Some info about why we should NOT buy from pet stores

[Skyebirdsmom]

Does captive breeding protect birds in the wild?
One of many long-standing myths disseminated by the pet bird industry asserts that the captive-rearing of parrots for the pet trade protects wild parrot populations; this is unconditionally, unequivocally untrue. The successful marketing of captive-reared parrots increases the demand for “parrots-as-pets,” thereby ensuring that the legal and illegal capture, export and sale of wild birds remains profitable. Additionally, most wild parrot populations are gravely threatened by habitat destruction unaffected by the pet trade.

What can individuals do to help captive birds?
We are a nation of consumers who possess a powerful instrument of change. Make educated, ethical choices about where you spend and invest your dollars. Patronize pet supply retailers who do not sell live animals, and purchase supplies (toys, cages, food) from individuals and companies that do not breed birds. Another thing people can do is offer a loving home for a bird in need by adopting from your local shelter or rescue/placement group rather than purchasing a bird; or volunteer or donate to avian welfare organizations. If that’s not possible you can become an educator or activist of avian welfare issues and support legislation to protect birds and other animals. Most importantly, please share the plight of captive birds with your friends, family and co-workers and encourage them to use their dollars wisely.

For more information, visit www.maars.org.

Linda & HRC~

[Skyebirdsmom]

Also this:
This is the perfect reason to ADOPT instead of buying a baby bird from a pet store or breeder...there are simply TOO many birds being bred. Sighhhhhh~
We believe that all parrots are born wild and deserve to live wild. In an ideal world, all captive parrots would be released to their native habitats and fly free with a flock, roost in trees, forage for food and bathe in rainwater. However, for many complex reasons, this is impossible.

The exotic pet trade has succeeded in making captive parrots the third most popular exotic pet in the U.S. While there is no definitive census, the captive parrot population is estimated to be between approximately 12 and 60 million in the U.S. alone. Consider then, that if only one percent of 10 million birds become displaced annually, there are 100,000 “surplus” captive parrots each year.
Linda & HRC~

[Tiki]

People should put a lot of thought into buying any pet and be sure they are ready to make that kind of commitment. I would like to see all birds sold with a certificate for a well bird check up at the nearest qualified avian vet (price built into the total price of the bird) so the new owner would get into the habit of vet checks and would know who to call if the bird got sick.

What I really hate is when birds are offered as raffle prizes at bird shows or expos....any kid with a dollar can buy a ticket.....God only knows what happens to those poor birds. :icon_evil

[Franciscus]

I would disagree with you. If well raised, properly socialized parrots are sold to good people it would help wild populations in several ways. One way is by not having a need for wild-caught birds, because domestically raise ones are readily available. Another is that people who have parrots tend to care more about their wild cousins, donating to organizations to help them, our companion parrots being embassadors in a sense. Unfortunately there are lots of bad pet shops and lost of bad breeders and lots of people who should not have anything living in their care but I don't think lumping all pet shops into the same category is the solution. Education is. Bring your birds to schools, talk to people about your birds (a great way to do that is by bringing your bird on outings, whether in a harness or some type of carrier). I work part time in a wonderful pet store and as I have mentioned before, we screen potential adopters and people have to visit with the new bird at least a few times before taking the new baby home. We also hold seminars on bird care, suggest the local parrot club strongly, and support the local bird rescue.
Yes, in an ideal world parrots would all be flying free, but it's not a black and white issue.

[Franciscus]

Blake,

No, people buying pet parrots does not directly do anything to repopulate the wild. It does however do so indirectly. By keeping parrots, people do tend to be more passionate about their wild cousins and be willing to help them. It also keeps the captive population at a higher level so if there is ever a need, the wild population can be re-established. I know they cannot take a captive raised parrot and just release it in the wild as it will not survive but people have been successful using another method. What they have been doing is breeding the captive parrots in an enclosure set up in a wild habitat, and releasing the babies, who in turn come back to eat, and THEIR offspring is successful in establishing themselves in the wild. As you all probably know, keeping parrots is expensive, especially if you do it right. By having breeders sell babies for the companion parrot market they can afford to keep breeding birds. What we should do is help educate people about their proper care and such so there is less abuse going on. We owe it to our birds and the many that died so we can have our companions and those that are living in less than ideal situations.

[BirdsUnlimited]

Everyone of 'em, they suck, don't buy from, they just want your cash, they don't know what they're talking about, they're all too dirty, blah blah blah. That also means we shouldn't get birds from rescues either, many of those from what I hear are not responsible, dirty, and many don't know any more about exotic birds than some pet stores. Sixty million pet birds in the US? That means one in every four people has a bird? What are the first two exotic pets before birds, I'd be curious?
The Wild Bird Conseravtion Act in the early 90's virtually put an end to the legal importation of parrots. People want a pet bird, people have always wanted to keep captive birds. All the way back to Alexander the Great, people kept birds. We aren't going to change that now! When the imports stopped coming into the US in huge numbers the business of breeding birds for the pet trade blossomed. Now I'm all for adoptng second, third, fourth, hand pet birds, and I rehome about 40-50 birds a year, no charge, (many rescues can't say that). People are still going to want a baby bird. If it's bred properly, raised properly, trained properly and the new owners get good and realistic information (before and after the sale, or adoption) both on their own and from the breeder or pet store, there is only so much that the seller can be held responsible for. I've sold birds to people that I can't stand, does this mean they won't take proper care of a bird, no. I've sold birds to people that one would expect to give the "perfect home" to a bird, but for one reason or another the "perfect home" wasn't perfect. Was the bird neglected or abused, no, but sometimes you expect better.
In my 33 years of dealing with birds I've started and run a bird club only to see future officers run it into the ground, I've lectured at bird clubs, universities, scout troups, help train new zoo docents on avian biology, have been on local telvision and radio... simply to answer peoples questions about their pets. I also own a bird store of which I don't honestly think there is one any better, it's clean, we know our stuff (no BS), have healthy birds (free vet check after the bird is taken home, also), and yhave just about anything one would need to keep a bird happy, healthy, and stimulated in its environment. If you walk out of my store not knowing more about birds than when you walked in, I'd be very surprised.
It's my opinion that the new "superstores" (you know their names) that don't carry many pets offer no or very little good information on pet birds. The ones in my area even sell birds that don't conform with the New York State Bird Law. Yet, they have the power to make it difficult for the smaller, more knowledgable stores to stay in business.
There are good pet stores out there, there are great pet stores out there, those are the ones people should patronize, they don't all suck.

[The Outlaw]

I agree. I hate blanket condemnations of anything. Its important to establish a relationship with whomever provides you your bird. Still, its the BUYERS obligation to educate themselves BEFORE they bring the bird home. The internet is virtually changing the way people PERCEIVE their pet owning experience, and that's the GOOD news. People are getting more informed and therefore more prepared for the problems associated with living with exotics.Still, it will never be perfect. Life gets in the way, and birds wind up needing good homes. Frankly, at this point, its starting to frighten me. I see too many beautiful young birds needing their second and sometimes third homes before they even hit 2 years old. Shame on us. Its my goal to place ONE needy, healthy, mentally stable bird in a good home every year for the rest of my life. I see the advantages and disadvantages of living with birds. Once you make the connection, on that gut level, its a life changing, mind expanding experience. If each of us would try to do the same thing, there wouldn't even be a bird problem. I fear that within my lifetime, we will find ourselves euthanizing birds like we currently do dogs and cats. It could actually happen.

THE OUTLAW

[SavvyMoon]

Nancy, and "BirdsUnlimited".... I couldn't agree with you more!

I also hate to see pet shops (yes, even the large chain ones) ALL painted
with the same negative brush.

