Students at San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School flocked to the school cafeteria for a special visit with some famous feathered friends Tuesday, Aug. 7.
The school, offering an Environmental Science Academy and Dual Immersion program, worked with the Bookmobile service of the Santa Clara County Library to bring the birds on campus.
Julie Cardoza and her husband Ed have operated Happy Birds out of San Martin for nearly 30 years and have appeared with their parrots on The Tonight Show, Pet Star and The Ellen Show.
The couple brought six singing parrots to Gwinn and performed a show featuring more than 25 tricks for nearly 40 students.
“They’re really intelligent and need a lot of attention,” she said. “This has been a great way for us to present our birds and educate people about the responsibility of having parrots.”
Cardoza said she and Ed each had a passion for birds, and it has become their specialty over the last three decades.
The Cardozas and their parrots have been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records three times for fun tricks including most bottle caps removed, most cans opened in a minute and most slam dunks—featuring a mini basketball and hoop.
“This is all self-taught. We started when we were kids,” said Cardoza, adding that their education has included extensive research, reading and consulting with avian veterinarians. “You can feel it. A lot of parrot experience is like that.”
Few people in the area work with birds quite like Happy Birds, she said.
“We have been the only bird show in the area for the past 30 years,” said Cardoza. “There’s a lot of care involved when we’re not doing the show. The animal acts are something you don’t see anymore. This is pretty fun, and we enjoy it.”
Happy Birds provides education and entertainment to private events, birthday parties and corporate functions throughout the South Valley and as far north as San Francisco.
For details about upcoming public performances or to hire Happy Birds, visit happybirds.com.
