An Amazing Day - Free Flighted Macaws

Susan Hilliard brought part of her flock from Utah to give free flight program to the Arizona Seed Crackers Society at Papago Park.

Wow, it was such a fun day. It was amazing to see and hold a nearly extinct Blue-throated macaw. There was a shamrock macaw that was pretty cool too, maybe because he was 1/2 part Skittles...

Even the sun conures were a lot of fun. Not trying to diss them, but their shriek gets to me. But they make up for it with their beautiful colors and great personalities.

Here are some photos from the day.



Part Skittles...





The nearly extinct Blue-throated macaw. One of them sat on my shoulder for about half and hour.





Shamrock taking off!




Susan with her flock.




for a professional photographer, it is sad to admit that I got so few images that were in focus... Brides don't move this fast...






and one of me... Mr. Bird Brain...

Wow how neat !! Beautiful pictures Boy that Shamrock is sharp !!

Oh and I have one "sunconure". I thought she was going to be loud as Hell [but shes quiet ] .Hey you never know

Awwww thats incredible.. I wish we had free flight courses here, i have never seen any :31:

How many birds does she have altogether?

Wish i could free flight Fargo one day

wow, so cool! Is the galah Pernicious? I love their youtube videos, SO cool you got to meet them and see the birds fly

Love the photos! The images you captures are awesome!

Birds in flight are very hard to capture. the only free flight bird I have photographed is my friends raptors, trying to capture a stooping falcon going 80 miles a hour in close range is horrible hard haha.
A great way to practice bird photography is to study one bird, I did that with this red tail. Also going out and photographing as many species as you can, like this. Lots of good ways to practice

tab_xo said:

Awwww thats incredible.. I wish we had free flight courses here, i have never seen any :31:

How many birds does she have altogether?

Wish i could free flight Fargo one day

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I was actually thinking of you and Fargo while I was there. You should contact Susan Hilliard on facebook. I'm sure she would love to hear about you and Fargo.

I don't know how large her flock is, but she lives on a ranch and she said that every morning she lets her birds out and they fly and play until dinner time. That's when they come back for food and a good nights sleep.

She seems like an older version of you. Someone living an incredible life with their birds.

Those are some great photos!!!!!


Susan has *ALL* of Chris Biro's birds except his Thick Bills. He was allowed to keep them... but other birds he had for 20+ years, Susan has now taken... I can't easily look at these photos without being sad.


Susan has also teamed up with Bird Tricks. This I can't believe, considering Bird Tricks used Chris and Susan to learn how to free fly parrots *FOR FREE*, then charge their own customers $5,000 to teach them how to free-fly parrots - and teach them incorrectly. Chris taught free-flight for around $1,000, and now he has Skype classes for $300.



I'm sorry, I'm sure it was a great experience for you!

Who is Chris biros? I googled it but found nothing?

These might help....

Chris Biro - YouTube
https://www.facebook.com/chris.biro.5?fref=ts
Avian Training and Flight Instruction
Bird Recovery International |

MonicaMc said:

Those are some great photos!!!!!


Susan has *ALL* of Chris Biro's birds except his Thick Bills. He was allowed to keep them... but other birds he had for 20+ years, Susan has now taken... I can't easily look at these photos without being sad.


Susan has also teamed up with Bird Tricks. This I can't believe, considering Bird Tricks used Chris and Susan to learn how to free fly parrots *FOR FREE*, then charge their own customers $5,000 to teach them how to free-fly parrots - and teach them incorrectly. Chris taught free-flight for around $1,000, and now he has Skype classes for $300.



I'm sorry, I'm sure it was a great experience for you!

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There is alot more to the story than she has explained and parts she doesn't know about Susan, she didn't take any birds from anyone, and takes care of those birds like her own children, I see it first hand everyday, so don't judge someone unless you know the whole story , because I know I hate when people do that to me, assume I'm bad because I have tattoos, let alone it's a very shameful way to perceive someone you know nothing about. Susan is one of the most kind hearted people I have ever known. Through and through

And as far as Bird Tricks, I'll keep my comments to myself because that's bad karma and not everything revolves around money, I have also met Womack and JL and am very astonished at the way they treat their clients

ejsschroeder said:

MonicaMc said:

Those are some great photos!!!!!


Susan has *ALL* of Chris Biro's birds except his Thick Bills. He was allowed to keep them... but other birds he had for 20+ years, Susan has now taken... I can't easily look at these photos without being sad.


Susan has also teamed up with Bird Tricks. This I can't believe, considering Bird Tricks used Chris and Susan to learn how to free fly parrots *FOR FREE*, then charge their own customers $5,000 to teach them how to free-fly parrots - and teach them incorrectly. Chris taught free-flight for around $1,000, and now he has Skype classes for $300.



I'm sorry, I'm sure it was a great experience for you!

Click to expand...

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There is alot more to the story than she has explained and parts she doesn't know about Susan, she didn't take any birds from anyone, and takes care of those birds like her own children, I see it first hand everyday, so don't judge someone unless you know the whole story , because I know I hate when people do that to me, assume I'm bad because I have tattoos, let alone it's a very shameful way to perceive someone you know nothing about. Susan is one of the most kind hearted people I have ever known. Through and through

Click to expand...

This thread is 3 years old. I doubt anyone is judging. In fact you just bought it to everyone's attention again so I am sure it will be googled instead of......... Let sleeping dogs lie.

Search engines are wonderful .