Experience at a Bird Sanctuary

[groovieguy]

Sorry about such long post but I am a little upset and needed to vent.
I started volunteer at a Bird Sanctuary about 5 weeks ago. I thought it would be great since it is close by and I love birds and have talents I can offer. I helped with construction and any thing else I could do, and put in about 100 hours. This is going to be a new place for all the birds as the other place got to small. What they are doing is building a Macaw Free Flight Aviary and a cockatiel/conure one too. And there is plans for more flight cages.
But, the special needs birds are on this property already (about 20), the pluckers and some with other issues (Macaws, Cockatoos, Amazons mainly large birds). The others will come once the aviary are finished, I think it is around 200 or more birds.
The first thing I did notice was the food wasn't that good I would estimate 90% seeds, 10% pellets. I asked about this and was told that was what people donated, found out later that it's what they buy. I started bringing in the pellets that my bird doesn't eat, purple and red ones. They loved it and ate it all up. I purchased a 17 lb bag of Zupreem for them.
I had also asked about fruit and vegetables and she said oh they are suppose to get that too. The only fruit and veggies they got was from when I brought it to them from home. I also had to get some tape to put on the cages and write there names on them as none had any, and some she didn't know.
Now the president that runs it doesn't live on site and I only met her a few times. I thought that was weird as most places the founder is on site.
They have a caretaker that lives there, and she doesn't have a lot of experience with birds, I helped her with some lessons about birds and their behaviors.
Now even though we are in Florida it gets cold and these birds which are mostly pluckers might get sick. It's suppose to get in the low 30's the next few days. So I had bought some tarps and clips and put up 8 tarps and made sure that it would help keep the cold and wind out of the area they are in. It is a 12x40 room that houses these birds in there cages it is open on 3 sides with cage material.
This was the tipping point for me, i'm a volunteer and do it for the birds not the humans, but why isn't the owner out there making sure that these birds are safe from the cold? Why did I have to be the one to figure out that they would be too cold and made sure they were safe and purchase all the materials to insure this?
I have been back a forth with what to do and decided I can no longer go there, I know it's about the birds but not much I can do. There are other rescues that I can go and volunteer at. It is a tough decision as I got attached to the birds and they to me, many that were weary of me in the begining now became friendly and let me pet them and feed them treats.:07:

 

[Dopey]

I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you. Thank you though for doing what you did.

 

[sonja]

Not that it excuses the neglect of the birds, but perhaps since they are moving they are spread too thin temporarily? Did you check them out to see if they have a good reputation?

 

[groovieguy]

Not that it excuses the neglect of the birds, but perhaps since they are moving they are spread too thin temporarily? Did you check them out to see if they have a good reputation?

Yes I did and they have a good reputation, but when people volunteer or visit for a few hours they are more in tune with the birds and talking to them and feeding and then they leave.
I was exposed to a lot that goes on.
As far as spread to thin, I don't believe so as the weekends there are more volunteers out there and I was there at least 4 days during the week except for 1 week when I was sick. And there is only about 20 birds.
I wouldn't say they are neglected it is more that they should give special care for the special needs birds.
I brought up the issue of Pellets and supplements, I was told that the seed they get is donated, then I found out different and now I see where a bird pellet company is a sponsor, but the only bag of that I saw was the one I bought.
My biggest problem is the food and the lack of pellets, supplements, fruits and vegetables, especially for the special needs birds.
Feeding those large birds seed, sunflower seeds, peanuts and very little pellets doesn't fill them up nor does it provide the nutrient they need.

 

[groovieguy]

Oops forgot here is a video of the birds. Most are pluckers but they are still beautiful and funny. The one Too in the video which plucks most his feathers on his back and chest is molting and I was hoping to see him in all his feathers.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRjT-DuTOA&feature=youtu.be"]IMG 0493 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[LilChodi954]

Hello, we know exactly which sanctuary you are speaking about. First of all, THANK YOU so much for taking the tarps out there and trying to keep them warm. My husband and I went out there a few weeks ago (we're about 90 minutes away).
My first question was about the pellets and seeds, I was told that they can handle the seeds because in the wild they are active and they won't get liver disease from the seeds because they quickly burn off the excess of eating seeds from activity. I didn't buy that answer because I am an Amazon Lover, and I felt that 90% of the amazons were in those crate like cages, some were 2 per cage, some were single. There isn't a lot of activity going on in those cages for them to fly and stretch their wings, nor did I understand how being active and eating seeds was "ok" for their bodies.

