Adoptable Birds November 2009

[FoxersArtist]

Hey there everyone.
I know it's been a while since my last thread and I have been missing you all a lot lately. There have been so many birds in need this year and it really makes my head spin to know that I am sure there are many more out there that haven't found someone to help them. In the midst of all the busy comings and goings we celebrate the betterment of the neglected ones while in our care, the new homes we have found for each of our "kids," the improvement of those who have not been well, and the friends we have made along the way. The number of families we have been helping is steadily rising and thankfully so have the numbers of volunteer staff willing to set aside time to help us.

We have a lot of exciting things coming our way for 2010, including a building project which I will tell you about in a different thread, as soon as I get a free moment to do so! In short, we're going to be building a really nice professional facility for the birds with play rooms, a quarantine area, an office, etc that will be open to the public by appointment and we are REALLY excited!!! It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of fundraising, but it'll be awesome once it's all done. In the meantime I have to pull myself back down to ground level in order to focus on the precious and special lives that continue to come to us in need of help. Despite a rocky economy, we have been fortunate to find some really nice families where our birds will never have to worry about abuse, neglect, or any other mistreatment again.

Here are the birds we currently have available for adoption in November:

Blue and Gold Macaw, Sydney:
Syd has been with us for over a year and still has the devil in her. She has really bonded with me and so far I am the only one who can take her out without losing a finger. She still pulls my hair and tries to tear chunks out of my clothes through the bars. She still throws pellets at me and still roars at me when she feels the need to be scary. She still leaves each guest who comes to visit her with a gaping wound if they dare get close enough. She has made some progress there - she will step up onto anyone and not bite as long as they don't reach for her or walk away with her. We did some target training with sydney and continue to do a lot of reward based activities which really seems to calm her down when she is out. Unfortunately she is so very stuck on the idea of harming people for purposes of her own amusement and no matter what we find to replace those destructive behaviors with, she always goes back to them as her "drug of choice." I have not in my lifetime seen another macaw who is as friendly as her and yet refuses to be coaxed into more rewarding, positive behaviors. Still, this bird is very special and underneath the big show, she really wants someone to love her. What amazes me is that she really adores people too, and has just learned a dysfunctional way to show her love. I know Syd will find someone who sees eye to eye with her and is willing to accept her, just the way she is. Until then, she will be here, keeping me on my toes and keeping my hair very, very thin.


Blue and Gold Macaw, Jessie:
Jessie, who came with Sydney, is also still here. I am really pleased to say that for a while now, someone has been interested in her and continues to visit. They understand that Jessie is shy and that it takes time for her to warm up. I think Jessie is a really promising match and know that anyone who really gets to know her will find a sweet heart underneath her shy exterior. Jessie has gotten better with people and is not as intolerant as she once was. She used to run from everyone and just shake in the corner. Now she dances when we sing to her, even in front of company and when she doesn't like someone, she doesn't have to cower anymore. Instead she runs over to her toys and pops off a huge chunk of wood as if to say "See, this is what I'll do to you if you touch me!" I'm very proud of my shy girl who has started to show that she can be a big tough macaw too. Our biggest challenge with Jessie has been finding a very "private" family arrangement for her as she is a very exclusive bird. The lady who is interested in her has another bird in the home, but it adores her husband and she feels a bit left out. If Jessie goes home with them, she will adore the wife and make nasty faces at husband behind his back. Wherever this special girl goes, I know it will be the right home and the right time for her!



Blue & Gold Macaw, Deacon:
Deek is still here but not for long. I just wanted to share with you that this soft hearted macaw has picked a wonderful gal to go home with and they are very excited to be adopting their new family member next week. They already have a DYHA who is their child and both birds get along very well together. Also, Deacons new mom is really into trick training and her amazon has learned lots of silly tricks. Deacon is a natural preformer and will be in birdy heaven with his new mom. Deacon lets some of his feathers grow in but then he tears them out again when something excites him. Unfortunately I believe the problem is hormonal or has become a habitual behavior and I doubt he will ever let them grow all the way in again. I am very pleased that his new mom thinks he is beautiful just the way he is and doesn't care either way.


