Please note, CJ passed away on July 24, 2007. He enjoyed a full and happy life with his Refuge "flock" and will be missed by us all, especially by his companion, Scarletta.

Taken from the wild at least 30 years ago, CJ endured a life akin to those captured as slaves, in order to reproduce others of their own species - purely and simply for the financial gain of their owners.

After several years, someone finally noticed that CJ had a problem passing feces. with the extreme straining often presenting blood in the faeces. CJ was diagnosed with papillomas, a growth found in the intestines and often in the throat of the afflicted bird. Although this is believed to be a contagious disease, it appears that it is only transmitted by oral or vent contact. There have been many reports of pairs living together for decades where only one partner suffers from this problem. Likely the partner has an immunity to this virus.

CJ's last owner conceived the "idea" that food grade hydrogen peroxide, provided as the liquid of choice, would kill the virus and make CJ well again. Not surprisingly, it did not work. CJ became very thin and weak. Being kept outside in the cold winter, with only plastic sheeting to protect him from bitter, below-freezing temperatures did not help either.

The owner opted to give CJ to the refuge as he said he "liked him too much to kill him" – his words, not ours. He even provided a container of hydrogen peroxide for us to continue with his "medication". Needless to say, we did not use it.

We provide lots of love, freedom and good quality food for CJ. He has had many visits to the avian vet and is progressing well using the proper medications supplied.

CJ occupies his own large compound in the special needs unit. He sees and hears companion birds around him all day to ensure that he has real bird interaction and never feels isolated.

CJ has been with us for more than 4 years now and he is in a much healthier and happier condition than when he arrived. To date there is no cure for papillomas, although ongoing research in this field is positive.

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.

Joey, the Greater Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo.

Please note, beautiful Joey passed away on May 11, 2007. She was loved by all and shall be missed.

When she was caught in the wild, approximately 40 years ago, Joey became a caged household bird. In those days, it was perfectly normal to keep a bird in a cage that you spoke to now and then, and treated like a piece of furniture that moved from home to home with you. In Joey's case, moving house included moving from country to country.

Joey was never allowed out of the cage, because her owner was afraid she would fly away and die. Joey didn't have toys - no one in their right mind gave toys to birds in those days - after all, she was just a bird. Joey's diet consisted of sunflower seeds, but the loving lady shared her daily toast and tea with Joey, so she would be happy.

Thirty years passed and Joey had a stroke. She lost the use of her legs, but was able to pull herself around the cage using her beak. Her wing muscles had atrophied long ago, so she could not use them to move herself. Needless to say, she had no body feathers.

Her elderly caregiver suddenly realized after the stroke that Joey could no longer fly away. She opened the cage and started to take Joey out on long walks in a baby carriage. Joey enjoyed the attention and the desperately needed natural light.

The years passed until finally her caregiver was too ill herself to look after Joey. The family thought it would be kinder to euthanize Joey since no-one had the time to dedicate to her, or allergies would be a big problem. The veterinarian telephoned us and asked if we would be prepared to provide the care that Joey needed. After a discussion with the family, it was decided that Joey would be transported here.

On her arrival, we checked Joey for abilities and possible problems. Poor Joey had apparently spent her time hanging from the bars of her cage to hold herself upright. The local vet had made sure that her beak was trimmed regularly as it was growing abnormally due to the manner in which she used it to hold her body weight. Her feet were totally crippled and the heels were badly infected from standing for periods of time in her own very acidic feces. Joey has a gastro-intestinal bacterial infection for which she is now receiving antibiotics. She also received vitamin shots, because her previous diet had not provided much.

In only 5 days, the difference in Joey is startling. A regular volunteer, who was a registered nurse before retiring, has dedicated several hours each day to massaging and exercising Joey's legs in warm water. Joey can now move both legs. The use of her right leg was apparent in only 2 days, but today she moved her left leg totally unaided, both in and out of water. She does not live in a cage but in a three foot square aquarium resting on a big stand. The bottom of the aquarium is covered in thick blankets and sheets and we built a perimeter of rolled towels to support her body. She can see everywhere. She has teddy bears as supports for the sides of her body so that she does not roll over, although she can now hold her right side up very well with the power of her right leg. She has discovered the joy of walnuts, and yesterday she ate cheese and grapes after much tempting. Joey is chatting away in English and her own special language, which I am sure you will be able to decipher as time goes by.

Needless to say, Joey's vet bills are already large and we know that this will continue as she is a very "special needs" bird. She is one of many already here and, goodness knows, of how many more to come.

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!

Birds who are now partly sponsored, thank you!

Birds who are now fully sponsored, thank you!

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!

Birds who are now partly sponsored, thank you!

Birds who are now fully sponsored, thank you!

"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)

"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.