Pirate Nate Flaptasaurus

Engines, Feathers & The Legend of Pirate Nate

Nathan's Story Unfolded

From Wrenches to Wingmen

Some people are born with a love for birds. Some are born with a love for cars. Nathan? He got both.

His story starts in his parents' backyard, which wasn’t just a backyard—it was a lively outdoor aviary filled with Corellas and Galahs. While most kids were out kicking soccer balls, Nathan was learning to appreciate the fine art of feathers, beaks, and bird antics. But that wasn’t the only thing he fell in love with.

Around the age of 13, his mechanical obsession took flight when he scraped together enough cash to buy his very first car—a Dodge Phoenix complete with a parts car because, well, it needed some serious TLC. It wasn’t exactly road-ready. In fact, it had been sitting in the backyard of a neighbour for years, collecting dust, rust, and possibly a few small ecosystems. But with sheer determination (and an unholy amount of blood sweat & grease), he got it running. The car bug had bitten. Hard.

Coincidentally, a Phoenix is also a type of bird—albeit a mythical one—so in a way, Nathan was destined to have birds in his life one way or another.

At the same time, Nathan was forming a different kind of partnership—with a cheeky Galah named Pinky. Sure, the name wasn’t going to win any creativity awards, but this bird had personality for days. Not only did Pinky learn to talk, but he also became Nathan’s feathery co-pilot, riding shotgun on the handlebars of his push bike as they cruised the neighbourhood together.

Let’s just say that if social media had existed back then, they’d have gone viral.

As he got older, Nathan turned his passion for mechanics into a career, completing an engine reconditioning apprenticeship before working his way through various dealerships across Australia. He started as a mechanic, but with his knack for problem-solving (and probably a well-timed dad joke or two), he climbed the ranks to service manager.

But life had more than just cars in store for him. By 2015, Nathan shifted gears, leaving the automotive world behind to take on a general manager role in the home improvements industry. But, of course, the car obsession didn’t just disappear. It re-emerged with a vengeance when he joined the Variety Tasbash, an epic outback rally supporting Variety - the Children’s Charity

First, he built "The Pink Panther", a tricked-out rally car that was every bit as cool as it sounds. Then came the Birdy Bus—a parrot-themed Tasbash car that brought together both his passions. (Yes, it was as ridiculous and amazing as you’re picturing right now.) You can read all about it here.

The Majick Feathers Chapter

Nathan has been part of Majick Feathers from the very beginning—acting as a secondary trainer, showman (ahem, Pirate Nate Flaptasaurus), and business manager. While Melissa worked her magic on bird training, Nathan used his business acumen to make sure the ship stayed afloat (and that the treasure was well-accounted for). He managed everything from logistics to admin, all while juggling full-time work.

But in 2024, life threw a major curveball. Nathan was diagnosed with cancer, forcing him to step away from full-time employment to focus on treatment. Unfortunately, this also meant that Melissa had to scale back her consulting work, and Majick Feathers events and appearances had to hit pause. It was a tough year, but resilience runs deep in this family.

The Phoenix Rises -The Majick Feathers Comeback

Now in 2025, Nathan is back — and so is Majick Feathers - like a Phoenix Riseing.

With his treatment behind him, he’s laser-focused on making Majick Feathers soar to new heights. His new mission? Expanding the brand, growing training programs, and making events bigger and better than ever before.

Meanwhile, Melissa is diving deep into training and product creation for the online shop, ensuring that parrot owners everywhere have the tools they need to build strong, rewarding relationships with their birds.

At the heart of it all, Majick Feathers remains dedicated to its core values: “Training Over Taming.” Because birds aren’t meant to be caged accessories—they’re intelligent, social creatures that deserve to be respected, understood, and enriched.

Everything Nathan and Melissa do is guided by the Majick Feathers philosophy:

"To enhance and enrich the lives of parrots and their handlers through training and education."

And with Nathan at the helm, you can bet that Majick Feathers is only getting started.