Take a tour of the Parrot Garden
Welcome to Parrot Garden. This
is the part of the sanctuary where
you can talk to the animals - and
one of them just might talk back!

Parrots at Best Friends.
You can keep up with all the
latest news by bookmarking the
Best Friends Parrot Garden
Network community.

Jacqueline Johnson, Parrot Garden Manager

At the age of three, Parrot Garden manager Jacqueline Johnson tried to trade her newborn sister for the neighbor's parakeet. That failed transaction was the start of her lifelong fascination with parrots.

An army brat, Jacqueline grew up in locations that spanned the globe, including two-year stints in both Iran and Germany. Her family finally settled in her parents' home state of South Dakota, where Jacqueline lived until coming to work at Best Friends.

Jacqueline's first job, at the age of 15, was as a kennel girl and "go-fer" for a military veterinary clinic. After attending college and majoring in social work, she worked for the State of South Dakota Department of Social Services for 20-plus years. But all through that time, she also continued to work at veterinary clinics and a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Although she loved working with dogs, cats and wildlife, her first and most abiding love was for parrots.

Jacqueline and her husband, Kevin, moved to Kanab, Utah, in May 2010 so that she could begin work as the Parrot Garden manager. They were joined in their adventure by their rescue family: three dogs, a senior cat, and six exuberant parrots.