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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) 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 http://www.aza.org/newsroom/wild-animals-make-bad-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 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.
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 http://adoptions.bestfriends.org, 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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNOSeVamf20
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. To read the this informative paper, click here.
And Now For a Little Fun
Captivating Cockatoos and One Marvelous Macaw
And why we love them. – check out this hip Goffin’s cockatoo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bt9xBuGWgw
After the serious nature of some articles in this edition of TFP, take a break and a couple of minutes to check out this whimsical parrot-dy, http://www.happybirds.com/beak.mov
Please note, this is not a real commercial. This short video perfectly illustrates that when there’s a trusting and mutually cooperative relationship between parrots and people, creativity is the limit.
Heartfelt Gratitude
Special thanks to Jerry LaBonde, MS, DVM and Kristin Alhgrim, DVM for their constant care, advice and dedication to bird health.
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.
Coming Next Month
I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Belgium and The Netherlands where I presented at EAAV and parrot organizations. I arrived back in Colorado just in time to attend a fabulous fundraiser given by Colorado Home Realty & Mortgage -at the swanky new Ritz Carlton Hotel in Denver- and benefitting TGF! Stay tuned for a full write-up on all these events and much, much more!
All the best from our flock to yours!
Julie
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White Bird before...
...and after...
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Meet White Bird - April's Bird of the Month !
White Bird, a Citron Cockatoo, was a hand-raised baby, purchased from a large breeder in CA. He came to TGF in January 2009 along with 7 other parrots from his flock, 2 Indian Ringnecks, a Senegal, a Blue fronted Amazon, and a B&G macaw, Scarlet macaw and Greenwing macaw. These birds had lived with their owner in Idaho for several years, nearly all acquired as youngsters. He dearly loved his birds, and was heartsick that he could no longer provide the care and attention that they needed. He had aggressive lung cancer, and his situation was critical. He had little help to care for the birds, and called upon TGF to save them. TGF enlisted the help of dedicated local volunteer, Kim Valentine, and called upon humane resources in Idaho to help break down and load cages and the birds. Kim’s job as a professional driver was a priceless resource as she made the 1600 mile round trip in the dark winter month of January.
The birds’ owner had been an extremely heavy smoker in the house and around the birds. He was very concerned about White Bird who had an untreated chest wound that was not healing. Due to his own health issues, he was unable to get the White Bird to the vet, he had been unable to even handle the birds for several months. This was a stressful situation all around, but with help from a few concerned animal lovers, the birds were transferred without incident. In a tearful goodbye, the owner was brought from the hospital to see his birds one last time before they were entrusted to our care. Kim, accompanied by her granddaughter, made the return trip in record time.
Once back at the Aviary and Adoption Center, it was time to place all birds into quarantine and to assess each bird’s health. Lab testing and physical exams were scheduled and completed for all. We determined that it was best for White Bird to settle into his new environment before undergoing needed surgery. The wound was cleaned and treated topically, and within 2 weeks, he underwent wound repair. Since that time, he’s been kept collared in a specially modified cage to keep him from falling and further injuring himself. He’s adapted remarkably well, and the wound site has dramatically improved. New feathers are sprouting all over his chest and body, and the second-hand smoke smell and yellow color are disappearing daily from White Bird and the rest of his flock.
White Bird is available for sponsorship or adoption. Every one of the birds in this flock deserves a special caregiver.
Please, help us continue to provide for White Bird, Hola, Holay, Jack, Mickey, George, Lulu LaBamba and Dapper Dan who deserve a much improved life.
If you’d like to see pictures of White Bird’s flock mates, click here.
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Join Us for a Fabulous Evening to Benefit TGF!
Attention oenophiles and psittaphiles --- please join our host, Dr. Kristin Wells, and the parrots and people of The Gabriel Foundation at D'Vine Wine, 1660 Champa Street, in downtown Denver, on Saturday, April 25 at 6pm, for a Wine Tasting & Silent Auction to Benefit the Parrots of The Gabriel Foundation. We will sample a variety of wines paired with cheeses and appetizers. It will be a fabulous evening for a fantastic cause!
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling Karen at 303.629.5900 ext. 214. We hope to see you all there!
If you have items you would like to donate to the Silent Auction, please call Karen at the number above. Thank you!
