You Don't Want One

Photographs of wild cockatoos by Leila Jeffreys from her series Bioela.

No. Don’t say it. Don’t say, “I want one.”

Let’s think about it.

You want them to be happy, right? Of course you do. You’re a nice person.

For them to be at their happiest, you’ll need to leave them in their native habitat and protect said habitat through your support of conservation efforts.

Buying one from a breeder isn’t any better.

• They live up to 80 years.
• Are not domesticated, they are wild animals - Loud, messy, and can take a chunk out of your flesh at any time
• Develop psychological issues causing them to pluck and self mutilate in captivity
• It’s cruel to take them from their loving parents
• They’ll be happier flying in the skies than locked up in a cage. 

Like you may have learned by watching Blackfish, if you really love animals, it’s best to let wild animals be wild.

Thank you for reading!

Love,
The Bird Police
Protectors of all of the Birds

P.S. If you still want a parrot, please support adoption only.

Keep Wild Animals Wild

I love birds beyond anything else in this world and want their best interests met. I know there’s some great bird owners… I know even more cruel ones.

I’ve been rescuing birds for over 5 years, and it’s one nightmare story after the next. Just the other day we had ANOTHER set of budgies left in the Florida sun with no water, NEXT TO THE TRASH… We had a pair of lovies like that, and a pair of budgies 2 years ago….
No bird should ever suffer like that.

Birds are given to anyone… They’re given to people with good intentions, then life changes, then the bird is dumped. They’re starved to death because Little Billy was put in charge of feedings and simply stopped (this story was told to me by 2 different people and they didn’t bat an eye). Birds are released (illegal and likely will result in death), locked in closets because noise, screamed at. One was hit (an ekkie), thrown against the wall because it bit a guys girlfriend, resulting in a broken beak…

No animal deserves this. Humans, as a whole, do not take care of pets… many can’t even take care of themselves. Honestly? I feel birds shouldn’t even BE pets. They are in fact, wild animals.

My wish is that we, as responsible, loving, bird lovers do the best we can with the birds already in our care, and we stop breeding them for our selfish wants. Breeding for conservation is fine, that’s a just purpose, but for our homes? For profit? No.

Imagine having the ability to FLY and are confined to a life inside a cage? Many parrots become emotionally unstable, depressed, and even pluck and self mutilate. Cockatoos suffer this the most, and they live to be 80 years old!

Another reason birds belong in the wild… Birds live with decent owner for 30 years. That owner dies, that bird stops eating, and dies. That bird viewed that owner as a mate, because that’s what birds do.

Long story short, and I’m open to hear the thoughts of others as long as you don’t flame me, adopt only, support conservation efforts of birds in their native habitats, support sanctuaries, visit sanctuaries, enrich the birds already in our care to the best of our ability, and don’t turn to breeders.

Breeders take babies from their loving parents, having raised a family of birds, I could never do that to any animal. That’s too devastating… 

I hope that clears some things up. I love birds so much, I would dream of a future where they are not in our homes, but where they belong, in the skies.

Instead of spending 2000$ on food, vetting, cage, an actual cockatoo, I could take that money and go to Australia and see them enjoy freedom.

"I bought a baby bird from a breeder."

I was told this was an abandoned breeder bird. 

"It shouldn't matter where pet birds come from, it matters where they're going."

How about no?

When it comes to puppy mills, wouldn't you say it should matter where the animal comes from?

Why is it any different for a bird? 

Do you believe in, "Adopt don't shop?"

By purchasing a bird (or any animal), you're creating demand.

Young birds sell because they're extra cute and needy of parents, which to deprive them of their family is cruel within itself.

Elly was needy, clingy, and cute. I was sold. Then she hit puberty. If my dad is home, she will attack me, and want to be with him.

It's a terrible cycle that is perpetuated when anyone buys an animal.

You are creating a demand, and breeders fill that demand in cruel ways.

I got Elly from Petco, she was my first parrot, I was unaware of the Bird Mill she came from and I vowed to never support that industry ever again. I also vowed to spread awareness as to prevent the demand for bred wild animals, aka parrots. (They are not domesticated, their parents or grandparents were plucked from the wilds).

Have you seen birds bond with their babies? I have. I will tell you straight up, they should never be taken away from them. To do so is inhumane.

You know how birds bond.

If you wouldn't take a human baby from their mother, you shouldn't encourage people to take a bird baby from their mother. Anyone who has lived with a bird knows how like humans they are.

I was going to let this go, and I know no one is perfect, but yes, it DOES matter where they come from.

Learn More:
http://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/marketing.htm

Bobo the Cockatiel

In happier news, Teddy's family loves him so much, they decided to welcome another rescued cockatiel, Bobo!

Jade the Quaker Parrot

Over the weekend, Heaven has a new angel. We were hoping there was more we could do. Severe skeletal deformaties and an old fracture that left her leg bent back in an awkward position. Jade received cuddles and preens for some time before she was gently put to rest in my hands. I was able to give her scritches as we told her goodbye. I wanted to rehab her and find her a good home but it would have been unfair to her.

Rainforest Clinic added flowers to her coffin and she was buried at my home. Thank you for Bird Lovers Club, Sawgrass Nature Center, and Lori (the finder of Jade/Lucky) for trying their best to do right by this little friend.

Guardian of Fukushima Mr. Matstumura

Naoto Matsumura has dedicated his life to the animals of Fukushima. He lives alone in his town deserted after the 2011 earthquake sent residents fleeing a nuclear power plant meltdown. He is only able to feed and care for the animals who were abandoned and left behind with money donated by supporters. He is still going strong 4 years later but needs donations and support to continue his wonderful mission. Plumfund will donate all profits back to Mr. Matsumura's work. Thank you for supporting this animal hero!

Plumfund has been directly in touch with Mr. Matsumura and has sent the first wire to his Toho Bank account on April 27th, 2015. Mr. Matsumura confirmed he received the funds. The next wire will go out once more funds have been raised.

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