In memory of Birdy, the Cherry-Headed Conure.

Please note, sadly, little Birdy passed away within months of these pictures being taken. He was well loved and will be missed by us all, especially by Special K.

This well-loved little conure arrived wearing the most well known fashion in parrot wear - total body pluck.

This little guy was caught in the wild and has been in this country for 16 years to our knowledge, but is probably over 20 years old.

His sunflower seed diet and total lack of natural light as well as loneliness, contributed greatly to his insistence to rip out his feathers as fast as they grew. Since arriving at the Refuge, he has become inseparable from a Mitred conure called Special K, who is blind. They both eat very well and have progressed to a well-rounded diet insofar as humans can provide in a country that does not grow the natural foods they are meant to eat.

Nine days ago we noticed that Birdy was sleeping more than normal. Her feces looked normal and she was eating as usual - but we felt there was something wrong. We put the two birds into the treatment room to observe his movements. Upon close examination we determined that his lower abdomen was slightly distended and tender. By the following morning, the swelling was noticeable, although Birdy continued to eat as normal. After lengthy discussions with the vet, we administered antibiotics and transported Birdy to the avian veterinary hospital. The vet suspected a cancerous mass, so a biopsy was performed on Birdy and sent to the lab. Birdy has Lymphosarcoma.

Birdy, and his best friend, Special K.

We do not believe in letting nature take its course if we can improve quality of life with modern medicine, so Birdy was started on a course of chemotherapy, with the first dose on Wednesday. Birdy was kept in an oxygen unit and tube-fed to save his energy. On Friday, Birdy received the second dose, and we kept our fingers crossed and the intensive care continued. On Saturday, Birdy was acting normal and was feeding himself and standing with his head in a normal position. He was taken off oxygen at this point. On Sunday, January 8 2006, Birdy had his final treatment of chemotherapy, and so far, so good. We hope to have Birdy back with us in our intensive care unit on Wednesday, January 11 2006. Special K is missing him so much and is very sad, even though we keep telling her that he is coming back - she is very lonely without him.

Whenever we take on the responsibility of a parrot at the World Parrot Refuge, we consider this a life commitment. If we can help a bird to stay alive with a good quality of life, we will always do whatever it takes. Most of these procedures are extremely expensive, especially for a charity. We need your help for Birdy and others like him.

Please click on the thumbnails below to learn how you can help some special birds have a home for life through our "Virtual Adoption" program! More stories coming soon!

Birds who are now partly sponsored, thank you!

Birds who are now fully sponsored, thank you!

"This is, in a word, a great place and these miraculous creatures deserve no less, but few places can deliver it this well. It is, indeed, 'world class'."

– Stewart Metz (author and Director of the Indonesian Parrot Project), after his visit at the Grand Opening of the Refuge on August 13, 2005.

"The World Parrot Refuge is a true sanctuary where parrots live out their lives in a loving, spacious and happy environment under the guidance of extraordinarily caring people. The many visitors destined to pass through the refuge will come to understand that parrots are not toys or trophies, but beings with needs and emotions as real as our own."

– Rosemary Low (author of more than 30 books on parrots)