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TAX DAY SPECIAL!!! 15% Off Your Entire Order In-Store and Online at www.thebirdbrain.com!
We want to ease your pain! On April 15, shop at our Denver location, or online at www.thebirdbrain.com, just enter the promotion code 'taxes' at check out.
Shop at the Birdbrain, Help the Parrots of TGF
The Birdbrain is now 100% owned by The Gabriel Foundation! Remember that when you need supplies or products for your birds, all proceeds support the parrots and programs of TGF. Shop with compassion, make a difference one bird at a time – and show your support for The Gabriel Foundation.
Online shopping at The Birdbrain www.thebirdbrain.com is about to drastically improve! We know that our E-commerce program has been the cause of great frustration to our online shoppers. Thanks to a restricted donation, The Birdbrain is developing a totally new website for your shopping pleasure and convenience. Meanwhile, Karen, Rick, Christal and Ellen are at The Birdbrain Monday through Saturday to assist you with your birds’ needs. Just call us at 888.923.2140 or 303.446.BIRD or email at birdbrain@thebirdbrain.com. Store hours are Mon-Fri 10:30AM-6:00PM and Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM. The Birdbrain is located at 1025 Acoma Street in Denver.
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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 and ship your order to TGF’s Aviary and Adoption Center, 39520 County Road 13, Elizabeth, CO 80107:
Shop at The Birdbrain – the Retail "Wing" of TGF
The Birdbrain and its secure ecommerce site, www.thebirdbrain.com are owned 100% by The Gabriel Foundation, with all proceeds supporting our programs. New GIFT CARDS are available for purchase in any amount. Shop our selection of toys and save on shipping because your purchases will be lovingly delivered to the bird or flock of your choice. Or call us toll-free at 888.923.2140 and we’ll take your order over the phone. At checkout, indicate coupon code Toy Drive to receive a 10% discount on all purchases for TGF’s birds. You will receive an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter with an itemization of your purchases for tax purposes. To express our thanks for your purchases, you’ll receive a 15% discount coupon valid for 90 days towards your next purchase.
Shop Online at Mother Pluckin’ Bird Toys http://www.motherpluckinbirdtoys.com/
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
http://www.mybirdstore.com/
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 aviannation.com, 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
http://www.forbirdssaketoys.com/index.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.
While on their site, consider a membership!
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.
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| Memorandum of Understanding
Breaking News
TGF’s Aviary and Adoption Center is now included in Colorado State University's James L. Voss School of Veterinary Medicine avian and exotics program rotation, where veterinary students are under the tutelage of Matthew Johnston, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian. TGF wishes to thank Abaxis for its generous support of our programs and bird wellness. To read about this exciting relationship, click here.
One of our top priorities at the Aviary and Adoption Center is
getting all of our birds caught up on physical exams, laboratory testing and microchipping.
TGF is proud to announce that it has entered into a "Memorandum of Understanding" with the James L Voss School of Veterinary
Medicine at Colorado State University (CSU). Under the direction of Matthew Johnston, DVM, Dipl.AVBP-Avian,
senior veterinary students and residents on their avian and exotics rotations come to the Aviary and
Adoption Center twice monthly to perform exams along with any other medical the flock may need.
A typical day with the vets and students from CSU involves setting up two to three exam stations with all the
equipment and supplies needed to do physical exams and weights, blood draws, microchipping and grooming. We also must have each bird, along with their file, ready to go when it's their turn. On a good day we have been able to complete more than 30 exams
AND run all of the blood work! With over 400 birds at The Gabriel Foundation, this will be an ongoing
process, as new birds begin quarantine and other birds have their adoption exit exams scheduled.
At The Gabriel Foundation we know that it is vital that the birds in our care get yearly exams and bi-annual blood work
and that they are weighed and groomed on a regular basis. This is also an important factor for bird owners to consider for their bird's long term wellness. If your
bird has never been to a veterinarian with a special interest in avian medicine for a complete physical exam, laboratory blood work-ups and viral testing,
please consider making an appointment this spring. Just like all
other animals and humans, birds need to have yearly exams. As prey animals they tend to hide their illnesses, and because birds are so physically
different from mammals and reptiles, not to mention that there are more than 352 different parrot species, it is important for your vet to have a
baseline assay of your bird's health in case your bird ever does become sick. Often by the time most people realize that there is something wrong with their bird, it may be too late. Regularly recording your
bird's weight, along with a comprehensive veterinary exam and lab testing history
can give you a heads-up that something sub-clinical may be affecting your bird and if treated early your bird could
avoid a negative outcome.
