Abstract
Some of us are satisfied with our
pet bird, deriving infinite joy from its
antics and affection for us. Others
find the pleasures of pet bird ownership
lead to an interest in raising
birds. These people we call aviculturists.
Some aviculturists acquire moderate
collections of birds, while
others establish very large collections
comprised of many different species.
These latter aviculturists usually are
looked upon as professional bird
breeders. Then there is Mickey
Ollson!
Mickey started raising birds as a
small child, when he acquired some
finches, waterfowl, and budgies
under the encouragement of his parents.
He liked other animals as well,
especially "zoo types;' and kept
squirrels and a couple of alligators. As
Mickey grew up, his interest in animals
became more intense, and the
menagerie larger.
In 1963 Mickey graduated from
Arizona State University with a B.S.
degree in advertising. He worked a
couple years, then began teaching
junior high school in 1965. That
same year he acquired five acres in
Glendale, a northwest suburb of
Phoenix, and founded Ollson's Rare
Bird Farm. By the early 1970s,
Mickey had earned an international
reputation as an aviculturist with a
collection of over 135 species of birds
of which he bred over a hundred.