|
E-Newsletter |
|
|
DATE January 23, 2007 |
Volume 1, Number 1 |
|
|
Director’s NoteWelcome to the first edition of Arcadia Bird Sanctuary’s Newsletter. We don’t have a catchy name yet, but that will come. (Suggestions are welcome!!!!) What we want to do is give you information – lots of information. Information on Arcadia Bird Sanctuary. Information on the birds we have here. Information on how to keep your birds healthy and how to keep them safe. From time to time, we’ll have columns written by guests on timely topics. We’ll let you know about upcoming events. We’ll try and help sort out some of the facts from the fiction with all the conflicting data bombarding you.
The bottom line is…. We are about information. We hope you’ll enjoy this newsletter, but we hope more that we can help you as you strive to be a terrific bird owner.
If you have any suggestions, advice, ideas or questions, please email then to me at ArcadiaBirdSanctuary@aol.com and put TO TERRI in the subject line! Arcadia Bird SanctuaryThere is a special place in New Jersey – a one-of-a-kind place where a bird that can no longer be a pet can live out its life in peace and just be a bird. This place is called Arcadia Bird Sanctuary. Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Educational Center is a shelter where all our birds are housed on premises. We do not foster out our birds, but we are a Sanctuary, offering a permanent home for companion birds that are no longer suitable to be pets. Many of our residents have been abused or neglected. Some are elderly and deserve a “forever” home. Some will be adopted to the perfect family. We never make a determination on any bird until we know that bird well. All our parrots are vet checked every six months and are also micro-chipped. Some birds will be with us for many months and many for years. It is important to us that we know each bird as an individual before we try and find the right home for it. You can’t match a stranger to a stranger! The seeds of Arcadia Bird Sanctuary were sewn in the rubble of the World Trade Center. Along with the human misery, a call was extended for animal rescue in general and bird rescue in particular. An animal rescue shelter in New York City called us because they were overwhelmed with birds and asked if we could help. A trip to the shelter resulted in our receiving over a dozen parakeets and the influx began. Word soon spread that we were able to provide a home for small birds and it wasn’t long before we had over 35 parakeets and lovebirds. A bird rescue at a filthy breeding facility on Long Island brought in over a dozen more lovebirds and Arcadia Bird Sanctuary was born! Knowledge is power and the more people know about parrots, the better off birds will be. People need information in order to make intelligent choices: about what kind of bird to choose, about how to keep the bird and how to treat the bird. Arcadia Bird Sanctuary soon because Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Educational Center. We conduct presentations and seminars to teach people about parrots and their care. We believe there can never be too much information or too small an audience. The present and future are grim for individuals needing to place their pet birds for adoption or for finding permanent sanctuary. With few legally enforceable standards of care for birds, quality of care varies greatly from organization to organization, and may not always be in the birds’ best interests. Additionally, the availability of space, resources and knowledgeable caretakers for long term or pre-adoptive care is limited as demand far exceeds supply. Unlike the situation with most dispossessed cats and dogs, mainstream humane animal welfare organizations are not always prepared or equipped to provide for the unique needs of most parrot species and may not have the resources to provide long term supportive educational information or follow-up. Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Educational Center is affiliated with the American Federation of Aviculture as a Member, and is also a member of the Avicultural Society of America. Both these are national organizations of avicultural professionals and great sources of information, networking and knowledge. We are a registered 501©3 nonprofit organization and all donations are fully tax-deductible. We do not charge for services; not for adoptions nor for presentations, but rely solely on donations. We provide parrot rescue and bird sanctuary for all species of companion birds. We hold a Scientific Holding permit from the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife and are the only organization permitted to work with Quaker (monk) Parrots. With the number of resident birds hovering around 150, stories abound. Each month, we’ll talk about some aspect Of parrot care or feature one of the resident birds at Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and tell its story. Building for the BirdsDO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON TO HONOR? A PET? A CLUB?Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Educational Center is growing by adding modular buildings, one at a time. Each building costs $4000 to purchase and renovate. By donating a building, you can honor a special person or pet, or your club or group can be recognized by having a building dedicated and named in their honor.Great group project!! Call or email ArcadiaBirds@aol.com for more information!! |
|
|
Bird of the Month: DuckOh, a Congo African Grey – how everyone wants one!!! It’s probably the number one bird on every rescue and adoption organization’s waiting list. Here at Arcadia, we now have three CAGs…. and each has its own sad story. Today we’ll talk about Duck.