It is our choice to bring these wonderful feathered beings into our homes and into our lives. As responsible bird owners,
we owe it to the birds to give them the best possible care we can and to insure that their medical,
environmental, emotional and nutritional needs are met.
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Adoption Update
We’ve been very busy finding new forever homes for several birds! Joey, a Blue Fronted Amazon is going home tomorrow with Sam and Leeza. Breckenridge, a Cockatiel went home today with Bianca. Oz, an Umbrella Cockatoo has a new family with mom Siobhan and her son Owen. Huey, a Rosy Bourkes Parakeet now lives with the Smiths, a family of 6. Henny Penny joined Puck (both Senegals) at Gayle’s house. We have birds being sponsored to adopt and have seen an increase in the number of adoption applications and interest. It’s all very exciting! During 2008 we successfully placed about 80 birds in new homes!
We have recently revamped the adoption application and process for those interested in the smaller species such as cockatiels, lovebirds and parakeets. We hope this will encourage more interest in these smaller parrots who have every bit of the potential their larger counterparts do but in a smaller (and sometimes more manageable!) package! Please check out the adoption page of our website for details.
The adoption process, on the surface, does appear cumbersome. This is not meant to frustrate potential adopters but rather to help equip every adopter with all the tools for success BEFORE they bring a new bird home. Our goal is to avoid the “revolving door” of birds coming back to us. I have been in this position since 2007, and I consistently hear from adopters how grateful they were to have the education and support that our adoption process gives.
The next “live” Mini Beyond the Bird Basics class will be Saturday, May 9, 8:30-4 pm at Aviano Coffee Shop in Denver. This class is open to anyone interested in getting the latest information on bird care – not just for adopters! The full Beyond the Bird Basics class is available online and goes into behavior more extensively than the “mini” version. Our new online format allows the student to start anytime instead of having to wait until the 15th of the month. It is more self directed and, depending on how much time one has to devote to it, can be completed in 2-4 weeks in most cases.
If you are considering adding a feathered friend to your home or to register for one of our classes, please contact Patti Christie at 303-629-5900 x 213. |
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Happy Tails - Adoption Success Stories!
I got this wonderful, stately macaw named Tango. He's great
entertainment, loves his blanket, really sweet, and very funny. He loves
every one in the family, especially my mom. But he rides the bikes with
us, goes outside with us, even goes to the park , rolls over all the
time, and is very ticklesh. I wouldn't give this bird up for anything, nor would the family. I want to thank the Gabriel Foundation for helping us
find this amazing bird. -Melanie, 14 years old Click here to read more Happy Tails. |
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Mash 101 by Shauna Roberts
Originally the idea of breeder John Stoodley, bird mash recipes have been around for several years now. He fed his flock a mash diet for years and though the birds appeared to be gorgeous and healthy, according to some avian veterinarians, they may have had some underlying health issues such as osteoporosis. Alicia McWatters, who has a degree in human nutrition, made some improvements on Stoodley’s recipe, and animal trainer Mike Burton continued the evolution. Using Alicia's diet along with my own research, I developed my own mash recipe. I became interested in mash back in 1997 when it was discovered that one of my Cockatoos wasn't tolerating pellets. If he hadn't been sensitive, my flock would still be eating a primarily pellet based diet.
There is still some concern as to whether a mash diet provides parrots with adequate nutrition. The most obvious concern is the way parrots often pick through food, filling up on favorites first and tossing out the highly nutritious kale, collards or whatever doesn't meet their fancy. This can be easily remedied by either finely mincing all produce or placing fresh produce into a food processor, chopping and then mixing into the grain/legume base. A mash shouldn’t be a bowl full of foot sized pieces of food - that will surely result in malnutrition....so chop, chop, chop! Fun chunks of food can be offered once a day like dessert.
