Meet Dr. Fish

Dr. Pilar Fish

Pilar Fish, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), is the National Aviary’s Senior Director of Zoological Advancement and Avian Medicine since 2003. Dr. Fish graduated from University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine where she continued training in wildlife and zoological medicine by completing five years in internships and residency programs. She has practiced wildlife and zoo medicine since 1994 and has worked throughout Africa and Latin America teaching avian medicine and assisting wildlife rehabilitation centers.

As a leading expert in avian medicine, Dr. Fish has developed new protocols for numerous bird species in preventative medicine, geriatric care, neonatal care, and emergency care. She has established techniques for treating egg-bound birds, beak repairs using dental acrylics, orthopedic surgery, and skin-grafting. She acts as a consultant for zoos, wildlife centers, and veterinarians all over the world with the goal of sharing new advancements in avian medicine to help birds on a large scale.

Dr. Fish launched the National Aviary’s Teaching Hospital program to meet a need for veterinary students to obtain specialized training in avian medicine. Today, the Teaching Hospital program trains and mentors over 50 students from around the world each year.

In The News

See All News

Cathedral of Learning peregrine falcon pair lays first egg of season | Yahoo! News

Carla laid the egg on Sunday afternoon. She will likely lay at least three more.

Read More »

Cathedral of Learning peregrine falcon pair lays first egg of season | WPXI

The National Aviary says the peregrine falcons living high up on the side of the Cathedral of Learning have welcomed their first egg of the season.

Read More »

First Peregrine falcon egg laid atop Cathedral of Learning | Audacy

The first Peregrine falcon egg of the season has been laid atop the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning.

Read More »

Peregrine falcons nesting atop Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning lay first egg of the season | 90.5 WESA

Dedicated — perhaps eagle-eyed — viewers of the National Aviary’s peregrine falcon camera may have spotted the pair’s first egg of the season over the weekend.

Read More »

Cathedral of Learning peregrine falcons welcome 1st egg of the season | TribLive

The Cathedral of Learning’s feathered residents have welcomed a new addition to the nest.

Read More »