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Birds in a Raffle

© Mary Wilson

"Dear FWW: I went to an avian meeting and won an eight month old finch in a raffle. Can he be kept alone? Is it healthy for them to live by themselves? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks."

The email came on a bright, sunny August day just as the bird show season was beginning. I thought of that little finch, wondered if it were one of the zebra finches that I love so much, and realized that despite the gains made in bird care, people still raffle birds. I spent a moment of thankfulness that our bird club quit raffling birds and then composed an e-mail full of as much finch information as I knew.

For many nonprofit organizations, raffles are the workhorses of fund raising. With donations solicited from members and business, stocked raffle tables delight the eyes and the senses. What could be more eye catching than an actual live bird ready and waiting to fill your home if your raffle ticket is drawn? I see the appeal of raffling birds; I wish it weren't done at all.

Why shouldn't birds be raffled? Mostly because the people buying tickets may or may not have any experience with the birds. All parrots, from parakeets to macaws, need loving guidance, and the birds that are raffled are often the smaller hookbills, which have, in recent years, sadly become "throwaway" birds because of their inexpensive price and popularity. When a potential owner buys a bird from a breeder, most breeders will give information about the bird's care, as well as make themselves available afterwards for questions. A raffle doesn't have this option.

In addition, birds are often impulse purchases anyway, and the sight of a pretty bird on a raffle table just increases the risk.

So, what can clubs do instead of putting an actual bird on the table? Raffle tables can be filled with any variety of bird toys, treats, food, and other gifts for the bird lover. Not only do these items not carry the risk of raffling a live bird, but they also are things that bird people buy anyway.

If more and more people in the avian community start thinking of their birds as feathered children, the less we will see of birds on the raffle table.

The copyright of the article Birds in a Raffle in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish Birds in a Raffle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.