Steve Martin has lived with parrots from the time he was five years old. By the time he was 16 he was already training parrots and his interest expanded to falconry. He has now been a Master Falconer for over 40 years. He began his professional animal training career when he set up the first of its kind, free-flight bird show at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1976. Since then he has produced educational animal programs, or consulted at, over 70 zoological facilities around the world.
Steve has produced three videos on parrot behavior and training, and he lectures frequently about parrot behavior. He has also written several articles on animal behavior and conducts four training workshops each year at his facility in Winter Haven, Florida. Over two-thirds of his year is spent on the road consulting with zoos and aquariums on animal behavior issues or teaching people the art and science of animal behavior.
Steve is President of both Natural Encounters, Inc., a company of over 20 professional animal trainers, and Natural Encounters Conservation Fund, Inc., a company dedicated to raising money for conservation projects. In the past 18 years, Natural Encounters Conservation Fund has donated over $400,000 to in-situ conservation programs.
Steve is a Trustee with the World Parrot Trust, a Core Team Member of the California Condor Recovery Team, and founding member of IAATE, an international bird trainers’ organization.
Visit Steve Martin’s website for more information.