My second concern was the cold and the answer I received was "we've never lost a bird to the cold". We recently rescued a DYH and CAG, and I went there with the intent of sending the birds there (and paying the yearly fee for 5 years - around $5k) for the birds. I left in tears. Birds aren't mean to be put in cages, I was going to send the birds there so they could live free outdoors in a flock and be able to fly. There was no way I could handle the thought of the birds being in the cold and not in a free flight aviary (as it appeared to me there were only 5 amazons in the flight aviary and around 40 amazons that were housed as described above).
(we were at the old property, not the new one).

To get to the point, we went 2x's. We donated cages and cash. On the second trip I asked about the food again (as I only saw seed and very little zupreem). I asked about nutriberries and the owner told me that they were trying to get a food company to sponsor or donate but that had not panned out.

I know they are trying to do the right thing and they are saving unwanted birds who have no where else to go. It is a noble cause. The whole thing breaks my heart and this is post is not meant to bash them. There are so many birds that need somewhere to go and many of the birds there have outlived their owners. (one yellow nape even hummed "somewhere over the rainbow" to me which made me want to cry even more because I knew that was a bird that was once loved by a human very much. (I had also asked whether the DYH and CAG would be happier living there and the answer I received was 'they will be happy, but would they be happier living here than with you, I can't answer that'.)

I did not send the CAG and DYH there. They are staying with me. It's difficult with our work schedules and other issues going on in life to take care of 3 birds, but we're making it work. (We had wanted a second bird, we went on CL and found 2 birds that needed homes. My husband picked up the CAG first and we were not going to take the DYH that we originally wanted, however when I got to where the DYH was the conditions were so horrendous there was no way I was leaving w/o him)

Finally, I did go online and donate a 17 pound bag of Zupreem; and I recently ordered 4 20 lb bags of nutriberries from Amazon.com. Once they arrive we'll go out there and take the bags of foods to the birds.
Again, I am not bashing the sanctuary, but it did not turn out to be what I expected it to be. Call it naive, but I assumed I would show up to a happy place where the birds were living free in one huge happy flock with lots of toys, fresh fruits, veggies ect. The birds did have toys, there were a lot of toys and things to shred, but the food was woefully lacking. At the old place there were heaters and warmers for the "special needs birds" with blankets. Some of, but not all of the amazons had a heat lamp (only those housed in the flock aviary). I kept thinking about the other birds last night as it dipped into the 30's with windchill here and I think to make our selves feel better my husband and I convinced ourselves that they would have put blankets & heaters over the birds. I am praying that was the case at the old property (we were told that only a few birds had been sent to the new property when we were there in mid December).

Anyways, I never write this much, but I wanted to share our thoughts (and opinions) and tell you thank you so so much for taking the time (and having the heart) to keep the birds warm.
Zaila & Eddie

Chodi, Gizmo & Sasha

 

[groovieguy]

Thanks
I went today as I had some older heavy curtains and put them on some of the cages with the birds that are almost naked.
I'm going to a bird show Sunday and will probably pick up a bag or 2 of good pellets for them.
When you bring the bags could you ask them to send 1 bag to the other facility?

 

[LilChodi954]

Yes I absolutely will.

 

[95talongirl]

omg... hawkeye!!!! <3 <3

Back on subject. Have you had a heart-to-heart discussion with the people who run the sanctuary? (Not to sound mean here... but...) Are they older? I've found that *sometimes* there's some in the older crowd that still believe in the "old ways" of keeping parrots; And a little education may help in this situation.

The pellet issue can present another problem. Someone will have to monitor the birds to make sure they are converting properly. Make sure they are eating them, and not inadvertently staring those that are more reluctant to the conversion.

Keep up the good work, though! Hope that they are willing to listen to new ideas, not to take the suggestions personal, and then everyone wins.

 

[torrap]

It's just so sad.....
I did get into some problems here on this forum for saying that the best way to get a bird pet is to go to the local sanctuary. This is just proving my case.
There are so many birds in need of rescue and love. It's not their fault to be hatched in human hands.
I just want you to know there are some nice sanctuaries! The one I volunteered at is The Gabriel Foundation here in Colorado. They chop veggies every day. Cages are cleaned every day. They take most of the birds out to the outside aviaries when weather permits. The place is very clean and they know and love birds.
Many owners (who passed) placed their birds for life (as sanctuary) in this place. It's not the ideal situation, but at least these birds don't go from home to home every year or so.
It's a BIG and growing problem with unwanted birds. I wish there are more nice places for them to go to.