About Us

“Modern life provides us with so many amenities, but along the way human beings have lost bonds once formed with wild animals that were integral to primitive life. With decades of research on animal behavior and hands-on animal training, Craig Perdue has developed strategies for overcoming that deficit. With one-of-a-kind, in-person trainings and workshops with birds normally seen only in the wild, Perdue brings that work to life, linking people and nature by engendering an understanding between individual people and individual animals.”

Perdue has made it his mission to educate kids and adults in this same spirit, designing specialized trainings that aim to achieve a deeper understanding of wildlife as individuals and as species.

Perdue provides exposure to birds in natural, programmatic and investigative settings in order to promote understanding of their behavior and link this to conservation action.

For individual bird owners, Perdue also devises customized training in order to improve the relationship between people and their avian companions.

Testimonials

" As an educator and teaching consultant for many years, I direct a program for difficult "at risk" youth and children with severe behavior problems. I have had the real pleasure of watching Dr. Perdue work with children and adults in the outdoors. As a naturalist his ability as a teacher was apparent. Students who had experienced failure in traditional school settings, and who had very little appreciation for the natural environment, became avid and successful as learners. Returning to their traditional school setting, they were eager to share with others the animal husbandry and primitive skills they developed and their knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. "

Barbara Vedder, Ed.D

" At a recent meeting of the Huron Valley Audubon Society, Dr. Perdue gave us a unique insight into bird/raptor behavior. It was a rare opportunity for us to have a close look at behaviors that would not be apparent by merely observing in the natural world... "

Kathleen Hansen, President, Huron Valley Audubon Society

"You get your money's worth. "

Joe Harman, Naturalist, Drayton Plains Nature Center

"Craig Perdue presented a birds of prey program for the Waterloo State Recreation Area... Program participants were enthralled as they witnessed the birds in flight responding to Craig.... It seemed effortless for Craig to keep the attention of the audience throughout the presentation."

Kathy Kavanaugh, Head Park Interpreter, Waterloo State Recreation Area

" For years I have had the pleasure of working alongside Craig in environmental outreach programming in schools and at the wildlife refuge. Craig always brings passion and knowledge to his programming, a brilliant scientist with an empathic heart. His relationship with his birds is strong and allows participants to experience a side of nature which is usually a mystery to people. I have seen the light in students eyes as they grasp a connection to nature thanks to Craig's teachings. I highly recommend any educator looking for a quality and unforgettable experience to reach out to Shadow Speak. "

Jennie Braatz, Naturalist and former Park Ranger, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge