TGF News Letter - The Front Perch

[gbird]

FROM THE FOUNDER, APRIL 2009
Happy Spring!

I hope that this issue of The Front Perch finds you and your flock well. There's plenty I have to share with you on a variety of subjects, so sit back, relax, and catch up on all your bird news.

A recent article by Ben Stein in the NY Times is a thoughtful treatise on the current economic challenges we all face. Mr Stein writes, "We are more than our investments. We are more than the year-to-year or day-by-day changes in our net worth. We are what we do for charity. We are how we treat our family and friends. We are how we treat our(birds), dogs and cats. We are what we do for our community and our nation. If you had $100 million or $100,000 a year ago and now you have a lot less, you are still the same person. You are not a balance sheet, at least not one denominated in money."


IMPORTANT: ACTION NEEDED

Please take time to read and respond to this alert regarding the Congressional Hearing to Ban Nonnative Species (HR669) http://www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf to take place on April 23. This could affect you and your birds so it is extremely important to be informed and take action.

Food For Thought...

One of our goals is to provide you food for thought, time for reflection, and plenty of good, solid information on a variety of topics from species and behavior, to the economic times, to wild animals kept in captivity.

In order to provide our readers with diverse perspectives concerning parrots as pets, we are providing resource links for your consideration. These links are not an endorsement nor indicate approval of any of the information or ideas presented by the respective authors.

There is a hotbed of discussion in the companion animal world recently about the suitability, sustainability or ethical nature of keeping of parrots as pets. There will never be one RIGHT answer except that parrots have been kept by humans for thousands of years. As a result, those birds that are under human care as companion animals, in the retail trade, in aviculture, zoos, wildlife, education and the entertainment arena require care for a lifetime - THEIR lifetime.

Some organizations or people do not differentiate as to the type of exotic, wild animal kept in captivity. The AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) recently published this position statement, "Why Wild Animals Don't Make Good Pets", which includes references to the legal and illegal trade in parrots, among other animals, at Wild Animals Dot Not Make Good Pets. I think it's critically important for all of us to remember that the responsibility of providing for parrots as pets falls 100% on our shoulders. Learning how to care properly, species-appropriately and for the lifetime of for a companion parrot takes time, interest and a real commitment. TGF's resident flock is a perfect example of what can go wrong when a caregiver is unprepared or misinformed about a parrot's specialized needs.

More to Consider

Best Friends Animal Society recently published an interesting commentary on the nature of animal captivity in zoos and aquariums. To read "The Captivity Industry" article, click here Best Friends Animal Society - Best Friends Magazine - The Captivity Industry .

Recently posted by a Best Friends parrot caretaker,

"Like you I too personally believe that as long as there are animals and birds in need of homes breeding should be stopped. As far as parrots are concerned I would take it a step further to say that I/we would like to see the day come that parrots are no longer a part of the pet trade.

Basically we want what is best for the parrots. Until someone can convince us that parrots are better off living in captivity we would like to see the parrot pet trade end."

Yet, the numbers speak for themselves, at Best Friends: Adorable Adoptables, there are dozens of parrots looking for homes.

There's another view to consider - "Hatched in the USA" that expresses its concern about recent news articles urging people to reconsider keeping parrots as pets based on some recently proposed legislation in several states.

YouTube - Hatched in the USA III-Don't Support the Humane Society of the United States(H$U$)


What's a Person To Do?

Bottom line - education, education, and then more education. The availability of parrots for adoption is no longer a scarcity. Searching Petfinder brings up many options; visiting your local humane shelter may be a perfect opportunity to find a bird in need of a home.most bird stores have many birds available on consignment, and checking out craigslist or your paper's classifieds are yet other options.

The problem continues to grow. Some years ago, TGF's National Parrot Relinquishment Research Project (NPRRP) initiated a study of available numbers of birds relinquished and rehomed.


Heartfelt Gratitude

Many thanks to our members, donors and supporters for making parrot welfare # 1 with their contributions to our parrots and programs. We simply couldn't do it without you. Please ask your friends to support a worthy cause, and join TGF. Remember, you can make a difference one bird at a time with your tax- deductible gift to The Gabriel Foundation.

All the best from our flock to yours!

Julie Murad, Founder


More Toys Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!

Spring has sprung and the flock at TGF is tearing through wood like buzz saws! Stocking over 300 inside cages with enrichment and foraging materials is a challenge; it gets to be an even bigger task to outfit all of the flight cages and outdoor aviaries. We can't do it alone and invite you to help us make the birds' days as good as can be.

How You Can Help

The following people and businesses have generously offered super discounts when you shop for TGF's birds :


Shop Online at Mother Pluckin' Bird Toys
Mother Pluckin' Bird Toys - Home of the ATOM /
Michelle and Lance Staker, originators of The Atom and Orbit make a variety of fantastic toys and parts for parrots large and small. When you make your purchases for TGF's birds, enter coupon code: 'gabriel', and you will receive 10% off your order when it is shipped to TGF's Aviary and Adoption Center. More good news - when you order for your own bird(s), you'll receive a 10% discount coupon valid for 3 months on any orders placed after the first order.

Highest Priority on TGF's Wish List are Stainless steel skewers or kabobs, all sizes, found on the Bird Toys page.

Once your purchases arrive at TGF's Aviary and Adoption Center, you will receive an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter with an itemization of your donation for tax purposes.


Shop Online at Bird Paradise
Bird Paradise Shopping Cart
Owner Kathie Hahn is helping to stretch your dollars even more and has generously offered FREE SHIPPING on toys purchased to go to TGF!

When selecting a shipping method, please select "THE GABRIEL FOUNDATION ONLY" method of shipping which will automatically give you free shipping.

PS: If you're a member of ****************, don't forget your coupon code!

Once your purchases arrive at TGF's Aviary and Adoption Center, you'll receive an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter with an itemization of your donation for tax purposes.

Shop Online at For Birds' Sake Toys
Welcome to For the Love of Birds - For Birds Sake Toys .html

Thanks to Michelle's support, your dollars will go further with a 15% discount off of your entire order. When purchasing toys for TGF's flock, enter coupon code 'TGF' to receive your discount and free shipping for toys purchased and shipped to TGF's birds. Your purchases will be shipped to TGF Volunteer Gayla Manente with a note designating the donor.

Once your purchases arrive at TGF's Aviary and Adoption Center, you'll receive an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter with an itemization of your donation for tax purposes.

Gift Cards Help Too
We need parts, parts and more parts to continually restock our birds' toys. Send us a gift card in any amount and we'll put it to good use. Send to TGF Aviary and Adoption Center, Attn Toy Drive, 39520 County Road 13, Elizabeth, CO 80107.

Gift cards from Lowe's or Home Depot will be used to purchase:
. White pine boards in 4 sizes
. PVC pipe to drill and string with cut white pine
. Sisal rope
. Chain
. S/S nuts, bolts, washers, wing nuts and eye hooks

With our chop saw and drill press, and handy dandy stream of staff and volunteers, we can quickly convert these materials into destructibles for the entire flock. Shopping this way helps to save money on tax, shipping, handling and packaging.

Once your gift card arrives at TGF's Aviary and Adoption Center, you'll receive an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter with an itemization of your donation for tax purposes.

If you have questions or need additional help, email us at gabriel@thegabrielfoundation.org, subject line Toy Drive and we'll get you to the right person, or call The Birdbrain, 888.923.2140 or 303.446.BIRD and we'll help you over the phone.

Thank you ALL so much for thinking of our birds during these tough economic times. Your support creates a community of care and you are a part of our every success.