Our Team
Gabriel Seawall
Executive Director & Founder
Gabe has worked with parrots at multiple accredited zoos and aquariums as an ambassador animal keeper, welfare coordinator, and manager of behavioral husbandry. Looking to improve the welfare of his own companion flock; Gabe realized the stark contrast between the science-based best practice resources available for other species, and the informal anecdotal testimonies available for parrots. Looking to fill this gap, Gabe founded the Psittacine Welfare Institute to provide free scientifically-backed best practice resources for all parrot caretakers from large institutes to companion pet owners. Gabe considers himself a life-long learner, and is currently pursuing research opportunities to bridge our understanding of parrots under human care and their wild counterparts.
To Contact: gabe@psittacine.org
Veronica Seawall
Board Member
Veronica has worked as a lead keeper, animal care manager, and curator at multiple accredited animal facilities with a wide variety of animals. While she has cared for parrots at several facilities, it wasn’t until her position as an African Grey keeper that she fell completely in love with the personality and intellect of these incredible animals. Three of her favorite work birds are Bailey, the Timneh African Grey, Bali, the sulfur-crested cockatoo, and Rosie, the Congo African Grey. Outside of work, she shares her home with an African Grey, Bo, and many other pets. Veronica is also an avid wildlife conservationist, and has obtained her Master’s degree in Conservation Biology with a focus on palm oil sustainability. Looking to the future, Veronica hopes to use this group to advance the science of husbandry for all psittacines, in the same way that we study their conservation in the wild.
To Contact: veronica@psittacine.org
Christina Carlson-Hass
Board Member
Christina has worked with parrots at both the zoological and veterinary field, and is fondly known as the resident bird nerd at each facility. As a zookeeper at Cosley Zoo, she was the primary trainer for a Hahn’s Macaw named Pouco. She has fostered his relationships with most of the keepers in his care, furthering his socialization through operant conditioning training and a lot of patience. At her other position, she worked as a Veterinarian Technician for small mammals, reptiles, and of course birds. At home, Christina lives with two other noisemakers. One is a 15-year-old rescued Congo African Grey who is always grumpy, named Sid. The other is little bird with a Napoleonic complex, a five-year-old Green-Cheeked Conure named Rory. Her dream parrot species is the fabulous Hyacinth Macaw and one of her training goals is to work free-flight with a larger macaw species.
To Contact: christina@psittacine.org