Jacquie worked for Environment Canada (EC), Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) before retiring in 1987 from the position of Digital Data Manager, having responsibility for the millions of historical weather records and the computer software to exploit them.

She and Frank, her husband of more than 53 years, share an interest in birds. He started racing pigeons with his father as a boy. Frank has a trophies won by his Father and Uncle in 1913. Jacquie likes to read, is a fabulous cook, and she and her husband, Frank, have a lovely garden in which they enjoy spending time.

Jacquie started keeping birds more than 25 years ago and acquired her first parrot, an Amazon, when she retired. Although she shares her home with Amazons, a Blue and Gold Macaw and a Congo African Grey, she derives her greatest pleasure from hand raising Timneh African Greys to be superb companion birds.

As a breeder of Timneh African Grey Parrots, Jacquie raises her birds in a positive and nurturing environment. Lots of stimulation is provided through toys, handling, and encouragement when climbing and learning to fly. She offers a wide variety of foods in various stages, including cooked, raw and partially cooked, for the babies to first play with and then learn to eat. Prospective owners are allowed opportunities to spend quality time with their baby before they actually adopt, and Jacquie keeps in touch with many of her babies’ owners after they have taken their chick home. If necessary, Jacquie will take back any of her babies and re-home them. She has also taken other unwanted birds into her home, worked with them, and then found them suitable homes.

Jacquie has often helped and counseled many DAS members. Although she may get angry, as we all do, she still manages to maintain a calm, willing and helpful attitude.

Most club members aren’t even aware of the years of work she has devoted to keeping DAS going, or how generous she always was in the early years when DAS was low on funds. Many times, she put the deposit on the show hall for the DAS annual show using her own money, until the club could reimburse her. One year, when the club members were attempting to raise the money to build their own judging benches for their annual show, Jacquie offered the price of one of her baby Timneh African Grey chicks if DAS members could match the amount through fund raising.

Nothing is too much trouble for Jacquie when it comes to DAS. She has hosted the executive meetings in her home for years, and the executive members have had the pleasure of sampling her wonderful baking.

In bad times for DAS, when they were down to only twelve members, Jacquie rallied the troops and got them fired up to pull together and get the club working again. DAS is now averages more than a hundred members each year. Some of the members who have been with the club the longest wonder whether there would even be a Durham Avicultural Society today without Jacquie working so hard and so long to keep it going strong.

After serving as secretary and/or treasurer of the Durham Avicultural Society (DAS) from 1981, Jacquie gave up those positions in 1990 to organize the annual Canadian Parrot Symposium (CPS). For the next 13 years she worked diligently to bring top aviculturists from around the world to the CPS. In 2002 the Avicultural Advancement Council of Canada (AACC) presented her with their Merit Award in recognition of her dedication and service to aviculture. Jacquie was instrumental in starting the Canadian Parrot Symposium (West) held in Victoria each spring and continues as an ‘honourary’ director.

The first Canadian Parrot Symposium(CPS) was held in 1990 in Toronto by organizers Jacquie Blackburn and Silvio Mattachione. The success of the CPS has made it possible to give something back to aviculture. To this end, Jacquie Blackburn and Silvio Mattachione, directors of the CPS, established the Graduate Award in Avian Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Each year, surplus revenue and the money raised from an auction held at the symposium are added to the endowment. The principal remains intact, with the award(s) made from the interest earned. The contribution to this endowment is now $50,000. Students demonstrating an interest in and pursuing studies dealing with companion birds, their welfare, and the human/companion bird relationship are eligible.

Jacquie is very organized. She accepts offers of help from others willingly and shows appreciation of their efforts. She has very strong negotiating skills, as seen in her dealings with the Hilton Hotel and bookings for the symposium. Jacquie’s goal was to educate people regarding parrot care, and to raise funds for avian studies at Guelph University through supporting a scholarship fund… and she met these commitments very successfully.

She received the Golden Bird Award from the DAS in 1997 and again in 2005. In 2006 the Canadian Parrot Conference presented her with the Aviculture Service Award.

Jacquie has also attended the meetings in Oshawa, Ontario regarding the regulation of breeding or keeping more than two animals or critters in your home, along with going to Milton to fight for the rights of people there. She has frequently stood up in city councils to voice the opinions and needs of bird breeders and pet bird owners.

Although Jacquie has no children of her own, she has made a positive impact on young members of DAS by encouraging them in their interest in birds. She provides guidance for young people (and older ones as well) who are interested in adopting a bird of any species, not just those who intend to purchase one of her Timneh babies. She willingly shares her knowledge and experience in a positive and non-inhibiting manner with anyone in need of help with their birds.

Jacquie is always interested in attending informative conferences and workshops to increase her knowledge and does not try to give the impression that she has all the answers and knowledge that she needs already.

Jacquie resumed the position of secretary of DAS in 2002, the year this club hosted the Canadian National Bird Show to celebrate their 25^th Anniversary. Currently Jacquie is both secretary and treasurer.
Most of the members can’t remember a time when Jacquie wasn’t an active and willing volunteer in the Durham Avicultural Society, and finding anyone who can remember a time when she wasn’t on the DAS executive committee is a challenge.
There is no one who has done more for our club, the Durham Avicultural Society, and undoubtedly there are very few who have done more for Canadian aviculture as well as for those who love these birds that we have as companions and/or breed in our homes.

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