It's real easy to say Don't Buy a Pet Store Bird!! when you might live in Florida, California, Georgia or Texas, or any other state where the weather is mild and breeders and/or breeding farms are plentiful.
It's real easy to say Adopt Instead!! when in reality there really may not be "hundreds of birds needing homes" in every state.
Some states don't even have 'real' bird rescues!

And yes, too many of those wonderful 'rescues' we hear about are nothing more than bird hoarders/collectors, who keep ALL the big parrots
(i.e; the expensive or trophy birds) for themselves, and only adopt out the smaller birds they occasionally accept into their 'rescue'.
Or, they get so caught up in playing "Savior Of Birds", that they make adoption criteria nearly impossible to meet, or highly impractical for most folks who would otherwise be very suitable caretakers...and this attitude may ultimately lead to collecting/hoarding, as well.

If one of us walks into a pet shop or chain store and feel the staff there is in need of education regarding the birds they sell... well, then go home, get on the internet and spend an hour or two locating and copying reliable, practical, parrot/bird care information and feeding recommendations, make up a neat little stapled info-pack or two, and go back and hand it to the manager of the store.
You can also offer to fill out an application for part time employment if they need a good "bird person" to work there. :icon_smil

That's how we can ALL help make those pet shops more aware and informed. Screaming for people to stay away, doesn't make it any easier for those birds there already. And as has already been pointed out... there are plenty of know-nada "breeders" out there that are JUST as incompetent at bird care and socializing as the worst pet shop!

[BirdsUnlimited]

Still waiting to see what the number 1 & 2 exotic pets are. Please fill me in.

[birdyland]

Quoted from Skyebirdsmom :
"there are simply TOO many birds being bred. Sighhhhhh~"

"the captive-rearing of parrots for the pet trade protects wild parrot populations; this is unconditionally, unequivocally untrue. The successful marketing of captive-reared parrots increases the demand for “parrots-as-pets,” thereby ensuring that the legal and illegal capture, export and sale of wild birds remains profitable."

So which is it? If there are truely too many captive birds being bred, then the demand in the black market would go down - they are not generally cheap either way. I live in San Diego and have done a lot of research on this for a university term paper. Black Market birds are hard to come by and cost almost as much as their captive-reared counterparts. It sickens me to know how these birds are smuggled, and the public is more aware then ever.... at least in the US, there is an ever dwindling demand for wild-stolen birds. As they are easier to obtain in stores, the black market is nose diving; thank goodness. (YES I DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT STILL EXISTS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE CURRENT METHODS OF SMUGGLING - which you don't want to hear, it's heartbreaking - I am just pointing out that it is not a commonly held belief that the captive bred market fuels the demand in illeagle trades)




Quoted from Skyebirdsmom :
Additionally, most wild parrot populations are gravely threatened by habitat destruction unaffected by the pet trade.
This is becoming the elephant in the room.... this is what is there in front of everyone and is undermentioned. The biggest threat of extinction. Biotourism in recent years is helping both protect the parrots (locals won't steal and sell their livelyhood from the forest) and protect their homes. Biotourism and conservation are what is going to be the greatest help to our wild feathered friends - - Not avioding pet stores.


Also - I want to agree that I dislike blanket statments about pet stores. There are some that do suck. But there is also the greatest example of a good one that I have ever seen. I was visiting a local bird shop and in their playroom when I heard the manager on the phone. He was talking someone that worked a lot and didn't have much space, OUT of a Molluccan Cockatoo.... then after I heard him ask a few more questions... he talked them out of a parrot all together. Finally, in order to satisfy these people intense want for a pet bird, he tried to talk them into a pair of finches and a large cage. After he explained all the care even finches would need, the person on the other end of the phone said that they guess they didn't know what they were getting into and needed to think about it. Go Mr. Manager. Not interested in the buck, and obviously the whole staff at this store is trained not to be, as policy. They are interested in where their birds go, and their welfare, as they fill the public need for birds and bird paraphanalia.