Center for Avian Rehabilitation & Education

2007 was another busy year for CARE. We had 352 birds surrendered to us. These are birds that had a loving home at one point but for one reason or another, lost that home. More often than not, the reason birds are surrendered to us boils down to the fact that birds are wild animals and are unable to meet their humans' unrealistic expectations.
Breakdown of birds surrendered during 2007:

6 African Greys
11 Amazons
56 Budgies
3 Canaries
70 Cockatiels
15 Cockatoos
19 Conures
25 Doves
62 Finches
1 Lory
43 Lovebirds
14 Macaws
11 Parakeets
3 Parrotlets
4 Pionus
4 Poicephalus
5 Quail

We hope that everyone reading will take the time to appreciate their birds for who they are -- wild animals that are trying their best to adapt to life in our living rooms. Give them a few extra head scratches, sing a silly song together, and appreciate the quirkiness they bring to our lives.

If you have the time, space, and desire to add another bird to your flock, consider a rescue bird. Not all second-hand (or more!) birds come with insurmountable issues. Some of the best human-parrot bonds we've ever seen have come from parrots who didn't meet their human until the parrot was well into the second decade of his life.
If you're having issues with a bird that's currently in your life, please consider trying to work with him or her. Sometimes a few environmental changes and an understanding owner can make a huge difference and can help your bird to become a loving companion.