Today we’d like to introduce you to Chan Quach.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In some ways, it’s been a lifelong journey to where I am today. I consider myself to be equal parts educator, biologist, and behaviorist, but ultimately I identify as a naturalist. My appreciation for nature was formed as a kid living on a farm in Minnesota where I played among lakes and marshes, exploring the elements and balances that enable life. When I was in the third grade, I began exploring the woods and running freely among the local farmer fields, coal mines, and most memorable of all, into the upper end of the Mississippi River. I recount these memories vividly, especially the thrill of discovering the various insects, amphibians, pheasants and wild turkeys that lived on the land and finding fascination with their exoskeletons, wings, fur, feathers, and scales. Nature, for me, is a profound teacher of life.
An important life lesson which paved the way for my life’s mission began when I discovered tadpoles swimming in a small pond. I was fascinated by the richness of their black body and movement in water, motivating me to run through several pastures and undeveloped marshes to return with a jar to collect them. The jar with dozens of tadpoles was hidden in the yard so that Mom wouldn’t find animals being snuck into the house, and soon after, dozens of frogs magically appeared in our yard, recently drenched from a seasonal rain. That discovery of natural transformation was enlightening and was revisited when I encountered Monarch butterflies. Their metamorphosis from a striped caterpillar feeding on milkweed to a beautiful butterfly enthralled me. Once again, I collected a cocoon with a branch of the milkweed and placed it into my collection jar. Two weeks later, the butterfly appeared. I obsessively waited for the butterfly to emerge and watched in wonder as it hatched and crawled gently on my little, eight-year-old hand. I released the Monarch, which wasn’t yet able to fly or flap its wings and, to my dismay, withered onto the ground. I cried and cried watching this beautiful creature that I had carefully monitored for several weeks die on the ground at my feet. However, it was from this memory that I recognized that in order to truly love an animal, you have to allow them to do what they do best. In this case, allow the Monarch to flourish and fly away into the sky on its own time. I learned that I can’t capture and own an animal. I recognize that I’m a part of the elements that share its space, and my responsibility is to enable their freedom.
I’ve only shared this tragic encounter with a few people in my life, but this lesson has been instrumental in the formation of my mission. I believe that animals should be companions not property, and their path to happiness may be different from the journey that we think they should be on.
Presently, I work strictly with birds as a professional behaviorist with occasional substituting gigs with local schools. Currently, I have six of the largest species of parrots called Macaws. Of the six, four are the Hyacinth Macaws, one is a Scarlet Macaw, and the final is a Greenwing Macaw. My work with parrots wasn’t something I decided overnight, but my lifelong love for animals and my desire to allow them to live the life they were meant to live has led me here. And parrots, with their profound intellect, inordinate beauty, ability to fly and boundless curiosity, presented the perfect opportunity to me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a new business is never a smooth road, but I look at challenges as an opportunity to grow. First of all, the nature of my business is unique because my “clients” are alive, intelligent, extremely demanding, loving, and (most challenging of all) hormonal. There’s no “quick fix” when dealing with highly intelligent animals, like parrots, because it requires hard work and consistency, which can be difficult in a modern world accustomed to convenience and instant gratification. My philosophy is “Happy Birds, Happy Relationships” and is based on the belief that our relationship with animals is affected by the energy that we create. If you’re approaching a training session feeling stressed or frustrated, you won’t have much success. Therefore, while I can do Skype sessions, I prefer in-person training because you can feel the energy more easily. Given the restrictions of COVID-19, this has made it more difficult.
Finding new clients has also required some adjustments after moving back to SoCal. Previously, I was living in San Francisco, which is smaller, intimate and walkable. It wasn’t difficult for me to be seen and heard with five macaws on foot or riding the BART. Most of my work in San Francisco was by referral because someone had seen me flying the birds in Dolores Park and connected us. Because LA is so vast, I’ve relied entirely on social media and flying the birds in popular locations like Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park or Kenneth Hahn in order to gain exposure. I’m constantly asking people to tag @chanthebirdman when we’re creating a photo-op!
Another adjustment is that SoCal isn’t as oriented to catering to pet clientele, especially parrots. While they spark a lot of curiosity, I’m often denied from establishments that allow dogs, but I continue to try and hope that education and exposure will inspire more opportunity to enable all animals to be a part of our lifestyle.
Chan The Birdman – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m Chan the Birdman and I provide training to all birds, focusing on behavior, nutrition, husbandry and free-flying. My specialty is free-flying, which is training a bird to fly and come back to you, and it’s based on the ancient survival skill and art of falconry but with a much more intelligent bird species. The ability to fly your bird and have them return to you is the ultimate expression of trust, love and respect in the animal kingdom.
Birds were meant to fly the skies and roam the land with no rules or boundaries, however, many pet birds live in cages for their entire lives, which can be as long as 80 years. We know from human behavior that being locked in a cage has profoundly negative psychological effects, so why should it be any different for a bird? I’ve developed a proven program that empowers bird owners with the skills they need to properly care for their birds, establish boundaries, and provide proper nutrition, exercise and discipline. The ultimate goal is getting the bird out of the cage, flying in the air, and living the life it was meant to live.
Through my own life, I’ve tried to model a new way of bird ownership and care. By flying them in public parks, riding on the handlebars of my bicycle or taking them out with me for a cup of coffee, I’m showing what’s achievable when you can provide more freedom for the bird and develop richer and healthier relationships with them. My brand takes pet ownership to the ultimate level that nurtures freedom, equality and creates happy birds and happy relationships.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think change is the most challenging criteria to adapt and evolve. I’m happy when clients welcome a dialogue and are interested in a consultation because they are inspired by what I have achieved with my birds and want the same for theirs. This commonality allows us to bring down barriers to bridge learning and change.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chanthebirdman.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @chanthebirdman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chanthebirdmansf
Image Credit:
Ben Long
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