Blue and Gold Macaw, Nora:
In order to keep her safe, I cannot share Nora's story on a public forum. She is an unusually sweet bird who was surrendered and needs to find a home with someone interested in therapy work because of who sweet she is! The first time I stepped her up she let me give her a hug and a kiss and I know this sweety will be easy to place. Nora may already have a home with someone who helped rescue her, so we will wait and see. Hopefully a nice girl like herself won't have to be in limbo too long.



Blue & Gold Macaw, Axel:
Axel is brand new and though his owner has not yet surrendered him, it is very likely that Axel will become available for adoption soon. Axel's owner is the type of person that would probably starve to death just to feed her animals and her animals seem to be her life. Still, it can be very difficult to care for our families when we cannot care for ourselves and Axel's mom is about to find herself homeless. I think it is fair to say that everyone has different opinions about how to care for pets. Axel's mom has the opinion that animals will be animals and that means it's ok to have dogs, cats, pigs, and birds running loose in the house at all times, destroying the house, eliminating wherever they happen to be, and that living in these types of conditions are very natural. Unfortunately her health has likely suffered and so has Axel's. The bird was set to go into foster care as we already have a house full of macaws, but one look at Axel told me that he needs fairly prompt medical attention. The air was very dusty and we had a hard time breathing. We abandoned the cage after learning that Axel's feces were hatching maggots. He stools are very runny, his nostrils are swollen, one of his eyes is clouded, and his nails are nearly growing into the pads of his feet. Axel will have a full medical workup tomorrow morning. We are really hoping the best for this very agressive, very frightened, and sick fellow. I'm very happy he found someone who can help him. Sadly, we are not able to help the other animals including several morbidly obese rotty mixes and several pigs that were by far in much worse condition than Axel.


Military Macaw, Kiko:
Kiko has a long histoy of abuse and it really shows. He has been in and out of foster care with our program and has not made a great deal of improvement, but I know that he really likes people and will eventually realize that many of us are kind and not harmful or hateful. Kiko has a big attitude in the cage but is very sweet once he is out.


Yellow Collared Mini Macaw, Ziggy:
Ziggy is still here as well as some of the larger macaws and I am actually really pleased that he has stayed so long because being around a number of new people daily has really helped the little fellow to become more social with everyone. He now will allow men, women, and children to step him up and though he is still very picky about who he likes, he tolerates almost everyone. Ziggy still loves to dance and will put on a show for visitors. He has picked a few favorite people who he deeply loves, but the right one has not yet come along to adopt him. He is a darling little fellow and I know his time is coming. I sure will miss that little stinker when he finds the right home.


Continued...

[FoxersArtist]

Moluccan Cockatoo, Chloe:
Chloe is a bird that we were working with some months ago and then her owner surrendered her to the rescue. We had really hoped that he might be able to keep Chloe but things just did not work out. Chloe has almost been adopted several times but "things just didn't work out" seems to be the story of her life. Chloe is very afraid of most people but is trusting of some men and will let them into her complex world. She can be very moody and needs someone with a lot of love and patience. She is a super warm hearted creature and wishes no ill will on anyone. She just wants to feel safe. Chloe is currently in foster care and we are really hoping that the family can work wonders with her until she is able to be adopted for good.


Umbrella Cockatoo Shugy:
Shugy is likely one of the sweetest umbrella's I have ever worked with and EVERYONE else agrees. Shugy will step up to anyone and loves to be petted, though recently he has resorted to making a big scene whenever a new face appears in the aviary - just so they are clear that he is really a TOUGH guy. Shugy has had more interest than any other bird we have here, though because he is a baby DNAed male cockatoo, we know that the cute little baby boy he is right now may not last him through his mature years. We really want to find a special family who understands that this IS a cockatoo and will likely turn into the moster her was designed to be when he grows up. I am excited to discover his new family because I know they will be wonderful people, deserving of an extra wonderful bird. I am very proud of Shug because when he first arrived, he was extremely shy and fearful. Now instead of running to hide when strangers arrive, he is becoming boisterous, outgoing, and just a little pushy - the way a cockatoo should be!


