Bird Rescue Foundation needs help badly

[Anonymous]

I am searching for ways to find dedicated volunteers to assist a man who has devoted his life to the rescue of and providing refuge for exotic companion birds of all kinds. Location is Damascus MD.

He currently is unable to physically keep up with demands of cleaning and maintaining the sanctuary by himself due to a back problem which requires surgery after a period of rest.

Greatest current need is for able bodied volunteers to powerwash cages and other areas in morning and evening, cleaning the feeding areas and the like. Morning shifts around 10 am. Evening around 6:30. No early mornings. Looking for solid, dependable, mentally focused individuals with good common sense and ablity to provide consistent help at whatever frequency (once a week, weekends only, etc).

Any ideas where to start looking? Here are my ideas so far:

contact bird veterinarians and the local veterinary school
contact the national zoo to find out if there are retired animal caretakers who might be interested as well as volunteers
other bird rescue organizations and clubs
a shout out on DCUM!

[Anonymous]

You might not ge much from local bird sanctuaries and places that are looking for volunteers themselves. And you wouldn't want to poach their volunteers anyway.

Try local high schools. A lot of the private schools have community service requirements.

[Anonymous]

Hiring someone is probably the only reliable way to get consistent help.

It might be time for him to close down his operations and transfer some of the birds to other rescues and only maintain the number of birds that he can reasonably care for himself. It sounds like he was very dedicated.

[Anonymous]

Phoenix Rising in Virginia is another local parrot sanctuary and they might be willing to take on some of Wilson's birds and reduce the workload. But I agree, you wouldn't want to poach their volunteers.

If he's looking for temporary foster homes, we might be able to help. I've had parrots my entire life. Where would I call?

[Anonymous]

If you want to place birds you might check out Garuda Aviary.

[Anonymous]

Best Friends in UT is the gold standard for sanctuaries. We toured there last spring while visiting Zion National Park. (and visited the parrot sanctuary) They might be able to take some birds or at least tell you what to do or where to go next.

I've had a rescue umbrella cockatoo for over 25 years. I've vowed that I'd make sure she's safe her entire life. At times in my life (including now) because of what's gong on in my life (like, hey, we just moved to DC!) I've paid someone to take care of her. Just an idea--it might be easier if some folks took a bird or two to their homes, rather than go to Damascus. Then you get a wider set of potential helpers (for instance, NoVa folks)

[Anonymous]

would you be able to find help through a site like volunteermatch ?

[Anonymous]

I don't even know where Damascus MD is, so it can't be anywhere near here. But I might take a well socialized bird as a foster. I had a parrot in my youth and loved it. If that's an option for the man, post back and I bet you'll find takers.

[Anonymous]

Ditto to being willing to foster a well-socialized bird, if you can provide some contact info. We have another parrot (pionus) at the moment, and years of experience. We're not really in the market for a second permanent parrot (two kids and a parrot is like having three kids!) but we'd be more than willing to help if there are some parrots who need help.

[Anonymous]

yes. OP, you can catch two types of fosters.

First, some of us who are old hands at dealing with parrots.

Second, this is actually a great opportunity for folks who might want a parrot in the future but don't really know what obligations it entails. So many parrots end up in sanctuaries because of this problem ("I want a (pretty bird who talks, and I don't want a rescue, I want a baby."). This is a chance for them to test-drive a parrot and do a good deed at the same time.

And of course everyone can be screened...

[Anonymous]

I'm 15:03 above, the pionus owner.

The Nature channel is doing a special this coming Wednesday night on parrots, the challenges of parrots, and bird sanctuaries. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/parrot-confidential/parrot-confidential/8496/ If anybody here is thinking about getting a parrot, this may be eye-opening.