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ABOUT IAATE

OUR

VISION

IAATE envisions a world where all humans working with birds will have the scientific knowledge, practical skills, and commitment to continuous learning to ensure the lifelong wellbeing of the birds in their care.

Our members are supported in providing programs, in partnership with their avian ambassadors, that will inspire positive conservation action from the people they reach. As a result of our efforts, all birds will thrive, whether in human care or in the wild.

Wondering what it is like to become a Board member? Click here to learn all about it!

Board of Directors
Committees
Serving on the Board

Next Board Meeting

Monday, February 22 & Tuesday, February 23, 2027

9:00am – 3:00pm Eastern Time

Interested in attending or have questions? Fill out the Contact form for more information.

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Our

Committees

The International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) was founded to

foster communication, professionalism and cooperation

among those individuals who serve Avian Science through training, public display, research, husbandry, conservation, and education.

OUR

VALUES

BEST PRACTICES

We foster the highest standards of physical, behavioral, and social wellbeing of birds in our care and their role in inspiring caring attitudes and conservation action through quality public programming. Rooted in data-driven science and continuous practical experience, we commit to share this valuable knowledge within our community.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING

We recognize the application of our skill directly impacts the quality of the lives of the birds in our care, and therefore we encourage constant learning and embrace an attitude of openness to feedback and improvement. IAATE is committed to providing resources and facilitating opportunities for professional development through conferences, publications, personal interactions, and mentorship.

COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS

We are a global network of individuals united by a shared passion for enhancing the wellbeing of birds in human care and deepening the connection between humans and the natural world. We provide an inclusive support system to achieve these goals by fostering trusting relationships among our members through collaborative efforts and open communication.

Become a Member

Committee Summaries

Conference

The Conference Committee is slightly different from other committees in that it is made up of current board members and individuals from the host of the upcoming conference rather than being open for any member in good standing. Led and overseen by the Vice President, committee members assist in coordinating our annual conferences from the planning phase, through registration, to the smooth running of the conference itself.
Complete an Interest Form

Conservation

The Conservation Committee has the very important job of accepting grant applications for the IAATE’s Conservation Fund, and scoring these applications in order to distribute those funds to the most critical and valuable conservation projects aligned with IAATE’s mission. Committee members complete grant rubrics in a timely manner, and make recommendations for funding based on our available resources.
Complete an Interest Form

Education

The Education Committee advances IAATE’s mission by developing and sharing resources that strengthen avian conservation education. Committee members evaluate and award the annual Education Grant, contribute content to the Education section of The Flyer, build and curate educational resources for IAATE members, and develop and support webinars and other learning opportunities. Members bring their expertise, ideas, writing, research, and practical experience to projects that support educators and inspire conservation action.
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Enrichment

The Enrichment Committee supports IAATE members by developing, sharing, and promoting resources that encourage thoughtful, behavior-based enrichment practices for animals in human care. The committee works collaboratively to identify and develop resources that are valuable to IAATE members, including educational materials, social media content, The Flyer articles, conference sessions, and practical examples of enrichment. Committee members may contribute ideas, research, writing, examples, presentations, or other materials depending on the needs of each project.
Complete an Interest Form

International

The International Committee aims to support international members by running quarterly International Happy Hour in a time zone that is more compatible with European/African attendance, encouraging international members to showcase work happening in their region through submitting articles for The Flyer and assisting in organising International Symposiums/Events to increase reach and make IAATE accessible to a wider range of members globally. The International Committee assists in translating documents for the website to bridge language barriers and improve the reach of IAATEs mission.
Complete an Interest Form

Marketing

The Marketing Committee is responsible for developing and implementing initiatives to promote the organization and to bring in funding. These tasks include soliciting donations/sponsors for conferences, selling ad space in The Flyer, advertising various aspects of the organization, bringing in new members, and maintaining existing memberships. The committee also manages the social media accounts, connecting members to share information and highlight work throughout the organization.
Complete an Interest Form

Newsletter

The Newsletter Committee is responsible for the production of IAATE’s member newsletter, The Flyer, including procuring content, design and layout, editing, printing, and distribution. The committee is predominantly made up of members who oversee the content for our recurring columns. Each column champion is responsible for sourcing or writing content for their column for each of our quarterly publications.
Complete an Interest Form

Professional Development

The Professional Development Committee (PDC) provides the most current information and resources to support our members by fostering continued professional growth that improves the management and training of birds and educational programs. The committee manages the Mentorship Program, the Walter Crawford Memorial (WCM) scholarship for conference attendance, and regular written articles in The Flyer. Committee members are responsible for mentoring members throughout the year and for evaluating, reviewing, and awarding the WCM scholarship each fall.
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Website

The Website Committee keeps IAATE’s digital resources functioning smoothly and up to date, creating space for new resources and modes of sharing them. Committee members also manage the Discord forum, maintaining a welcoming space for all and responding to questions and feedback about our digital presence.
Complete an Interest Form