Umbrella Cockatoo, Eve:
Eve is a doll. There is no other way to describe this adorable, muttery, bird who is perpetually stuck in baby bird mode. Eve is gentle with almost everyone, even if she does not really care for them. She is a hard core snuggler but will also self entertain for hours. Eve came from a family where she was greatly loved and is greatly missed but one of the family members was abusive toward her and her other birdy siblings so they were sent away to spare them future harm. Eve loves men and though there have been several families interested in her, she is really hoping to go home with a nice older man who is retired and can spend a lot of his time caring for her.


Umbrella Cockatoo, TJ:
TJ has made very little progress with rehab. I know that if I continue to push him, eventually he'll break and become a "tame" bird who will sit like a lump on my arm. My heart hurts because I know that this is not what would make TJ happy. TJ seems to pine for the other cockatoos. He has a wild heart and wild spirit that refuses to be broken. He was just not made to be a pet. Unfortunately, TJ does not belong to our rescue and we are not able to make any decisions regarding his future. Because he was an expensive purchase, TJ's owner is hesitant to release him into our care. She wants a friendly cockatoo and her family does not want to spend the money to replace TJ. I guess a miserable unatmed cockatoo is better than no cockatoo? If we can talk TJ's owner into releasing him, TJ will go to a stable sanctuary who can provide for his need to be a wild bird. I know that would make him the happiest bird on earth, and that would be priceless.


Lesser Sulfer Crested Cockatoo, Foxy:
Foxy is another one of those extra ordinary cockatoos and it makes me a little sad that people pass her up because she is shy and takes some time to warm up. Foxy loves to sing and dance and will talk our ears right off if we aren't paying enough attention to her. She loves to give kisses and she loves to have her head rubbed. No bird can quite rival her cuteness and she knows it! Foxy is great at self entertaining and also very happy to be the ceter of attention. Once she learns to trust a new person, she is loyal, loving, and nothing more than a joy to have around. I really want Foxy's new owners to know just how extra special she is because they will be very lucky new parronts!


Goffin's Cockatoo, Chicky:
Chicky is a live wire. She is full of life, full of attitude, and tests her limits every step of the way. Chicky needs to go to a family who is really looking forward to the entertainment value of having a parrot as this gal will preform all day long! Chicky starts out every relationship she has with her mind made up - "people are rotten and I won't let them anywhere near me!" Something amazing always happen though, when someone will gently persue this fiesty gal. She falls in love! Chicky can be super loving and affectionate. She can be stubborn and loving all in the same sentence. She is a very special bird and really deserves someone who thinks the world of her. She will need to go to a person who has a great deal of knowledge about birds, though she can be pretty jealous and should not go home to a household that already has a cockatoo.


Blue Front Amazon, Sadie:
Sadie is doing very well and enjoying life with a normal beak. When Sadie arrived, she had a beak that looked like a swordfish and was so deformed and overgrown we were amazed that she was able to eat. Sadie is also slow to warm up but extremely loving and gentle when she does. She has really taken to me and I am really hoping that we can talk her into loving someone else just as much. Sadie's feathers are looking great and the weakness that she first had in her feet and legs has gotten much better.


Lilac Crowned Amazon, Touche:
Touche is my grumpy old man. His age of 38yrs is really showing and the poor care he received for many years has really taken a toll on this fellow. Touche had horrible and chronic sinus problems when we first got him and we are happy to announce that those are minimal issues now that he has a good diet. I am pleased that for the most part, he just needed some vitamin A to do the trick. He has gotten much stronger and now walks all over his cage. This is a drastic improvement because when he first arrived, he was too weak to perch properly. Touche's chances for adoption are much less because he is an older bird but I know there is someone out there who has a heart for older birds. Despite his age, Touche still knows how to be an amazon and doesn't like anyone in his space. Once he is out of his cage though, he as an absolute doll and loves to have his head rubbed.


Continued...

