The Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry & Management Program is designed for zoo and wildlife management professionals (or equivalent experience) who desire to increase their knowledge and proficiency in aviculture. The program is conducted at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center in Scotland Neck, North Carolina, and was designed by the Center's Director, Mike Lubbock, incorporating his innovative and highly successful techniques in avian breeding and care. 

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The Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry & Management Program is primarily for individuals who are already experienced in working with captive wildlife in general or birds specifically. It is designed to provide a broad range of instruction in waterfowl aviculture, as well as specific techniques that may or may not be used at other institutions, such as zoos. In order to accomplish this goal, we use an immersion instruction method (considered by numerous educators to be the most successful) that occurs on the grounds of the Avian Breeding Preserve. The method includes directive instruction, interactive questioning, repetition through practical application, and additional Q&A in the evening after completion of the day’s activities. The only form of passive instruction is from the highly acclaimed Avian Husbandry Manual, written by Sylvan Heights’ founder, Mike Lubbock, which is given to interns when they arrive at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center.                                                                                             

The program offers interns the opportunity to work side by side with Mike Lubbock, considered by many to be the world’s foremost authority on waterfowl husbandry. There is also time available to work with Sylvan Heights' Curator of Aviculture, Nick Hill, who has earned a highly respected reputation internationally for his knowledge in egg hatching techniques.

Program Description:

Although Anseriformes are a specialty, other birds such as cranes, parrots, and pheasants also reside at the Center and may be included in the curriculum when requested in advance by the applicant or institution.

Participants are given intensive, hands-on training in captive breeding and management of Anseriformes, including:

Program Schedule:

The program sessions are one or two weeks, primarily between April and August when waterfowl breeding is at the highest level. Specific time frames may be required if certain species have been selected to be studied. Space in each session is limited.  (See 2009 Program Schedule)

Program Requirements:

Sylvan Heights will provide housing and meals for those who have been accepted in the program and continue to meet the program requirements.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Proficiency in Avian Husbandry & Management from Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center. Participants also receive a copy of the Avian Husbandry & Management Manual, which is exclusive to those attending the Avian Program. The Avian Manual contains information attained during Mike Lubbock's 45 years of avicultural experience. Combined with the Program's hands-on training, the Avian Manual unveils the secrets for successful waterfowl breeding and care.

Major Biological Institution Participants

During recent years, interns at Sylvan Heights have come from many of the finest biological institutions

in the nation, including: