Happy Holidays!

Hi Members & Friends:

I hope you and yours are enjoying the holiday season and keeping the stress to a minimum, if possible.

BIRD RESCUE

Last Friday was a very unusual day. The World Parrot Mission was involved in the seizure of 2 African Grey parrots from a breeder. Because we were helped by another rescue center, we will be accepting financial responsibility for these poor little birds, even though they will be housed at the other sanctuary.

I must tell you that it was a thrill to be able to help some parrots to finally enjoy living, as I know they will when they are able to fly and be with other birds uncaged. The sad thing was not being able to help all the birds there that were probably wild caught. Imagine these birds were flying in the forest, loving, having families, surviving and then got caught and put into a cage with another of the same specie, different gender (most likely not their beloved mate). When they do have babies, the eggs are stolen away and sold as pets, only to be disposed of when the buyer tires of the purchase of something so precious to its natural parents. These birds are, like all birds, entirely at the mercy of their captors. I have many times heard the words, “just a breeder” to describe one of these captive breeding birds. Believe me, they are the exact same bird that yours or mine is. My heart is heavy that any bird must live this way.

At least, we changed the lives of two greys, who are, upon inspection, very thin, plucked and we have found out that the little Timneh has some sort of infection and is now on antibiotics, as well as a hearty diet. The breeder will be visited by animal control in two weeks to see if things have changed for the birds there.


BIRDIES FOR CHARITY

January will bring an envelope in your mailbox, or an email to plead for some of your hard earned dollars. Please understand, that like all charities, we work on donations alone.

Seeing a poor little bird stuck in a cage with no hope of being anything but a decoration or a producer of eggs is something that keeps me going when I feel that I’m the only one worrying about these babies. There are a few other people out there just like me who have sanctuaries and big hearts. They are my heroes, those who’ve given up their “normal life” (whatever that is!) to simply be a savior of birds. You know who you are… thanks for your advice and support and guidance.

ADOPTION

We are currently in the planning stages of becoming an adoption agency for parrots so that we can help the many people who call looking for a home for their bird, as well as the many who call saying they would adopt. I am tired of telling people that the sanctuary is not built, so we can’t help them. If we expect people to adopt older birds instead of buying babies, someone must be willing to have the facility to rehabilitate birds for adoption.

If you would like to put your name on the list of people who would consider adopting a parrot, please email me. Likewise, if you must give up a parrot, or know someone who does.

We will be screening adoptive parents after their applications are received. Adoption will be considered only after certain requirements are met. These include 6 hours of classroom work and a three-week visitation period to see if the parrot and the potential family are suitable for each other; as well as home visits from representatives before and after the adoption process is finalized.

We are looking for very special homes that can house parrots inside and outside so they can get their much-needed sunshine, homes where love abounds and animals are “just like kids.”

We are investigating possible locations for our new facility and will keep you posted when things are finalized.

Yes, I know that I have been against adoption for more than a decade, but there are just too many parrots for the few sanctuaries to house and there are many of us who have parrots, who would be willing to have more and care for them with love and respect, as they deserve. Some of us really do know what special beings they are.

SEMINAR

We’re still planning a seminar in May. We will have a two-day course entitled “How to Love and Be Loved by a Parrot.” The first day will consist of instruction on how to raise the level of your parrot’s emotional and intellectual stimulation. Boredom is the number one cause of stress in captive parrots. Find out how to have a real relationship with that special little being in your life. Day two is really fun, teaching your parrots, not tricks, but games! The truth is that birds just wanna have fun! I’ll show you how both of you can have fun!

People who are totally committed to their birds will naturally attend this seminar. If you are one of those special people, you should join us for a fun weekend of immersion into the totally special relationship you have with your birds. Do you have a partner who is not understanding of the relationship? Bring them along! We’ll show you how to grow a new relationship within your own.

We are now having the seminar in the Florida Keys, since we’re having a weekend event. Friday Night will be a welcome party at 7:30 p.m with appetizers and drinks. 10:00 the next morning, we start class. I will have 10 parrots with me to demonstrate all techniques. Sorry, but your parrot won’t be allowed to attend. Lunch will be served at noon, with a break until 2: 00 p.m. and class will resume until 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be included at one of our favorite restaurants.

Continental breakfast will be served Sat. & Sun. morning; class will start again at 10:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m. with a 15-minute break at 11:30. Attendees are welcome to stay up to 5:00 p.m. if they care to ask specific questions to help their particular problem.

This is going to be a great, fun educational weekend. We hope you’ll join us. The next newsletter will have dates and fees. Fees will benefit the World Parrot Mission.

HOLIDAY WISHES

Thanks again for reading this. I made a wish this year for peace. Peace for us, and peace for the little birds who need us so desperately. Your support and kindness are the backbone of our organization. I wish all of you a very happy holiday and a sweet entry into the next year. Enjoy your family; remember your birds are part of your family, too. You’re all they’ve got.

Until next time,
Jenifer Dermer, Founder & Executive Director
"Helping in the fight for parrots worldwide."