I received word mid-afternoon on Thursday, April 8^th that they would like us to help with most of the birds.  I started e-mailing my Maryland foster volunteers and within hours I had homes for most of the birds.  On Friday, April 9^th, my son Tyler and I made the trip to the shelter to pick up the birds.  There was one large flight cage with a nest box in it still.  Inside the nest box were two baby cockatiels.  They were so cute!! Volunteers at the shelter did a great job separating the male and female cockatiels into 2 cages.  I picked up a total of 23 finches and 22 cockatiels including the 2 babies.

By Friday evening, all the finches were in their new foster homes and most the cockatiels were too.  By Saturday, all birds were in their new foster homes thanks to the wonderful volunteers that took them in and for those that transported them.  Thank You Maryland and Virginia volunteers!!  You guys ROCK!

If you are interested in fostering or adopting either some finches or cockatiels, please let us know.  The cockatiels really seem friendly and with a little work, I think will make great pets.

If you would like to help in other ways, our wish list for these birds are:

• Finch and cockatiels seed
• Harrison’s mesh or fine pellets
• Small perches and toys and
• Appropriate sized cages

Items and checks can be sent via the Postal Service to:

Phoenix Landing
PO Box 1233
Asheville, NC 28802

Donations can also be made via our PayPal link at phoenixlanding.org

Meet Louise, Huey and Dewey, Bourkes parakeets. They are part of the group that recently came from the Catawba County NC shelter, which were confiscated due to a horrendous hoarding situation.

And we named this little cockatiel Raindrop. She is the only cockatiel in the Catawba shelter group that came to us, although we understand there were quite a few cockatiels in the larger group initially. Perhaps she has been separated from her friends? She may be a bit sad and lonely now, but we are determined to give her a future life filled with health and fulfilling social activities!

To date, Phoenix Landing has re-homed 359 parakeets, 125 lovebirds, and 330 cockatiels — 51% of the birds that we have had the pleasure to help so far. In addition, Phoenix Landing assists many shelters as our capabilities allow. Over the last 8 years, we have 229 re-homed birds from shelters (13.5%). Birds end up at shelters for many reasons, however, the ones from Catawba certainly represent one of the worst possible reasons….

My name is QUINN, and I’m a blue & gold macaw.  As you can see, I don’t have many feathers right now but am really enjoying plenty of walnuts.  My wish list is another big, BIG box of walnuts so I can continue to get the benefit of all those wonderful essential fatty acids that I so terribly need.

Would it be too much to ask for some of those foraging toys too (plastic, stainless steel or wood)?  They tell me I was the most traumatized bird Phoenix Landing has ever seen.  My wings were bruised and bleeding because I was flapping around the cage all the time, trying to get the heck out of that place.  I was also pretty sad since my cage mate died while we were still at the shelter.  The Phoenix Landing volunteers put my travel carrier in the cage so I would have a place to hide and feel safe.  The first time I peeked out and saw a human, I said “Uh Oh!” and dashed back inside, so my first name was “Uh‐Oh Fred.”  Now I’m brave enough to sit on my perch and eat my yummy walnuts, and they have given me a new and very dignified name of Quinn. Think I’ll keep it!

I am living in the very first cage that greenwing macaw Phoenix (the founder of Phoenix Landing) had 15 years ago.  I must be extra special!  Someday, however, I hope to find a home that will provide me with my very own extra large cage and playgyms, and a family to call my own.

Charlotte, A Gold Capped Conure

By February 11, 26 parrots – ranging from parakeets to macaws  – remained at the shelter and it did not have the capacity or resources to care for the birds any longer.  They asked Phoenix Landing for help.  We mobilized volunteers and gathered as many new and used cages, travel carriers, parrot food and toys that could be located on 24‐hour notice and moved the birds from the shelter to a donated space in the Hickory, NC area.

Dreamer and Keepher, Blue and Gold Macaws

We usually stress that most of the parrots rehomed by Phoenix Landing are not “rescues,” and come from loving families who for whatever reason cannot continue to care for them.  Our adoptable birds generally don’t come from neglectful situations and it does them a disservice to describe them as such; and while we often find homes for birds that have come from shelters, the situation in Catawba County required a more intensive response and substantial resources.  These parrots came from dreadful hoarding conditions, and their extended time at the shelter had come to an end.

