the habitats they rely on. Healthy ecosystems benefit all wildlife, including the avian species that are the focus of our research and conservation efforts.

This Pollinator Week, take a moment to support pollinators by planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, and creating wildlife-friendly spaces in your community.

Together, we can help ensure a healthier future for pollinators, birds, and the ecosystems we share. 🌎💚

06/17/2026

🌡️☀️ As temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat stress in our feathered companions.

Did you know that birds cannot sweat like humans? During periods of extreme heat, pet birds rely on panting, wing positioning, and airflow to regulate their body temperature. Without proper care, heat stress can quickly become a life-threatening emergency.

This informative video explains the warning signs of heat stress, common mistakes bird owners make during hot weather, and practical steps you can take to help keep your birds safe and comfortable throughout the summer months.

🎥 Watch the video here: [https://youtu.be/E1v6xM_U-2Y?si=HkS7i6EkJWCMh0x3]

Protecting avian health starts with education. Share this resource with fellow bird owners—it could help save a life. 🦜💚

Extreme heat is one of the most underestimated dangers faced by cag...

06/08/2026

🦜💡 How do wild cockatoos know which new foods are safe to eat? By watching their friends!

A fascinating new study found that sulfur-crested cockatoos in Australia use social learning to determine whether unfamiliar foods are safe to eat. Researchers discovered that birds quickly adopted the food preferences and feeding techniques of other cockatoos, demonstrating the remarkable intelligence and adaptability of these parrots.

This research highlights the important role that social behavior plays in helping birds navigate changing environments and may help scientists better understand why some parrot species thrive while others struggle.

At HARCC, we support research that expands our understanding of avian behavior, health, and conservation—because every new discovery helps us better protect and care for birds around the world.

Read the full article here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-cockatoos-learn-which-snacks-are-safe-to-eat-by-copying-their-friends-new-research-suggests-180988696/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=92614041

Munching on the wrong items can lead to illness, but social learning might help the birds avoid making a potentially deadly mistake. The phenomenon could help explain why certain cockatoos have fared so well in urban environments

05/31/2026

Today, we celebrate the beauty, intelligence, and incredible diversity of parrots around the world! 🦜💚

From vibrant macaws and cockatoos to tiny lovebirds and lorikeets, parrots inspire us with their curiosity, resilience, and unique personalities. World Parrot Day is a reminder of the importance of protecting these remarkable birds through conservation, research, responsible care, and education.

At HARCC, we are proud to support avian research and conservation efforts that help improve the health and future of parrots both in human care and in the wild.

Join us in celebrating parrots today — and every day! 🌎✨

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, HARCC honors and remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸

As we reflect on their courage and dedication, we are reminded of the importance of compassion, service, and protecting the lives entrusted to our care — both human and animal alike.

Today, we pause in gratitude for those who gave everything for the freedoms we enjoy. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/20/2026

Today, on World Bee Day, we celebrate the tiny pollinators that play a massive role in sustaining ecosystems, biodiversity, and food production around the globe. 🐝🌼

Bees are essential to the health of our planet — and protecting them means protecting the delicate balance of life that supports wildlife, agriculture, and conservation efforts worldwide.

HARCC is proud to support research that advances animal health and conservation, including bee studies led by Dr. Jörg Mayer. Every step toward understanding and protecting pollinators helps create a healthier future for all species.

Happy World Bee Day! 💛🐝

05/18/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HARCC Announces 2026 Request for Proposals Supporting Avian Research and Conservation

SOUTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — (HARCC) is pleased to announce its 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP), supporting innovative avian medical research and conservation initiatives.

HARCC invites proposals focused on advancing avian clinical care in areas such as diagnostics, therapies, surgery, nutrition, and behavior. The organization also welcomes conservation-focused projects that support the health, welfare, and long-term sustainability of avian species, including free-ranging companion bird species.

HARCC will allocate up to $100,000 in total funding for 2026, with individual one-year projects eligible for up to $20,000. Indirect costs are not covered.

Proposals may support:
• New or ongoing avian research projects
• Conservation-focused initiatives
• Research activities relevant to practicing avian clinicians

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Funding decisions will be based on scientific impact, innovation, collaboration, and likelihood of success.
For proposal guidelines and submission information, visit https://harccresearch.org/research-proposals/.

About HARCC
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing avian medicine and conservation through research funding, collaboration, and innovation.

Media Contact:
Daisy Perez, Executive Director
[email protected]

Harrison Avian Research and Conservation Collaborative (HARCC) was organized as a non-profit corporation in 2022. HARCC is committed to defining and solving challenges relevant to avian clinicians through research and conservation funding, and to supporting an environment that encourages new ideas a...

05/11/2026

Exciting advances in bee health! 🐝 This article highlights the first USDA-approved vaccine for honey bees and features insights from Dr. Jörg Mayer on what this breakthrough means for veterinary medicine and pollinator health. We’re proud to share that two of Dr. Mayers' bee studies are HARCC funded, supporting innovative research that benefits both animals and ecosystems. 🌎💛

Read more here: https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/paradigm-shift-what-success-of-a-new-honeybee-vaccine-means-for-veterinarians/

A vaccine aims to combat American Foulbrood, a devastating, colony-killing disease, which typically requires equipment burning to eradicate. And with the larger role veterinarians are beginning to play in bees’—and beekeepers’—lives, the changes could impact how American Foulbrood is treated...

05/05/2026

🌙🐦 What’s flying over us at night? More than we ever knew.

A groundbreaking study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has revealed a powerful new way to identify individual birds migrating under the cover of darkness—for the very first time.

Using thermal imaging, targeted illumination, and high-speed photography, researchers were able to detect and identify thousands of previously “invisible” night-flying birds over multiple migration seasons. This approach fills critical gaps left by traditional tools like radar and acoustic monitoring, uncovering species that migrate silently or fly too low to be detected.

Even more compelling? The technique is already reshaping what we thought we knew about migration—documenting unexpected nocturnal movement in species like woodpeckers and cardinals.

At HARCC, we’re inspired by innovations like this that deepen our understanding of avian behavior and open new doors for conservation and clinical insight—especially for species that share our homes as companions.

🧪💡 Advancing research like this is key to protecting both wild and pet bird populations.

🔗 Read the full article: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/new-tech-to-id-night-migrating-birds/

Using thermal imaging and digital photography, researchers can now spot and identify birds that migrate silently through the night sky—a method that could reveal new insights into nocturnal migration and bird behavior.

04/29/2026

**🪶 What a Molt Can Tell Us**

Molting is a natural and essential part of a bird’s life — but it’s also a window into overall health.

During a normal molt, birds gradually replace old feathers with new ones in a balanced, often symmetrical pattern. This process requires significant energy and nutrients, and when everything is functioning well, new feathers grow in smooth, vibrant, and strong.

But when something isn’t quite right, the molt can reveal it.

✨ **What to watch for:**
• Irregular or patchy feather loss
• Delayed or prolonged molts
• Fragile, dull, or misshapen new feathers
• Lack of symmetry in feather replacement

These changes can be linked to nutritional imbalances, chronic stress, hormonal disruptions, or underlying disease. Because feathers develop over time, they can reflect both current and past health challenges.

For avian veterinarians and researchers, molt patterns offer valuable clues — helping guide diagnosis, treatment, and a deeper understanding of avian physiology.

At HARCC, we support research that explores these connections, advancing the science of avian health from feather growth to whole-body wellness.

Because sometimes, the smallest changes can tell the biggest stories.