Home » Plants & Animals » Small Hookbills » So, you want to rescue birds

So, you want to rescue birds

© Mary Wilson

When a bird owner hears the touching stories of rescued birds, it is understandable that she or he to want to do the same thing. After all, the rehabilitation of a parrot can be a wonderful thing, but one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Many novice (and experienced) bird owners think they can provide the good homes and unconditional love these parrots need, only to find that, once they get the bird, they are in over their heads.

There are a few major things that any bird owner needs to take into consideration when deciding to begin a rescue project for companion birds. The first are the obvious physical characteristics of the bird, such as size, housing requirements, temperament, needs, etc. The second will be the scope of the rescue operation. There is quite a difference between a parakeet owner adoping a second parakeet and someone taking on commerical-scale rescue.

Before deciding to rescue pet birds, the bird owner needs to decide which birds she or he wishes to rescue. It is vital for the bird owner to know his or her limits. I and my husband will be the first people to say that macaws and larger cockatoos are not the birds for us. Were we not willing to do so, and a rescue opportunity came our way, it would be detrimental to the bird's emotional health. As with anything that has to do with animals - the animal must come first. The potential rescuer is responsible for the bird's emotional, physical and, dare I say, spiritual development.

Knowing limits means that the bird owner can specify which type of rescue work she or he wishes to undertake. There is nothing wrong with saying you only have housing requirements for parakeets, or specializing in adopting cockatiels.

Next, think about the emotional state of the birds that need to be rescued. Often, birds that are offered for "free" have behavioral problems such as screaming or biting that will have to be dealt with. These problems cannot be ignored. In addition, parrots are intelligent creatures, and there will be abandonment and trust issues. Be prepared for all eventualities.

And this brings me to my last point: free birds are not free. Providence House Avian Rescue has a great article that fully details the annual cost of a "free" parakeet can be $898 and a "free" cockatiel can be $950. Those getting into rescuing birds simply because they are in search of the free bird will soon find that their small parakeet will literally eat them out of house and home.

The copyright of the article So, you want to rescue birds in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish So, you want to rescue birds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.