Eeyore, A Lilac Crowned Amazon

We’re pleased to report that they are already doing immensely better, diving into their fresh food and healthy pellets, soaking under shower mists, and having a fantastic time with some of their new toys from generous donors!  Medical support has just begun, and we have high hopes that they will all be survivors and enjoying  lives with new families in the near future.  Parrots are amazingly resilient creatures and we are confident that they will each have many happier years ahead.

How You Can Help

As our members know, Phoenix Landing is an all-volunteer network which relies mostly on foster families to take care of the  300+ foster parrots in our program.   Since the Catawba birds are under our direct care for the time being, we are greatly appreciative for the support and kindness of those who have offered to help.

Most needed are gift cards for grocery store fresh produce, Harrison’s or TOPS pellets, extra large cages in usable condition, new toys, and donations to offset medical costs and other supplies.  In addition, Phoenix Landing is looking for foster homes for these birds, so they can be housed in smaller numbers and with more individualized care.  However, we are looking for homes without other parrots until we can be sure that they have no serious medical problems that could pose a risk to other birds.

Chatter, A Nanday Conure

Our wishlist:

• Harrison’s pellets
• Full-spectrum lighting
• Grocery store gift cards
• Foster homes with no other birds in them
• Boings and perches
• Big chunky wood toys
• Foraging Toys
• Extra large cages in usable condition (clean, no rust, no broken parts)

Item and checks can be sent via the Postal Service to:

Phoenix Landing
PO Box 1233
Asheville, NC 28802

Donations can also be made via our PayPal link at phoenixlanding.org

Very Special Thanks to Our Volunteers

A big thanks to everyone who helped make this happen at the last minute; and an extraordinary thanks to Teri Rand and Lannie Ellison, daily caretakers of these 26 very special feathered survivors.

SCOOTER is a very curious blue front Amazon, estimated to be about 10 years old. Since coming under the care of Phoenix Landing, he has learned to step up to a stick to come away from the cage, eat a whole variety of new things, and found people to be pretty cool after all (he was not much appreciated by his former family).

When Scooters’ foster family comes home from work they hear…..”Hi!!!!!!”, wolf whistles, cat calls, “pretty birdie birdie birdie”, “oh boyyyyy”… and the Andy Griffith song.”  Scooter is so happy when the humans come home! Scooter is a very fast learner and new things seem to interest him. We’re so happy to have him in the Phoenix Landing family.

If you’re interested in adopting a Phoenix Landing parrot, please fill out our parrot  adoption/foster application form.

The vet believes Juno to be at least two years old but probably not much older. Juno has been a delight for his foster home. He adapted very quickly to the other birds in the home. He is an active guy and plays readily with all new toys that are given to him. He is also extremely fond of showers and likes to get completely soaked.

The best thing about him is his zest for food – and for the right types of foods. His foster home has learned that Ekkie’s have very specific diet needs. This includes NO formulated foods, not even the highest grade of organic pellets. He currently eats veggies, fruits, nuts and selected seed mixes, eggs, limited grains (mostly quinoa), and grain free birdie breads. His foster family has gone to some effort to learn about the needs of his species. He has made it easy by liking all of the foods he should eat!

Do you have room in your home for this active boy? Can you continue giving him the nutrition that he needs to stay healthy? He is one gorgeous sweet boy looking for his next long term landing.

If you’re interested in adopting a Phoenix Landing parrot, please fill out our parrot  adoption/foster application form.

Lauretta is very overweight, with arthritis in his right knee.  Good news! He now greatly enjoys fresh sprouts, and is learning to eat other healthy foods like fruits, veggies, cooked “mash” dinner, and Nutriberries.  He needs a home with someone who is gentle and patient, and willing to learn about good avian nutrition so that he can continue to build better health.

He has lost some weight, but his right knee is still giving him some trouble. He is making good progress with clicker training and is learning to target.  We are also training him to step onto a handheld perch. But for some reason, he has decided that he no longer wants to interact in a positive way with his current foster family in Maryland, (and we know how strong an Amazon’s opinions are!). Lauretta is looking for a new foster, and eventually a new long-term home as well.  Could you be the one to bring joy to this beautiful boy’s life?

The best way for Elvis to take a bath is to put some water in the bath tub and let her take a dip. SHE LOVES IT, and it also helps to keep feathers on the vent area clean. This is very important given the location of her cancer. Here is a great photo of her playing in the bathtub with a bit of water.

Elvis is learning to play with toys and is a very good eater. Her favorites are corn and blueberries. She is very appreciative if you allow her to have dinner with you and treat her as part of the family.