by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know January is Adopt a Rescued Bird Month? Rescued birds are just like any other “rescued” pet meaning these birds are homeless and waiting to be adopted whether they are small parakeets or large parrots. And like any other pet, pet birds deserve to have their needs met to live a happy, healthy life. Those needs include the proper size cage which all too often are not the ones sold in pet stores. True bird fanciers will spend however much it takes to give their pet bird the right environment for its size and breed. For instance, parakeets do not require cage height but rather cage length so they can fly back and forth. I remember my grandfather having a budgie that would fly around the house and land on his eyeglasses while he was sitting reading the newspaper. In a multiple pet home this isn’t always possible. And sadly, there are, too frequently, reports of lost birds. Wing clipping is a way to adjust a bird’s flying ability by trimming certain feathers. This “flight modification” is considered a way to keep birds safe yet respect their natural behavior. These clipped birds can still somewhat fly but cannot achieve upward flight which may help prevent escape. There are pros and cons about this option better debated by bird people.
So, a budgie is a species of parakeets which are sub-species of parrots. In the U.S. we consider a budgie and parakeet the same bird, however, despite their similarities they are different in the appearance of their beaks and girth. Budgies are the yellow based or blue based parakeets sold in pet stores and can live 7 to 15 years with proper diet and care. They end up homeless like other pets when the owner can no longer care for, passes away or doesn’t want “it” anymore. Last year 4 little budgies were found abandoned on the Appalachian Trail! Domestic birds, like cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc. will not survive on their own for very long. Abandoning any animal is a death sentence.
Large parrots, like African Greys, Amazons and Cockatoos have long lifespans of 40 to 60 years! Very few people can make that commitment. Most large birds prefer one person to attach themselves to, so when that person is no longer around, this makes for one very unhappy big bird. Bird sanctuaries are tasked with not only caring for these large birds physically, but psychologically as well. Large parrot owners, like with any pet, should make arrangements for the future of the pet in their will and prospective large bird owners should think long and hard about the commitment involved before purchasing or rescuing a parrot.
All birds are meant to be free but until the import of exotic birds is stopped and pet stores cease to sell them, shelters and rescues will continue to be inundated with these beautiful, feathered creatures. “God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. ~ Jacques Deval
Pets of the week:
Romeo and Juliet are opposite sex young Budgies whose owner decided he could no longer care for them after choosing to buy them from the pet store. They are a bonded, non-mating pair who chirp and sing the day away. They enjoy flying back and forth in a suitable sized horizontal cage and are seeking a bird loving, knowledgeable family for their lifetime!
