And think about something…you make it sound like nobody wants birds….even free adoptable ones…..but how does this explain the huge demand for birds from petstores and breeders? The demand is there, you just have to get your rescue groups to look around a bit harder. Maybe not be so picky over the new bird owners qualifications.

I have absolutely no doubt that you have seen immaculate bird-breeding facilities. This goes back to an earlier statement I made about how which ever side of the argument one is on, “bad” examples can be cited. You can say you have seen people posing as “rescuers” who are actually acquiring birds for the purpose of selling them for profit (which you have), and I can say that I have seen bird-breeding operations where parrots are kept in tiny, filthy cages without toys, adequate nutrition or adequate social interaction (which I have). Then I can come back and say that I volunteer for a reputable rescue organization where all the birds are very well-cared for and are only adopted out when a thorough evaluation of a prospective home has been done, etc., etc. and you can say that you have done a surprise visit to a large breeder’s facility where everything was ship-shape. This does not further the discussion.

However, you have said some other important things. I am making claims and you are asking me to support them. I communicate with several very reputable people in the rescue field. The rescue I work for turns away as many as 30 – 40 birds a month, a number of which are macaws and cockatoos. We need more foster homes. My contacts at other rescues have recently gotten a three-year-old perfectly healthy Hyacinth and a Blue-Throated Macaw within a couple of months of each other! This is the peak of the iceberg. And yes, we are documenting the fact that even some large birds are being euthanized because there is nowhere for them to go. We see this problem escalating because we are starting to see how many hoarders there are among other things.

I agree that I need to consider what you are telling me, and I appreciate that you are considering what I am telling you. In the interest of the birds, we need to put our heads together to figure out what all the facts are and what can be done to ensure that the millions of parrots in captivity get the best environments and care available through education and that parrots who need homes find them. I believe there needs to be a major shift in social policy to stressing adoption of parrots just like there has been over the last couple of decades for dogs and cats. I understand that this impacts the bottom line for breeders, but perhaps there are ways to offer services to people who have parrots to supplement your income if more birds are adopted rather than purchased. Look at how much the market for parrot toys and play areas has sky-rocketed!

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I just see too many sick and suffering parrots with nowhere to go. It breaks my heart daily. If you were constantly getting calls because someone got a parrot but didn’t know how much noise it would make or that it would sling food it would frustrate you, too, that pet stores and breeders don’t always give people all the facts about what’s involved in caring for a parrot. And this stuff about spending one hour a day with a parrot who otherwise stays alone in a cage all day… uh oh – that’s a whole ‘nother soap box!

I have now seen this comment a few times in this blog discussion….the euthanizing of large numbers of parrots because they have been overbred? Where is this happening? And is it parrots, or much smaller and prolific birds like finches?

When you say “parrots” it implies much larger and intelligent birds are being overbred. This is amazing because they are usually pretty difficult to even breed, let over overbreed!

And how about the mass euthanasia of other birds, such as Quakers? Where is API’s field troopers while this is going on?

Of course I would be against putting down birds simply because there were too many bred….once again this is the sign of a breeder who just doens’t know their business. It simply makes no sense! Why would you put down a bird that is selling in pet stores for $300-$800 (or more) when you could just sell it or give them away to good homes?

Out of curiosity, have you ever visited a “bird farm” that breeds mass amounts of birds like Cockatiels? How about a wholesaler? One that supplies the large department stores and pet stores? Have you witnessed this abuse for yourself?

I personally visited them. I even went to one of the largest bird wholesalers in Michigan (Wolverton), that supplied most of the large department stores and many pet stores in the midwest. They had several hundred cockatiels, lovebirds, and finches.

Very large cages, very clean. We saw no sick or unhealthy birds. Our visit was unannounced as we just happened to be in the area and asked to visit it…so they didn’t hide anything.

Now, weigh my own observations….what I saw with my own eyes……against what these groups are saying. All I have asked is you look behind the scenes and see where the truth is.

And don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

I don’t think it’s fair to suggest that the API and the AWC are even near the ballpark of a freak show like Jonestown. That to me, is extremist, but perhaps it is your intention to use hyperbole to make your point.

