Singapore’s first parrot-focused educational event, Friends of Parrots, is taking place this Saturday, 30 May 2026 with various activities at the Gardenhouse, Jurong Lake Gardens on 30 May, 10 am to 5 pm.
Friends of Parrots Day
The inaugural Friends of Parrots Day is jointly organised by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks), and the Parrot Society (Singapore) (PSS).
The event at Jurong Lake Gardens aims to strengthen parrot care knowledge within the parrot-keeping community and promote responsible pet ownership.
It is also being held over the same weekend as World Parrot Day, which takes place annually on 31 May.
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What to Expect at Friends of Parrots Day: Event Highlights
Those who are interested to learn more about parrots can look forward to close to 20 booths by animal groups, veterinary clinics, and pet care retailers.
It is a chance to find out more about parrot care resources and products, alongside six free educational talks by avian and wildlife experts.
The topics that will covered range from creating a safe home environment for your bird to the illegal wildlife trade of parrots.
Here is a look at the schedule of talks.
| Educational Talks (Free) | |
| Time | Programme |
| 11.00am – 11.45am | A Penchant for Parrots – Threats to Parrots and their Conservation Dr Jessica Lee, Mandai Wildlife Reserve The presentation will introduce parrots as a taxa and will briefly dive into the threats they face today (with a particular focus in Asia), and efforts around their conservation. |
| 12.00pm – 12.45pm | Reading Between Feathers: Understanding Parrot Health Dr Garbina Goh, Mandai Wildlife ReserveThis presentation will share tips on how to tell if your bird is sick and when to see the vet. It will also discuss some common medical presentations seen in birds under human care. |
| 1.00pm – 1.45pm | Creating a Safe Home Environment for your Parrots Dr Neo Peici, Sora VetParrots are intelligent, sensitive, and highly active animals that rely heavily on their environment for both physical safety and psychological well-being. A safe home for parrots goes beyond simply providing food and a cage—it requires thoughtful planning to minimize hazards and promote natural behaviours. Creating a safe home for parrots requires attention to air quality, physical hazards, proper housing, nutrition, hygiene and emotional well-being. When these elements are addressed together, they form a holistic environment where parrots can thrive. |
| 2.00pm – 2.45pm | CITES and Singapore’s Efforts in Combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade Mr Gerald Neo, Wildlife Trade, Animal & Veterinary ServiceLearn how Singapore regulates the international trade in endangered species through CITES and its whole of government efforts in combating the legal and illegal wildlife trade. The session will also highlight significant CITES-listed ornamental bird seizures over the years and highlight challenges facing illegal wildlife trade, and its approaches to tackling the issue. |
| 3.00pm – 3.45pm | Effect of Diet on Cardiac Disease in Pet Parrots Dr Ellen Rasidi, Avian & Exotics Veterinarian, Beecroft Avian & Exotic Veterinary ClinicDiet plays a critical role in the heart health of pet parrots. This talk explores how common feeding practices can contribute to or help prevent cardiac disease, and what a balanced, species-appropriate diet looks like in practice. Learn how to make informed nutrition choices to support long-term cardiovascular health in parrots. Also provides an overview to common cardiac diseases in pet parrots and how vets diagnose and treat it. |
| 4.00pm – 4.45pm | Citizen Science and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Ms Nayli Raifana, World Wildlife Fund Singapore (WWF-SG)As illegal wildlife trade increasingly shifts online, technology and public participation are becoming key tools in detection. This session focuses on how citizen science supports the fight against illegal wildlife trade, highlighting WWF Singapore’s Cyber Spotter Programme and how citizen scientists help surface suspicious online listings at scale. Learn how everyday observations can be turned into actionable insights to better protect wildlife. |
Toy Making Workshop
Another highlight is the Toy Making Workshop.
The 45-minute workshop introduces the essentials of parrot enrichment in a clear, practical way. Participants will learn about the different types of parrot enrichment, how they support your parrot’s physical health and mental well-being, and how to choose safe, suitable materials.
Participants will also engage in hands-on toy-making where visitors can learn to create safe, enriching, and engaging toys for your parrot.
The workshop is ticketed and limited to registered participants. To learn more here.
More Activities
There will also be family-friendly activities at the Friends of Parrots Day event such as a stamp raffle where participants will have to complete quests and collect stamps on a raffle ticket to redeem gifts.
There will also a landscaped photo booth, free parrot grooming and free popcorn.
When: 30 May 2026 (Saturday), 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Jurong Lake Gardens, Banyan Hall & Mempat Hall at the Gardenhouse