[FoxersArtist]

Congo African Greys, Raphael & Sabby AKA "The Saints":
We have not been able to adopt out these poor greys who have suffered sinus trouble since they were only a few weeks old. After a year of neglect, the birds developed a chronic problem that has been very stubborn. Raphael had surgery to try to correct the problem, but the positive effects only lasted a little while before the infection came back, stronger than ever. Sabby has started to show some improvement and though one side of her sinus is frequently plugged, she does not produce gobs of mcus like poor Raph. We are still working hard to try to help these guys feel better. They receive nebulizer treatments at least once per day and I have started doing sinus flushes again. Sabby has really come out of the box with a vibrant personality and it is hard to believe that she was once so aggressive and fearful. Raph is still my shy guy but he is a pleaser and will step up and spend time with me if he thinks it will make me happy. Both birds are doing exceptionally well, psychologically, despite all we have had to put them through. I continue to pray that they will not have to live with these horrible infections forever and that there will soon be a light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, we are really hoping to find someone willing to commit to these guys so that once they are better, they will not have to be in limbo any longer than they have to be.

Sabby:


Raphael:


Congo African Grey, Lucy:
Lucy is a sweet bird, and one that we have worked with in the past. She is a joy to have around and loves it when people talk sweet to her. She is very easy going and will make someone very happy. She likes to whistle and does a super job of whistling the Adams Family. Lucy was in an abusive situation and though her ego is a little damaged, I think she will forgive humans for what has been done to her when she finds the right one.


Jardine Parrot, Koko:
Koko is an interesting creature. She is very affectionate but also very easily startled and suspicious of people on her bad days. Some days she wants nothing more than to be lavished with love and attention. What is always certain about Koko is that she is a very soft spirited bird. Koko was surrendered because her owner is taking care of a terminally ill family member and just does not have the energy to give Koko what she needs. Koko has been an interesting experience for us as she is our first Jardine. I am amazed at how similar her voice and sounds are to the african grey, though I guess it makes sense as they are an african species. Koko delights in talking and likes to make the telephone ring at least 50 times a day. Otherwise, this beauty is pleasantly quiet and would do great as an apartment bird.


Nanday Conure, "Nandy/Mandy":
Mandy came as a party of 2 but her boyfriend was plucking her feathers out so we wanted to see how the birds would react if we split them up. To our surprise, both conures were delighted to be away from each other and for the first time they can individually be the center of attention! Both are people loving sweeties and boyfriend Kiwi was such a charmer that he "barfed" his way right into his foster parent's heart. Mandy is extremely sweet, a little meek, and not very picky about who loves her, as long as someone does. She has been growing feathers back and I am excited to see what she looks like when her foster care provider brings her back for a visit. As with all nanday conures, Mandy has a set of lungs and knows how to use them.


Mexican Green Conure, JB:
JB has never really been too interested in people. I would like to give him our best try at rehab but if he just doesn't seem like he will ever be happy with a person, I would really like him to go to a good breeding program where he can be paired with another mexican green. These birds have become very uncommon in the pet trade.


Alexandrine Parakeet, Geraldine:
Geraldine is about as stubborn as she is adorable, one of my favorite qualities about the species. At some point in her life, geraldine learned that being cage possessive is just the way to be. I say, let her have it! It's hers! We have been letting Gerladine come out on her own and then when she does, the battle is on! "Step up?" Strike! "Step up?" Strike! Eventually Gerladine gets tired of putting on a show and admits that she's really a sweet heart. She steps up nice and loves to go sit with my in my rocker. I pet her head and tell her all about life. Geraldine needs a really low key owner, but someone who is not afraid of her and not afraid to be as stubborn as she is so that she does not have to be cage bound for the rest of her days. I have never met an Alex that I didn't like. Geraldine is one of the most endearing of them all.


Indian Ringneck, JellyBean:
Jelly Belly Bean is a tattle tale. That's the best way to describe him. He is the self appointed lookout of the flock and he takes his job very seriously. If anything is wrong or out of place, Jelly will let everyone within earshot know it! Jelly is a gentle guy. I think it is in his nature to be suspicious of everything but he tries really hard to like people even though they make him a little jumpy. He is gentle despite his anxiety and has never resorted to biting. He loves to go for shoulder rides and loves people with lots of hair to preen. I am really hoping that Jellybean will get to know kids a little more and decide that he likes them. It would be a shame for a bird his size and temperament not to be a family companion.


