Julie Murad

Julie Weiss Murad, affectionately known as The Birdbrain, has been involved with companion parrots for thirty five years. She is a national human/parrot behavioral consultant based in Colorado. She has lectured both nationally and internationally and has written for several avian publications. Ms. Murad employs many ideas of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as taught by Susan Friedman, PhD, founder of Living and Learning with Parrots (LLP) which are based on the use of positive reinforcement. Julie has worked with a number of retailers, breeders, students, aviculturists, manufacturers, companion parrot “owners” and veterinarians to promote an educated awareness of the many needs of companion parrots.

Julie is founder and president of The Gabriel Foundation®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 1996. Headquartered in Colorado, TGF is dedicated to educating the public about the complex needs of psittacine birds through each of its seven programs: Education and Outreach, Adoption, Sanctuary, Rehabilitation, Rescue, Long-term Foster care, and Conservation, about the need to preserve wild parrots in their indigenous habitats. In 1995, Julie opened The Birdbrain to provide information and product resources to enhance the human/parrot relationship. Always a revenue and support source for TGF, The Birdbrain became fully owned by The Gabriel Foundation in early 2008. All proceeds continue help to support the Foundation’s programs.

Julie has been published nationally and internationally. In addition to her many national presentations, she has been a regular presenter at the AAV, AFA and NAVC conferences and she has internationally lectured in Canada, the U.K., and Japan. She has traveled widely to observe parrots in their natural habitats and learn firsthand the critical importance of in situ conservation programs. She is a member of AAV, and a lifetime member of A.F.A., WPT, A.S.A., IAATE and the Loro Parque Fundación. She is a member of other professional organizations in the animal sheltering community.

Julie shares her home with many animals including a variety of macaws and cockatoo species, Amazons, Grey parrots, Eclectus, Great-bills, Poicephalus, lovebirds, cockatiels, and canaries. At her home, Rancho de los Papagayos, many other rehomed animals can be found: Horses, donkeys, llamas, sheep, dogs and cats.

Julie’s vision for The Gabriel Foundation has been shaped over many decades with a global influence. She has dedicated her time and resources to providing for the longevity and future of the TGF, its programs and residents with a long term focus on parrot welfare.