Josh Sanko, Trainer – Natural Encounters, Inc., Florida, USA
Josh Sanko, CPBT-KA, has been working with birds, especially raptors, since 2016. He started as a work study student with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center’s raptor center while attending Penn State University and quickly found a passion in behavior change. Following graduation, Sanko accepted an internship in Alaska with the American Bald Eagle Foundation (ABEF) that soon turned into a full-time position in the field. It was at this facility that a connection to the IAATE community was truly established and encouraged. During five years with the ABEF, he was an integral part of the education team as they transitioned from traditional methods to eventually participating in the facility’s first free-flighted programs. Sanko has been with Natural Encounters, Inc. as a trainer since 2024, expanding his experience with mixed-species free-flight bird shows, training, and care. He is a General Member on the Board of IAATE and Marketing Committee Chair focused on connecting members from facilities of all shapes and sizes to share ideas, successes, failures, and everything in between.