Indian Ringneck, Cricket:
The last time I saw Cricket he was a frightened wreck. The 1 1/2 year old bird has just started his life and I felt so sorry for him because of how timid and flighty he is. He already has a rough past and has not been able to find love in his life because he is so afraid of people. I sent Cricket home with one of my really ambitious foster care providers and the reports are coming back really good. Cricket is now stepping up and will ride around on their shoulders. I am super excited to see the progress that this little guy has made, and even more excited that his future looks so promising.


Continued...

[FoxersArtist]

Red Rumped Parakeet, Oliver:
Never in my life have I seen a more beautiful creature. Red rumped parakeets officially top my chart for the most beautiful parrot on earth. However --- this beautiful little critter has more motivation than an ego driven macaw and packs more punch than an angry mamma bird sitting on a newly hatched clutch of chickies. Oliver does not cooperate with the concept of "step up" BUT I can always count on the little fellow to launch himself at my hand and I can take him out of the cage firmly attached to one of my fingers. He manages a really good bite for such a little fellow, but the biting is totally worth him not being an "aviary" bird his whole life. Oliver is pretty phobic out "outside" time and wants nothing more than to be returned to his cage, but we are slowly working on him and I have found the magic button! Olicer love to be petted. He adores having his head rubbed. Getting past the anxiety so that the little fellow will sit still has been a challenge but once we are able to get through to him, he is a real sweety pie. I am really hoping that consitant work will transform oliver into a real lovebug. He may always be a little cage protective, but that's ok. His new owners are in for a real treat as this little guy is truely eye candy with a really sweet personality underneath his defensive behavior.


Fischers Lovebird, Melvin:
Melvin is another wild child. He has a very sweet personality, thank goodness, but he has a long way to go before he will trust a person. Melvin is in foster care where we are really hoping that a lot of interaction will help him to realize that people aren't so bad. This 1 year old is gorgeous and hasn't really been alive long enough for his body to be destroyed by a bad diet. If nothing else, melvin will leave our rescue with the promise of good health.


Lovebirds, Kiwi & Wazzy Boy:
These two gorgeous kids are pretty tame for being a pair. They are both a little picky about who they like but they have been very polite with some people. We would really like the two to stay together since they are also such good buddies.


Cockatiel, Nicky:
Nicky had the misfortune of finding himself face to face with a congo african grey some months ago and the bigger bird nearly took his entire upper beak off. Nicky's old owner is really good with birds and took him to the vet right away. Unfortunately Nicky would not eat on his own and his owner brought him to us to see if we could help. We nursed the little bird back to health and in the meantime, Nicky's owner found herself in a situation where she could no longer care for all of her birds. She surrendered Nicky knowing that he would find a really promising home and that is our goal! Nicky will need ongoing beak trims to keep his beak from getting deformed, but otherwise the little guy is just as healthy as before the accident. Nicky is full of life and has a huge personality. He doesn't want anyone touching his "stuff" but he likes pretty women and loves to be out for shoulder rides. Nicky is a real ham and will make a lively little companion for some lucky, but patient person.


If you made it to the bottom if this, you are a saint! Thanks for looking at all our special guys! Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers and wish good things for their futures!
-Anna

[jimpierce7]

wow, quite a list of beautiful birds!!!

[FoxersArtist]

Sorry for all the typos...that's what I get for waiting too long to eat dinner, not enough functioning brain cells to type something that long.
-Anna

[Ashling]

I enjoyed reading through all that, especially about the macaws. I hope everyone finds great homes and each one has a happy and fulfilling life!

[r2rusmc]

Anna you really are a special person.

[kali]

Anna, somehow you need to get Foxy, Touche and those two greys down to me.. Darn the silly laws on importation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:(

[conure4]

All your bird are beautiful. I really wish I lived closer as I would love to adopt a bird ot two, but SE TX is a long drive to your place.
Mitzi