General Interest
By Sybil Erden
Introduction:
Exotic birds, predominantly parrots, are the fourth most popular “pet” animal in the US, ranking after dogs, cats and freshwater fish.
The Avian Welfare Movement was born during the last decade to address the issue of the increasing number of homeless, long-lived exotic birds.
With 76 million “baby-boomer” Americans soon to retire, the problem of unwanted and/or homeless birds will dramatically increase over the next ten to fifteen years. (1,2,3)
By Anna Allen, Education Coordinator - 2003
Baby bird season is upon us. Here at the Oasis we receive many calls for help when someone has found a baby bird that has fallen out of a nest or one that has been injured. Fortunately we are able to refer those calls to local volunteer organizations that can help.
By Sybil Erden - December 9, 2002
First published as "The Story that Must Be Told" in CPQ, Spring 2003
If you went to any of the Internet search engines and typed in the words "Avian Rescue" five years ago, perhaps three or four names would have come up.
Go to any of the same sources today and literally hundreds of names will scroll down the screen.
Ask breeders now or then and most will tell you there is no problem. They will often say that all birds they breed have found a good home. Ask them where the birds they bred five or ten years ago are, and if they are honest, they must admit that there are a significant number that have vanished without a trace, bounced from home to home.
By Eileen McCarthy
Lories and Lorikeets are nectar-eating parrots from Indonesia, Australia, The Philippines and surrounding areas. There are 54 Lory and Lorikeet species, and many subspecies, within the family Psittacidae that includes all species of parrots or Psittacines. Lories are generally distinguished from Lorikeets by the shape of the tail, with Lorikeets generally having a long, pointed tail. Here, all 54 species are referred to as Lories, for the sake of simplicity.
By Sybil Erden - July, 1999
Sanctuary is commitment.
Here at The Oasis Sanctuary we receive at least one call a month from kind-hearted, idealistic aviculturists interested in starting a sanctuary for unwanted exotic birds. There is no doubt that there is a crying need for such places...but most people interested in starting a sanctuary are unclear or uninformed about what starting, running, organizing and maintaining a sanctuary entails.