It is important that parrots receive the essential trace mineral iodine in their diet. Produce isn't a good source of iodine, nor are grains and legumes. Kelp is a good source of iodine and comes in both capsules (which can be easily broken apart) and powder forms, and can be mixed into mash. Be leery of other seaweeds. They may supply iodine, but many are very high in iron.
Recently we have all been hearing about the importance of vitamin D. People get some of their D from plants that contain D2, but parrots cannot efficiently convert D2 into essential D3, so that leaves limited sources for them. D3 is essential for calcium absorption and some species, like the African Grey, appear to have higher requirements, while others like Macaws can be very sensitive to too much D3. Natural sunlight is the easiest way for birds to get D3 – thirty minutes a day whenever possible. The fresh air is good for them too! Sunlight converts secretions from parrots preen glands into D3 which they ingest while preening. The needed UV rays for this conversion cannot be penetrated through windows, so outside really is best. D3 is a fat soluble vitamin which is stored in the liver for approximately 20 days. Some pellets, like Harrisons contain D3 and recently some organic yogurts have added D3 to their ingredients. D3 is also found in eggs but the amount of eggs recommended in a parrot’s diet will not provide the recommended amount. Finally, though you must be very careful feeding fish oil to your bird, Alicia McWatters recommends 1 tablespoon cod liver oil mixed with 1 pound of seed mix. It can be stored in your refrigerator for up to one week.
A mash diet to birds is like a healthy, well-balanced diet for humans. If you offer a variety of healthy foods, the rest will usually take care of itself. The body (whether human or psittacine) is an amazing organism that uses what nutrients it needs and disposes of those it doesn't - it does a lot of the work for us!
For lively discussion, good ideas and help for feeding your bird, be sure to visit Shauna’s Yahoo group, http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feedingfeathers/
Visit our Mash 101 page.
Coming Soon to www.thegabrielfoundation.org!
We are honored to present a collection of new and older articles by Shauna Roberts, TGF’s Volunteer Liaison Extraordinaire. Visit our site often as we will to regularly add to Shauna’s library, found on our Education & Training pages.
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Birdkeeping Naturally with E.B. Cravens
Parrot behaviorist and friend of The Gabriel Foundation, EB Cravens offers valuable information for all parrot owners in his newsletter, Birdkeeping Naturally.
He has allowed TGF to publish his articles. Go to www.thegabrielfoundation.org/training.html to learn more about EB and read Birdkeeping Naturally. And, keep checking back for more articles from EB. |
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Shop Online - Help the Birds!
We want to remind you that you can help the birds of TGF just by shopping online with your favorite retailers! This is such a great way to support a worthy cause without spending any money and only a few seconds of your time.
The Gabriel Foundation has partnered with several online shopping sites - iGive.com, iBakeSale.com and amazon.com - who will each donate a percentage of their profits to us - and all you have to do is shop! There are hundreds of retailers to choose from - The Gap, Best Buy, Home Depot, Nordstrom, Zappos.com - just to name a few! Click here for details. |
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Lory Rescue and Magpie Release
On February 15, 2007, TGF was called into Denver Municipal Animal Shelter to take on 21 birds resulting from an animal cruelty seizure. Many of you followed the story of the lories from that flock. Some of the birds in this flock have found new homes that are dedicated to their care. Other lories have passed over the Rainbow Bridge, no longer suffering from the history of abysmal care and circumstances that surrounded them for so many years; they are free at last. The owner of these birds had her day in court and TGF was there to speak up to the judge on the birds’ behalf last Spring. We made history for these birds. Their owner was fined, agreed to never have birds again, and she was sentenced to one year in jail should she fail to fulfill the terms of her agreement with the court. TGF will never recoup the all costs involved to provide the medical and long term care for this flock, while your donations helped these birds receive the appropriate care they so desperately needed. The owner was court-ordered to repay TGF monthly until the agreed upon fine has been completed. With her payments of $100/month – she will be affected by the consequences of her actions for several years. By then, most likely the remaining lories will have lost their lives due to their history with the former caregiver.
