Dr. Greg Harrison’s Impactful Visit to the Schubot Center
The Schubot Center was honored to host Dr. Greg Harrison, the founder of HBD International, Inc., and developer of Harrison’s Bird Foods.
Dr. Gregg is a Diplomate Emeritus of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and the European College of Zoological Medicine. He earned his DVM degree from ISU in 1967 and has always been passionate about avian pet companions. In the mid-70s, he established the first exclusive pet avian practice in the country. Through breeding and raising parrots, along with consultations with successful aviculturists and avian nutritionists, he developed a line of organic formylated diets: Harrison’s Bird Foods.
His extraordinary career includes serving as the first president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). He co-edited, with Linda Harrison, the “Clinical Avian Medicine and Surgery,” the first avian veterinary textbook, and “Avian Medicine: Principles and Application.” Later, he co-edited an additional textbook: “Clinical Avian Medicine Volumes I and II.”
During his seminar, “A Conversation with Dr. Greg J. Harrison: My Avian Nutrition Experiences,” Dr. Harrison shared insights into feeding captive parrots and the challenges of meeting the specific nutrient requirements of bird species with diverse diets in the wild. He emphasized providing the right nutrition without causing health issues such as obesity or nutrient deficiency.
Following the seminar, Dr. Harrison conducted a demonstration on avian wellness checks for vet students at the Schubot Aviary, sharing his extensive experiences as an avian vet. It was an invaluable and enriching experience for all participants.
Photo by Alyssa Moore ’27, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Greg for their visit.