Posted with permission from CreaturesAll.com. Written by Jonathan Martin.
In a first for Canada, and joining some of the more progressive bird clubs of North America, the Calgary Parrot Club (CPC) has shaken its ties to an earlier era, and embraced compassion as its overriding objective. Members of the CPC voted overwhelmingly to place the welfare of captive and wild parrots above the secular interests of parrot breeders and owners – individuals and companies who far too often view these magnificent creatures as mere objects or handy cash machines.
In so doing, the Calgary Parrot Club has closely aligned itself with the World Parrot Refuge in Coombs, on Vancouver Island.
This sanctuary offers a `home-for-life` for over 800 homeless pet parrots. During the past few decades, parrots increasingly have become more popular as pets, in large part due to the significant profits available to a select few opportunistic breeders and importers. With estimates of upwards of 60 million pet birds now living in North American homes, it was only a matter of time before many of these creatures found themselves redundant – whether due to changing lifestyles or a grim realization that parrots, in particular, are wild animals, unable and unwilling to play the part of a domestic cat or dog. The harsh reality of parrot ownership arrives too late – that parrots just do not make good pets.
Like most animal rescues, the World Parrot Refuge began modestly, taking in a parrot or two here or there. But, as word got out, Wendy Huntbatch and Horst Neumann began receiving more and more requests to rehome unwanted parrots. Today, the WPR provides over 27,000 sq ft of free flight, heated indoor aviaries, with another 16,000 sq ft of outdoor flights for the warmer summer months. The WPR provides parrots with a stimulating environment and facilitates their natural sociability for living in flocks. Not quite home, but a far cry from the life of solitude and captivity experienced by so many captive parrots today.
Building on the growing relationship with the WPR, the Calgary Parrot Club began to involve itself in rescuing, rehoming and funding the most hard-luck cases. In conjunction, the CPC virtually adopted Bart, an Orange Winged Amazon, who had his beak severely damaged by another parrot. Because of this injury, Bart is limited in what and how he eats, but continues to receive treatment for his past malnutrition and debilitating wound. Bart is a real character and the $500 yearly donation by the CPC to the World Parrot Refuge ensures he will live out his remaining years happy and free from pain.
Then there is the story of Sergio, a Moluccan Cockatoo, who after being rescued at an auction (at a not-inconsiderable price), travelled to the Refuge sporting a leg band so tight it threatened to constrict blood flow, a crop unable to empty and a bare chest, long since devoid of feathers. Sergio, who it turned out was really Sergiette, broke our hearts – she is a lovely bird, at the time frightened of everyone and everything, but today recovering nicely and showing the spunk and personality that makes cockatoos, to their misfortune, such prized possessions.
Sometimes, placing a parrot’s interests above our own means making the hard decisions. Several Parrot Club members have themselves realized they cannot offer their parrot the psychological and physical enrichment of a flock, and have made the tough decision to rehome their bird to the World Parrot Refuge. It is a heart-rending choice, but shows the real love these individuals have for their fellow earthlings. It is also a reflection of the faith the CPC has in the work of Wendy and Horst at the WPR.
The CPC also supports and works with other local refuges, including Weary Wings Parrot Refuge in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada and Lenny’s Lair Cockatiel Rescue, also in Alberta. Through various fundraising efforts and the generosity of Club members, and with continued involvement in the broader community through events such as Pet Expos, the CPC is promoting responsible parrot ownership, and seeking to educate people about the real commitment parrot guardianship entails. The CPC also supports wild parrot conservation initiatives, believing that ultimately these beautiful, sensitive and intelligent creatures should be allowed to remain wild and fly free.
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Good to hear about CPC. We have too many parrot breeders south of the border that masquerade as parrot rescues and too many bird clubs that are simply mouthpieces for breeders!