In 1976, Denis Sloan began his life-long love of parrots.  After owning parrots as pets, Sloan developed an appreciation for the unique characteristics of various species.  By the mid ‘80’s (before the world-wide ban on imported species to the United States) he began to purchase and breed wild-caught Conures and Cockatoos. Within two years, Sloan had successfully bred approximately 25 pair of exotics primarily specializing in Cockatoos.

          
            Sloan became the aviary manager for the Solano Creek Aviary, Saint Augustine, Florida in 1993.  There he gained extensive experience in the breeding and care of exotics on a much larger scale.  Having further developed his skills and interests, Sloan progressed to aviary manager at the Dean Parrot Farm in Dripping Springs, Texas.  The culmination of this knowledge and experience led Sloan to open a retail store in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The store, Bird Fever, quickly became known as “the” place to purchase exotic birds and supplies in the Midwest.

            In 2000, employee Mark Roth managed Bird Fever while Sloan lived and worked in a small town near San Carlos, Costa Rica.  There, he assisted Tom Armstrong with the propagation of Great Green and Scarlet Macaws.  The government of Costa Rica turned over parrots that had been confiscated from captive environments to Sloan and Armstrong for the purpose of reintroducing them to the wild.  Together, they established a free-flying flock of approximately 24 individuals.

            Sloan returned to the United States and Bird Fever, but his profound desire to strengthen endangered species persisted.  On October 19, 2006, Sloan sold Bird Fever to devote all of his time to breeding exotics.  Sloan and his wife, Mary, relocated to central Florida where the climate would be more conducive to breeding.   With the assistance of Jeff Smith of Corners Ltd. in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Sloan designed then built an aviary for his breeding pairs.  During the first four months Sloan’s dream was realized when two Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos were born.

            As of 2007, Sloan has raised and hand-fed over 2,700 exotic birds.  It is his firm belief that he needs “to breed endangered species to try to keep the gene pool continuing, because without private breeders certain species would not exist.  The Spix Macaw is a prime example of a species that is near extinction; there are no longer any in the wild." In 2008 Platinum Aviary will focus on endangered species that are out of the ordinary. We are looking for a few more endangered species and would be willing to trade some for others. The best way to contact us is by E-mail.


            Mary Sloan is a professional educator and university administrator with a strong affection for parrots.  While Mary assists her husband in all aspects of the aviary, her primary interests in birds are focused on the language development of species that are capable of speech.  In addition, she is knowledgeable regarding the behavior and intellectual development of exotic birds.

Platinum Aviary wishes to offer special thanks to Scott Hutchison for his generosity and commitment to the propagation of endangered species.