Mandy Talpas

As a tremendous lover of birds and wildlife Mandy has dedicated her life to avian conservation. From the time she was a young girl she collected natural history observations in her backyard, volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation and education center, and rescued many unwanted pet parrots. Mandy earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Studies from East Stroudsburg University and began conducting countless environmental education programs as a Naturalist, a Lead Conservation Educator at an AZA accredited zoo, and a Bird Banding and Education Specialist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

Mandy continued to broaden her scientific studies and field skills with the Ornithology Lab at Villanova University pursuing graduate school. Her passion for parrots led her to the remote forests of Manu, Peru, where she worked to save endangered macaws, as well as studying tropical ecology in Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

Mandy is grateful to have embarked on a new life in Hawaii as a bird and nature guide and an avian field technician for Pacific Rim Conservation. When she’s not outdoors she enjoys promoting traditional Arabic performing arts as a professional Near East dance instructor, entertainer, and event organizer. Mandy is also a proud board member of the Aloha Hawaii Parrot Association. She is eager to share her knowledge and enthusiasm of Hawaii’s culture, history, wildlife, and most especially, its unique and fascinating birds.