As far as decrying extinction and breeding in almost the same breath, on the surface that does seem contradictory, but to use your own words, Jerry, we again must dig deeper (which is very frequently the case!). Clearly we can all agree that it is a tragedy that parrot species have become, and are continuing to become, extinct. The objection to breeding is not what you have inferred, though, I don’t think. I have a problem with breeding too many parrots in captivity, too, if there are tens of thousands who can’t get into homes or get proper care and now are even being euthanized! To me, it is not enough to just have numbers of parrots – we need to be concerned about the quality of their lives.

“In response to your question, I am interested in how you define “guardianship” and what that entails.”

If you are referring to the term in relation to owning animals….Guardianship is defined by the API and AWC as “One who is legally responsible for the care and management of the animal (sic)” I define it as ownership when it relates to birds or other animals, as you are the one that guards, watches over, or protects them. Captive animals are just that! They are totally dependent on you for their care. It is no different then having a baby. If you fail to care for it, then the government jumps in and takes it away from you.

The issue becomes muddy when you ordain rights to animals equal to those given to humans. By doing so you open a huge can of worms that I am sure you will not be happy with.

“Jerry, I would appreciate if you would attempt to UNDERSTAND my view rather than to tell me what I think. In order to facilitate this, I will again repeat that SOME bird breeders and SOME pet stores are exploiting and abusing captive birds. In no point in this dialogue have I spoken in absolutes as you insinuate, nor have I condemned ALL bird breeders and ALL pet stores.”

Yes, Emily…..but unfortunately that is only your view. Unfortunately I have been on a number of sites where the activists imply that this is the norm for pet stores and bird breeders….they are ALL abusive. Again, look at their web site. They are NOT trying to shut down SOME pet stores…they want them ALL shut down. The laws they advocate do not effect SOME of the breeders, they effect ALL of them. The laws passed in California did not effect only the bad pet stores. It was so brood it hit pet stores and hobbiest breeders alike! So pardon me if I get offended by the API and AWC about as much as you seem to be offended by my blog comments.

“IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!”

“Again, I ask you to please stop passing judgement on me as if you know me and can therefore label me. I take great offense to your calling me ignorant- such insults have no place in adult conversations and will only hinder communication and understanding.”

Once upon a time there was a man named Jim Jones, who ran the “Peoples Temple” in Jonestown, British Guyana. I don’t know how old you are, and don’t know if you know what I’m talking about. Google it.

But this man had a “huge” following of people who believed everything he said and worshiped the ground he walked on. The fact that he was a nut job meant nothing to them. His followers did whatever he demanded. His followers shut out everyone else, and refused to listen to family members and friends trying to point out he was not who he really claimed.

The lesson here is that you never believe a group on their face. You look at their claims, investigate yourself, and learn the real truth. It didn’t take me very long to see what the API and AWC were about. I raise the red flag on these people and their supporters come out to blindly defend them, rather than investigate for themselves.

You are free to believe what you want about these groups. But when their activities begin to effect me personally I must take a stand.

My only advice to you: Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

In response to your question, I am interested in how you define “guardianship” and what that entails.”

“Guardianship” is a term used in leiu of “ownership” with the understanding that we do not “own” another living creature. Captive exotic birds are living creatures that we humans have taken from the wild, bred in captivity, and forced into living conditions that are a mere hint of the natural environments they were originally taken from. Since birds bred in captivity and raised to be “companion” animals are ill-equipped to survive in the wild, they must live their lives in the captivity humans have forced upon them. Therefore, someone must take care of them. But it is not necessary to “own” them or to use this term as it implies complete control over the object. “Guardianship” of a captive exotic bird involves caring for him/her from the perspective that it is a living creature, not an object or property.

“Just read your answer again! It wreaks of government control! We need that?”

The above statement is so preposterous that I am completely without a response.

“In your view, bird breeders and pet stores are exploiting captive birds, by breeding them and selling them for a profit. And you conveniently point out the EXACT spot there the AWC’s mission is to put a stop to it! But you go on to deny they are doing it?”

