Harrison’s Bird Foods Announces 2025 Avian Nutrition, Wellness, and Conservation Grant Winners

Harrison’s Bird Foods is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2025 Avian Nutrition, Wellness, and Conservation Grants. These grants support pioneering research and projects that advance avian health, nutrition, and conservation.

This year’s winners showcase an impressive range of innovative projects dedicated to improving the lives of avian species in both wild and companion settings:

  1. Michelle Borsdorf and colleagues, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
    Project: Establishing a teaching and research cockatiel flock to enhance veterinary education and avian research.
  2. Robin Sullivan, The Leather Elves
    Project: The Rescue Roadtrip – Distributing enrichment toys to rescues, creating educational videos, and supporting diet conversion education.
  3. Vern Gildhouse, The Parakeet Society
    Project: Supporting avian-focused scholarship initiatives, including the Georgia Fletcher Memorial Essay Contest and Veterinary Technician Scholarship Program.
  4. Donald J. Brightsmith & Dr. Gabriela Vigo-Trauco, The Macaw Society, Texas A&M University
    Project: Investigating the impact of climate change on parrot diets, particularly bark consumption in the Peruvian lowlands.
  5. Brandon J. Louth, DVM, and Dr. J. Jill Heatley
    Projects: Establishing plasma retinol reference intervals in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates) and Quaker Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus).
  6. Francis R. Brooke and colleagues, The Wild Bird Trust’s Cape Parrot Project
    Project: Understanding the diet preference of wild Cape Parrots (Poicephalus robustus) through nutritional, phytochemical and bioactivity profiling of indigenous and exotic food resources in the Amathole region, Eastern Cape, South Africa. 

Conservation Grant Winner

Veterinary Student Scholarship

2024-2025 US Veterinary Student Scholarship Opportunities

Harrison’s Bird Foods is excited to announce that it is accepting submissions for its Veterinary College Program: $2000 Avian Medicine Scholarship. Harrison’s is committed to advancing avian health by investing in the next generation of avian veterinarians and invites current veterinary students interested in pursuing a career in avian medicine to apply. This scholarship is intended to fund educational experiences, including but not limited to externships, conferences, and conservation or research opportunities. Applications are due November 15th 11:59 PM EST.

For more information and to apply:
Download Harrison’s Bird Foods Veterinary College Program Application

For more information about the grant winners or Harrison’s Bird foods, please contact:

Dana O’Donoghue, CEO, Harrison’s Bird Foods
615-221-9919

In addition to the grants mentioned, Harrison’s Bird Foods also donated $25,000 to the AFA (American Federation of Aviculture) Conservation Grant and $25,000 to the AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians) Avian Health Grant.

These groundbreaking projects were selected for their scientific merit, innovative approaches, and potential impact on avian wellness and conservation. Harrison’s Bird Foods is proud to support these endeavors and looks forward to the significant contributions they will make to avian care and research.