The sad facts...can this really be true?

Article about the number of abandoned and unwanted parrots.

Number of Unwanted Parrots Reaches an All-Time High in the USA

7-11 owners by the time a parrot is elderly!! Very sad stats indeed!

It is definitely true. Lots of people get a parrot because it's pretty and don't realize how much love, care and attention they need or how long they live. As you know when a parrot is being neglected it can be very very loud which leads an unprepared owner to "get rid" of their parrot. Parrots are also pretty expensive to keep and I am guessing if you have financial problems a parrot isn't on their list of top necessities for some people. It's so so so sad. I personally think people should take a class on what it takes to be a parrot parent and graduate before being allowed to have such an amazing but time consuming pet.

Not surprising in the least. A Helping Wing has reached over 200 even though we keep saying we want to downsize. The cottage was converted into quarantine but that has now been overrun to just plain old house birds. The garage which is attached to the rescue building but used as storage is being redone in order to comfortably fit the birds that we have in that building instead. We've been turning away all surrenders but a few now since there really isn't any room left.

My cockatoo Folger has been in as many as 7-11 homes like the number says but we all think the number is higher since we don't have a complete history on him.

Terrifying statistics. Proper education is part of the equation, but perhaps some voluntary adjustments to the scope of breeding might help.

Yes, horror!

Flboy said:

Yes, horror!

Click to expand...

It is horror. That is exactly the word.

It may be true, but I think it is also INCOMPLETE information. The way this article presents things makes it sound like birds are simply flowing out of parrot mills and into rescues because no one wants them, and that is not really the case. I'm a bit rushed at the moment but I have a couple of articles that I think would be wise to read along with this one for anyone who cares to look at a problem from multiple angles.

This one is by me:
http://www.silversageaviaries.com/unwantedparrots/

This one is by the inventor of the Aviator Harness
https://theparrotuniversity.com/raising-unwanted-parrots


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yep there is so much to think about before getting parrots.
first U2 at 19 took me 2 months to figure out it was a bad decision in the first place
just so much going on in real life no time for the bird, donated to a wild life park.
waited till 57 to start up again retired,and disabled so I have all the time in the world for my flock. to be honest I would never try to own a parrot and work an everyday job and leave em in a empty house all day long with no one around.

the numbers are staggering I tend to believe what they are saying here as I spend some time in the store where most of mine have come from and I see how many rescues she takes in and the shape they are in when coming in and it is not good.

I have 4 rescues and 2 where hatched. id like to feel I have done my part to help in this epidemic but it is only a little help. there are just so many out there that need someone to luv em

No-Fly Zone: Denied Their Natural Habits, Millions of Pet Parrots Lead Bleak, Lonely Lives : The Humane Society of the United States

Few years old but still an interesting read FYI

That's sad.


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Kentuckienne said:

Article about the number of abandoned and unwanted parrots.

Number of Unwanted Parrots Reaches an All-Time High in the USA

Click to expand...

First, thank-you, for bring this subject back to the surface.

This reality should never spend time just below or deep below the surface when interacting with new-comers to the Companion Parrot World.

Directing new-comers to the 'great' need of provide homes for Adult Parrots and not supporting or recommending they get a 'baby' Parrot is something we should strongly consider as a position.

Realities:

The number of individuals with Parrots in their homes is falling!
The number of individuals 'dumping' their Parrots for any number of reasons continues to be at high levels.
The number of questionable Breeders that are 'dumping' ever younger baby chicks into the market continues to grow.
The number of Parrots sitting in 'storage' facilities continues to grow.
The age of the individuals (and their ever weakening finances) that operate /own these facilities continues to rise.
The number of 'storage facilities' legal or otherwise, that are failing is increasing as supported by the increase in quarterly news reports

When the 'Good News' (sorry, but true) is that the life span is falling in mid to larger Parrots, it speaks volumes of the huge problem that we are facing.

Regarding this Organization and more specific to its members. I am honored to be among you who have taken in rehomed and Special Needs Parrots. Blessings upon each of you for saving your Parrot's life and your commitment to provide them with a Forever Home!

This is the very reason I refuse to buy from a store or get a baby. I only take in rescues and rehomes, preferably Birds With Problems. I was the same way with cats and dogs before I moved in with MrC and couldn't have cats or dogs because of his fur allergies (we kept my existing dogs until they died, and then didn't get any more). I never had a fur baby long, because I always adopted senior critters, and they usually only had a couple years left in them. I did volunteer work for rescue organizations, working with rehabilitating dogs that had issues. Now I've started working with parrots. I'm looking for a rescue I can work with at their location (not fostering...my flock is full), to get even more experience and help more birds.

My eyes have really been openned. Thanks to all. I thought that smuggling was the horror-end of bird-keeping... but there's another horror-end. This one.