Matt Schmit has been involved in aviculture since his early teens. By the age of 15 he was working with a small collection of Neophema parakeets and Estrilid finches. Matt currently maintains a collection of parrots including several species of lories, fig parrots, cockatoos and mutation Quaker Parakeets. In addition to caring for his personal collection, he has also worked in the pet industry where he spent many years working for several independent pet retailers, hand-rearing a large number of baby parrots.

He received his BSc in Zoology, with emphasis on animal care, animal behavior and wildlife nutrition, from Washington State University. While earning his degree, Matt worked for the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium as a zookeeper, working with birds, reptiles, small and large mammals. After graduating, Matt joined the bird department at the Houston Zoo in Houston, Texas, USA where he currently works with one of the most diverse bird collections in the United States - approximately 240 different species of birds, including Blue-throated Macaws, Hyacinth Macaws, Blue-headed Macaws, St. Vincent Amazons and Pesquet’s Parrots. Matt currently maintains the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Swainson’s Toucan Studbook for the North American Region. Over the years, Matt has worked with a representative of almost every family of birds and has gained a keen understanding of the unique needs and requirements for different species of birds, including dietary, environmental and behavioral requirements.

Matt is currently a member of the American Lory Society, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the Hanging Parrot and Fig Parrot International Conservancy, Softbill Songster International, the American Federation of Aviculture and the Houston Avicultural Association. Matt frequently attends national avicultural conferences and has presented papers at a variety of conferences including the Association of Avian Veterinarians and American Federation of Aviculture.

Speaker's Topic #1: Loriinae 101: An Introduction to Lories and Lorikeets
Speaker's Topic #2: Environmental Enrichment for Parrots

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