A flock of budgies (5 m. 11 f. rec. 1/10/19) is like a swarm of buzzing flies to the big birds. For their own safety, we had to isolate them from the other parrots. They now occupy the back half of the hen house and have their own 8x12x24 aviary. Whenever the weather is nice, they all go out to play.

Budgies will also nest in the slightest groove, so their access to things like cholla is limited. They tried nesting in their food dishes, and their food fights with conures led to a fire infestation. Now they have outside feeders, so they have nowhere left to lay their eggs and all their food waste is outside.

We provide fake cockatiel or chicken eggs for all the parrot hens where there are places that can be used for nesting. We tried the week-long light cycle trick with the budgies. They don't lay as much, but they still lay. Reproduction is forbidden here. Parrot eggs are very rare and immediately disposed of.

Conures are adorable. They are hyper, very social, and non-stop chatter. Billie (golden-capped m. rec. 9/3/18, owner death--Scott) is a sweet, mild mannered darling. He won't chase you down, but he is eager for a head scratch.

Gizmo is a blue-crowned conure (m. rec. 12/13/19 at ~7 years old) and an anxiety plucker. Anxiety comes with lots of energy and intelligence. He is quite the clever little fellow. He loves electronics toys, especially his driving activity center. He also loves hanging with the cockatiels.

If you know a cockatoo, you know they are very attention demanding. Their demand for 80 years of reliable individual attention is why we have a foster program to hook them up with veterans. Peaches (f. rec 8/29/17, b. 2013, adolescent rebellion--Ginger) is lucky. This was her fourth home by the age of four. Assuming she doesn't fall in love with a potential foster, she goes no further.

Peaches is a squeazable and playful kid--just don't get her too worked up or leave her hanging. She thinks the cockatiels are her babies, doesn't like African greys, and is otherwise tolerant of the other birds.

Nests like this pot bellied stove are allowed for those who aren't potentially mating. Each area has a variety of food dishes including a foraging dish as seen here. On the edge is (seeing) Imax a couple days before he succumbed to old age.

Peaches and Pauliebird love anyone who will give them attention. Kids are the most fun. Both, as with most our birds, are flighted.

Pebbles (f. mutilator rec 12/6/17, b. 1985--Debbie S.) has scoliosis and has broken most of the bones in her body. She doesn't perch well, and doesn't like little birds buzzing her. She is closely supervised for her and everyone else's good.

She likely started mutilating when her original owner's health began to fail ~2007. She spent about two years in foster homes before arriving here in 2017. She wears layers of padding and leather either in the form of vests or collars, but always with pink.

Pebbles runs at a hobble, especially when she sees Chef Boyardee. She loves gala apples, salad, cherries, peanuts, pizza, ravioli, spaghetti.... Everyone here has species-appropriate Zupreem fruit blend kibble, Encore and Kaytee seed mixes, plus special diets like almonds, walnuts, and safflower seeds.

Pebbles' perfect day is in daddy's lap. She loves watching the bustle of company and a gentle pet, just don't expect more.

Goffins are also from the Moluccan Islands, habitat destruction driving them to the critical list in 1992. Both species hate baths because their feathers absorb and they are made vulnerable. Both are tool makers and puzzle solvers.

Pauliebird (m. rec 11/25/16, b. Jan. 8, 2000, owner health--Dee M.) is one of our pluckers. He came from a loving home and stressed when mom broke her hip. If he thinks no one is listening, he is a chatterbox with a toothbrush fettish. He is still a momma's boy and will woo any lady he can.

Pauliebird starts his day in a bedroom, migrates to a perch in the dining room, then to the AZ room, and finally to the living room for a pasta dinner. He snubs his nose if it isn't pasta.... But we don't spoil the kids.

Angel (m. rec 11/16/16, b. ~1996--Lonnie H.) is a white crowned pionus. Ornery like all the Americans, he is also very sweet and the quietest bird here. His loudest sound is a buzz. His nickname is squeaky toy because that is what he usually sounds like when you can hear him. He and the conures are presently the only American residents.

Jewel (f. rec. 5/1/13, b. 1996), a yellow-naped minim-macaw and our mascot, is owned by the caretaker. Jewel loves gadgets, bells, and mirrors and is indulged accordingly. She lives here and is buddies with Angel, but is not technically a sanctuary resident.

Dexter (m. biter, rec 12/2/17, b. 2010--Debbie S.) the severe macaw and Fiona the German Shepherd you occasionally see are also not residents. The two mini-macaws are ceaselessly entertaining comics, but one-person biting and plucking birds.

Dexter loves balls, chewing on textiles (cloth), and terrorizing. His faces and gestures are funny and he is having fun, but at someone's expense. He will go out of his way to take a chunk, so stay far away!

Our other category has shrunk considerably as we've found better homes for most of the ducks, goat, and sulcata. Blind Joe (Khaki Duck rec. 9/16/16 at age ~5), his lady friend Daisy (Pekin Duck rec. 5/26/2017 at age ~1), and Sara the guard turkey (rec. 10/17/19 at age ~10 months) are all that remain of our farm animals.

Cowboy (m. rec 8.19.16, b. ~2006--Michael B.) and his late sister were two of the sanctuary's first surrenders. He has no house manners, so he lives in the pool yard with the tortoises. We do not ordinarily take dogs or farm animals, but we knew all these when they needed a home.

Henrietta

Ms. Henrietta Turtle (f. rec 7/4/16--Ashley C.) was the first full time resident of the aviary. The pond and fountain with its filtration and gazebo were installed especially with her and parrot enrichment in mind. The parrots love watching her and playing in the fountain.