Jerry, I would appreciate if you would attempt to UNDERSTAND my view rather than to tell me what I think. In order to facilitate this, I will again repeat that SOME bird breeders and SOME pet stores are exploiting and abusing captive birds. In no point in this dialogue have I spoken in absolutes as you insinuate, nor have I condemned ALL bird breeders and ALL pet stores. It would be judgemental of me to make such statements about a wide group of individuals and organizations, many of whom and which have drastically differing philosophies and practices. The AWC does not condemn ALL bird breeders and ALL pet stores, either. They specifically state their focus to be on birds who are suffering. As I have stated before, if your birds are not suffering, you should feel in no way threatened by the work of organizations such as the AWC and API.

“Like I’ve stated….we need to teach and educate people on how to raise and care for their birds.”

I agree with you 100% here, Jerry! I believe that everyone engaged in this dialogue agrees and that the heart of this discussion for most is to educate people on issues surrounding captive exotic birds and their care in captivity.

“But groups like these have determined that people like you are far too ignorant to do it by yourself, so they must step in and declare themselves “guardians” over your birds! Your words not mine!”

Again, I ask you to please stop passing judgement on me as if you know me and can therefore label me. I take great offense to your calling me ignorant- such insults have no place in adult conversations and will only hinder communication and understanding.

“I would love to tell you about a lot of “animal rescue” people. Like Marsha…These are the sorts of people that you want to take guardianship of my birds? You won’t mind if I oppose this do you? ”

Of course these are not the sorts of people that I want to take guardianship of your birds! However, I think we all agree that the individuals you mentioned are in no way legitimate rescue organizations and you failed to mention the many legitimate rescue organizations who have taken in an overwhelming number of unwanted birds and provided them with much needed medical care, shelter, rehabilitation, and loving homes. In the event of a person’s inability to care for their birds and lack of a responsible guardian to designate this duty to, the legitimate avian rescue organizations ARE the sorts of people I would want to take guardianship of the birds. Were these legitimate rescue organizations not around, the birds would fall into the hands of individuals like those you mentioned or would be euthanized.

“Define “activist”? If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck…..yeah, I think AWC and API fit that.”

Unfortunately this in no way describes to me how you define activist and does nothing more than give me the impression that you make assumptions based on first impressions and face value.

~Emily

The annual Christmas Bird Count actually begins on December 14th, and runs up to January 5. It’s more of a “bird month” then a “bird day”. You certainly will offend the API and AWC by implying this, as they have taken full credit and sponsorship for this event for the past 5 years.

And what have they accomplished over these years? I see that last year, Madison Wisconsin issued a proclamation making January 5th “Bird Day” in Madison…..but I also note that nothing ever came out of it, other then the mayor getting some much needed photo-ops. Same for several other cities.

In the meantime they “parrot” the same old phrases and myths passed to them by the API in their “proclamations”. One minute they say the parrots and songbirds are near extinction, then on the next line they bash bird breeders for breeding more of them. Go figure…..

And while you may be satisfied that most of the money donated to these groups goes directly into the pockets of a few individuals, and never goes toward the purpose intended…..many others certainly do have a problem with that! But if that’s the way you lean, that’s ok with me. I quit giving to the Red Cross and United Way many years ago, when it was revealed where their money actually ended up.

I’ve done some research into the origin of both Bird Day (May 4th) and National Bird Day (January 5th).

Both have been around for quite some time and neither was started by the API, AWC or “activists” wanting to keep people from having parrots as pets. It is believed the the May 4th holiday is linked to the “second best time to go birding during the spring migration” and appears to have to do with bird-watching.

National Bird Day is believed to have its origins in the “Christmas Bird Count” now in its 105th year. Annual Christmas Bird Counts are an important conservation tool for tracking the population status of North American Birds. National Bird Day was commonly recorded in older calendars and more recently has appeared in calendars produced by humane societies and other animal advocacy organizations. You can read more about Christmas Bird Counts at http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html.

My purpose in celebrating National Bird Day on January 5th is to contemplate how I can best honor my love for parrots and birds by increasing awareness of their needs in captivity and the wild.

Regarding the statements made about where the money is going at The Animal Protection Institute, you stated that “only $45,000 actually made it to groups fighting animal abuse”. I didn’t know that API gave any money to other groups fighting for animals’ welfare because that’s what they do themselves, and there is nothing alarming to me that people are getting paid to do so. I think this is an honorable way to make a living.