Description
Provide specialized care for captive birds in aviaries, zoos, aquariums, and conservation facilities. Prepare diets; monitor health and behavior; manage breeding, incubation, and chick rearing; and provide enrichment and exercise. Keep detailed records; assist veterinarians; and clean, disinfect, and maintain aviaries, equipment, and environmental controls.
- • Prepare and provide species-appropriate diets on schedule (seed, pellets, nectar, fish, insects).
- • Observe and record behavior, appetite, weights, molts, and signs of illness or injury.
- • Maintain records of hatch dates, pairings, treatments, medications, feed intake, and transfers.
- • Clean and disinfect aviaries, nest boxes, perches, pools, and flight cages.
- • Regulate light cycles, temperature, humidity, UV, and water quality in bird enclosures.
- • Provide enrichment and exercise; conduct flight training or conditioning as appropriate.
- • Manage breeding pairs, nests, and egg laying; monitor reproductive behavior.
- • Incubate eggs, candle and track development; adjust incubator settings per protocols.
- • Hand-rear chicks as needed; mix and feed formulas to specification.
- • Collect fecal, feather, or swab samples; assist with diagnostics and reporting.
- • Administer prescribed medications, fluids, and vaccinations under veterinary direction.
- • Quarantine arrivals and enforce biosecurity and zoonosis prevention protocols.
- • Capture, restrain, crate, and transfer birds safely between enclosures or for transport.
- • Install, maintain, and repair feeders, misters, heat lamps, UV lights, filtration, and netting.
- • Coordinate with veterinarians on treatments and preventative health programs.
- • Band, microchip, or otherwise identify birds per institutional and regulatory standards.
- • Engage visitors with educational talks; answer questions on species and conservation.
- • Order, receive, and store feed, supplements, browse, and husbandry supplies.
- • Adjust diets and husbandry seasonally for molt, breeding, or migration cues.
- • Assist with anesthesia, procedures, and post-operative care as directed.
- • Control pests and predators around aviaries per policy.
- • Ensure compliance with permits, welfare standards, and transfer documentation.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
