My incredible week...long

[bgmacaw]

I would like to share with you, my week at the Oasis Bird Sanctuary. It is located in southern AZ in the middle of nowhere. They have a staff of 7 with 5 there on any given day. Sybil Erden and TJ head operations, the other five folks being Brian and Amy; Joe and Julie; and Nancy. They all live on or very near the compound. This week there were 2 volunteers; me and a very nice young woman from New Jersey (they do exist).
A typical day started with a meeting of those available with Sybil to set the days priorities. Then off to work. Nancy headed to the staging area where she’ll spend the next 4+ hrs washing and filling bowls and gallon water bottles. The others walk the buildings and aviaries to unlock cages (gotta keep the ‘toos in) and check on everyone’s well being. Next they go in a specific order to gather water and food bowls and deliver them to the staging area for washing, disinfecting and filling. When the first groupings of bowls are ready, they load the cart with bowls, water bottles and some treat (nuts, peanuts, crackers, etc). The birds get filtered water from an RO system. After lunch, prep work is done for the next day, along with cutting fruits/veggies, mixing the mash and filling water bottles. They go through about 40 gals of RO water each day. The food mix is made up of; cooked beans, rice, lentils, split peas, barley and pasta. This is then mixed with a dry seed mix. Each bowl gets about a cup of this mix and is topped with the chopped fruits and veggies. Once or twice a week it is sprinkled with calcium. They have gallon bottles of red palm oil, with gets mixed into their seed mixes.
Sybil spends the day in the office on the phone and computer ordering supplies, maintaining contacts and soliciting funding. Between calls she cooks the next day’s mash and cycles towels through the wash. Their washer/dryer runs all day long. She also roams the grounds visiting with the animals, administering meds and playing doctor for those in need. TJ does repair work, power washing, and about anything else that needs to be done.
I spent each day collecting bowls, delivering food and water, cleaning cages, floors and raking grounds. During the feeding or cleaning duties I did a fair amount with someone on my shoulder (CAGs, a male ekkie, ‘toos). I will include some of the pics I took. By the end of the second day, I fell asleep about 630 and slept through the night. I shared my room with a lilac crowned Amazon that was in quarantine. It was found wandering down the sidewalk in town with a very extreme wing clip.
The staff is an incredible group of individuals that work extremely well as a team. They show each bird love and compassion, handle any that will allow it and talk to those that won’t. I was very sad to leave; they made us feel very much part of the team. But I did miss my own flock, yes even Lori. I know we all contribute to lots of charities and programs such as Stop PDD, but if you find a little extra visit the Oasis website or a local sanctuary, they need the help too. As they told me, if birds need it; we need it and if an office needs it; we need it. And they love extra bodies.

[bgmacaw]

1,2,3 are Andi, Mingus and Yosemite from Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. The live in a double stack cage with Andi and Mingus in the bottom and Yosemite in the top, but the leave an area between cages so they can see each other.
4 is Phillipe a 70 yr old Scarlett, I can't remember the naked one's name.
5 is Sydney one of my work buddies, She would stick her head in my jacket and snuggle up close. What a lover.

[bgmacaw]

1 is a shot of Nancy in the staging area prepping food bowls
2 are a couple of M2s from the start of the Oasis about 16 yrs ago, that were knocking on the door to the office while Sybil and I were talking. They continued for about 45 mins after I turned off the lights and went to bed.
3 is a look down the line in 'The Barn' housing birds that are pluckers, have disabilities are can't stay in the flights.
4 is a daytime shot of the two knockers.

[cpryslek]

i just blows me away knowing that there are so many unwanted birds. you here about cats and dogs. it seems that there is just as many birds that equal the cat and dogs abandoned together. a thumbs up to you for volunteering

[Lisa B]

Thanks for the pictures. I;m sure it was an amazing week. I also dontate to the Oasis. I have met reps in Long Island a few times.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by cpryslek

it seems that there is just as many birds that equal the cat and dogs abandoned together.

not quite... but there are many many unwanted and homeless birds out there. It is so sad.

[Monica]

Love the photos!!! Am so glad to see Andi, Mingus, and Yosemite in there!!!! And it's great that you had a fantastic time!!!

[Machelle]

what a wonderful week that must have been. Hard work, yes, but still wonderful!!! I had the pleasure of visiting the Gabriel Foundation's new facilities and its incredible how much work there is but its so rewarding. Thanks for the pictures!