Duck was less than two years old when she came into Arcadia Bird Sanctuary from a rescue on Long Island. Poor Duck is the product of a divorce. She had been the husband’s bird, and whenever the couple had a fight, the wife would go over to Duck’s cage and beat on it. Beat on it to the point that when the Long Island rescue received her, Duck had broken her breastbone at least three times from flinging herself across the cage. The rescue on Long Island was hesitant to adopt Duck until she had calmed down, but Duck was deathly afraid of women and was completely phobic in the foster home. So we were asked to take her in.
After quarantine and her vet check, Duck came to live in our home. We placed her cage next to our own CAG in the hopes that Shades could help Duck realize she is now in a safe place and teach her something about being a normal CAG. Upon our vet’s recommendation, we had a complete CBC done on Duck every six months, prior to the vet’s visit. The CBC showed the enzyme levels that indicated stress, and each time, the levels were not just high, but were sky-high! We discussed the wisdom of putting Duck down, as the vet was concerned about the overall effects such constant stress had on Duck’s entire system. But each visit ended with, “OK, give it six more months.”
Because Duck was so terrified of women, my husband Dave took on Duck’s rehabilitation. It was slow going –very slow going. Months went by and Duck would scream whenever anyone approached her cage. We placed her cage in a corner, away from all traffic, but next to Shades. The only one who went near Duck was Dave, because she would fling herself across the cage whenever I approached. Her enzyme levels continued to be high, but were beginning to show small improvements.
Duck has been with us for over three years now. We are finally seeing major differences. While she still is afraid of any woman, including me, Duck now comes over to the side of her cage so Dave can pet her. She still plucks her feathers, but that is slowing down also. She still won’t come out of her cage, but that’s OK, because we are afraid she will become spooked and hurt herself if she does.
Duck is one of those miracles that happen, but only after a long time. Rehabilitation is slow work and can take years and years. But the reward is in the final product – a healthy, happy bird. And Duck is getting there. Stuff It!!How much fun can your bird have? As much fun as you have figuring out how to entertain him! So, STUFF IT!! Stuff paper cups, stuff Styrofoam cups, fill paper bags, boxes, plastic eggs and plastic water bottles. Stuff them with paper, with pellets – with about whatever fits and is safe!
What can you put in these things to make terrific toys? How about pellets in paper cups ? Then, put the cups into a paper bag. Stuff napkins and paper towels around the cups to hide them for a more challenging time. Popsicle sticks and clothespins - hold them in place with pieces of sponge or coffee filters. Walnuts and Brazil nuts are great.
Straws, plastic bottle caps, toy pieces (who of us don’t have toy pieces from those toys they have taken apart?) loofas, pieces of sponge, pieces of cuttlebone – all these can be stuffed in. Sponsorship ProgramFor many of our birds, Arcadia Bird Sanctuary is their last chance at a stable home. Some have been severely abused or neglected. Several are being used in our educational program. Some come with health problems that will need to be treated for the rest of their lives. Some are old and need more health monitoring than usual.
For many of our birds, Arcadia Bird Sanctuary is their last chance at a stable home. Some have been severely abused or neglected. Several are being used in our educational program. Some come with health problems that will need to be treated for the rest of their lives. Some are old and need more health monitoring than usual.
Please send us an email including your name, phone number, address, and type of bird you would like to sponsor and you can get started making a difference! Parakeets and Lovebirds: $120/year $10/month Cockatiels: $120/year $10/month Small Parrots: $240/year $20/month (Conures/Senegals/ Pionus/Caquies) Medium Parrots: $300/year $25/month (Eclectus/CAG/Jardine’s) Large Parrots: $360/year $30/month (Cockatoos/Macaws)
|
