Hello and welcome to my arts and sciences page.  My name is Biya or Lady Biya Sama.  If you really want to get precise, Biya Sama Fujin for the 13th century and Aisin-gioro Biya Sama Fujin for the 16th century.  Modernly, my name is Laurel A. Rockefeller.  I'm a member of a living history group known as the Society for Creative Anachronism.  We study the arts and sciences of the period from 600-1600 CE.  Though we focus on western Europe, we also study parts of the world in contact with Europe...which includes, of course Asia. 

In the SCA, I am a bard--a singer, a songwriter, a performer.  I play soprano recorder a bit, but singing is my main talent.  I also perform poetry--both my own verse and that of poets from throughout the SCA period.  I'm also branching out into learning more about story-telling and am working on a comedy routine.  After all, if we stayed in our comfort zone (for me, singing), we would never grow.  So I'm daring to try something new on stage and hoping my audiences will forgive me.  Already I've gotten a groan from Ostgardr's vicereine on the names I've chosen for the main characters of my comedy routine, "Why Englishmen Should Not Go to War".  But I won't spoil the suprise....

But bardic pieces aren't why you're here...this site is actually all about the birds.  For you have me to blame for bringing parrots officially into the SCA.  Yes, indeed!  Though many have been bringing birds to events for years, and indeed Cuddles, the umbrella cockatoo of Lady Beatrice Fayrewether in Atenveldt, was brought into the Royal Menagerie of that kingdom before I started the guild now called the Knowne World Aviculturists, it wasn't until August 14, 2006 with formation of the guild that SCAdians took a serious look at how companion birds were raised in period, at the methods used, at their history, at the foods they were given, at the species kept--at ANY OF THIS. 

Before the summer of 1996 we were simply SCAdians who kept companion birds.  Whatever aviculture activities we did were OUTSIDE OF SOCIETY--in our bird clubs, in our conservation groups, in the parrot rescues that we support. Now we tie it all together--taking a look at how companion bird history, the methods of care today, and conservation of wild species all tie together into a complete whole.  Past, present, and future.  Is that not the point of living history???  To re-discover history and retain the skills that once were?

In my own research, I have learned already that medieval methods and materials are often better than more modern ones.  Indeed, reading Bird Talk regularly shows a trend to go back to the past.  Discard the dowel perches of the 19th and 20th centuries.  Those are showing more and more to be unhealthy.  The "hot picks" are natural woods--which of course is ALL they could choose in the 13th century.  The main difference for the medieval aviculturist is the mounting hardware used to accomodate housing that is necessarily safer.  For that too is part of the "creative anachronism."  Safety first for our birds.  No zinc, no lead, no pewter.  Stainless steel.  Keep toxic substances out of beak range.

This is my arts and sciences page.  It is here to teach and help you learn and facilitate a dialogue.  There are links I'm sharing.  Class materials for students.  Contact information. Photos of feathered SCAdians and friend.  Lots of fun and unique stuff.  Enjoy!

--Lady Biya Sama