This woman was also charged with several counts of illegally keeping native Colorado wildlife. In her basement, she had confined 2 magpies and a scrub jay. All had been denied any flight or outdoor time for years The hand-tamed jay gave a valiant fight for life once he came into our care, but years of malnutrition and confinement took its toll and he passed away 5 months ago as a result of severe liver disease. One of the magpies appears to be relatively normal though incredibly scruffy, while the other magpie had suffered some physical illness or traumatic injury, had a scissor beak, and would never be able to be released due to his inability to successfully transition back to nature. In Colorado it is illegal for any non-licensed animal rehabilitator to house native wildlife; TGF is not a licensed rehabber, but combined with the medical history of the birds and TGF’s status as a licensed shelter and educational not for profit, we were able to fight on behalf of these wild birds to find them a solution where they could live in a semi-wild capacity for the remainder of their lives. On September 19, and in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and with the permits necessary from USFW, the magpies went to their new home in Ft. Collins, CO about 100 miles northwest of our Aviary & Adoption Center. Karen VanderHyde and Julie Murad from TGF drove these birds to their new life. Watching these animated and colorful characters move into and begin to explore these surroundings was a memorable event. Not just ‘wild’ birds to us anymore, these two became a bridge for all of us, visitors included, on what bird life is valued due to the nature of the species! These two touched our hearts with their ability to survive a life in captivity, much like the wild caught lories that accompanied them during the seizure. The magpies may not have true freedom, but they have never experienced that in their lives. Their new home with DOW is the best we could hope for and we celebrate their new surroundings. You can enjoy their new life too by viewing the pictures of the magpie release. |
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The "Other" Wildlife at The Aviary and Adoption Center
Brilliant nature photographer Matt Edmonds attended our Second Annual Behavior and Learning Workshop and took some beautiful photographs of some of the "other" wildlife living at our Aviary and Adoption Center. Have you ever seen an ambush bug? Have a look...
Check out Matt's website. |
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Volunteer of the Month - Gaye Thomasson!
We first met Gaye Thomasson almost three years ago through her plea for help with an Umbrella cockatoo, Sophia, who was wreaking havoc in her household with relentless screaming. Gaye had lived with her Amazon for over two decades, rehomed a neighbor’s Blue & Gold macaw about 10 years ago, and took on a small flock of lovebirds that had been kept in a school classroom. Known as the ‘bird lady’, Gaye earnestly responded to a call for help from an acquaintance who could no longer keep the cockatoo for “family” reasons. Caring for her own flock was a serious commitment for Gaye, and after careful consideration, she agreed to take in the Umbrella after the caller assured Gaye that the cockatoo was a delight. This was certainly not the case, and the reasons that the bird was relinquished soon became obvious. The Thomasson household became frazzled with the cockatoo’s excessive vocalizations making everyone miserable. It was agreed that TGF would work with Sophia in long term foster care with Sophia’s return the ultimate goal.
Gaye and her husband Robert became dedicated volunteers, appreciative of everyone’s efforts to improve the cockatoo’s quality of life. Several months passed, then several more…as the bird blossomed at our aviary while it became apparent that the bird’s many previous owners had given little thought to this bird’s long term welfare as the bird had been passed from home to home each time with the same outcome – loss of its home.. Consistent care, indoor and outdoor exercise and activity made a big difference in Sophia’s life. DNA’d a male, and finally given the opportunity to become a part of a small flock, Sophie selected his own best buddy, Joey, another male Umbrella and these two have been best buds ever since. Unable to bring home two cockatoos, Gaye made the difficult decision to entrust Sophia’s long term care to TGF.
Continue reading about Gaye...
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Coming Up at The Gabriel Foundation!
April 18 & 19, 2009 – Beyond the Bird Basics in Winnipeg, Canada
Saturday, April 25, 2009 - Wine Tasting & Silent Auction Fundraiser for TGF
Sunday, April 26, 2009 - Volunteer Work Day at the Aviary & Adoption Center
May 9, 2009 – Mini Beyond the Bird Basics at Aviano Coffee, 955 Lincoln Street, Denver.
June 6 & 7, 2009 – Beyond the Bird Basics in Overland Park, KS
July 18 & 19, 2009 – Animal Education Foundation Symposium in Washington D.C.
Visit our Events Calendar for more wonderful opportunities to connect with your TGF friends and flock, as well as information about current and upcoming events including: AAV, Milwaukee, WI (August) and TGF’s Behavior and Learning Workshop for the Veterinary Professional (Oct)
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Just $10/month can help support The Gabriel Foundation enough to help several birds survive and begin a new life. Help Now!
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