There’s a ton of time spent cleaning cages, too. She also feeds the birds shelled nuts as nourishment and enrichment. She shops for and chops up a variety of fresh produce for the birds to accompany small amounts of quality seed. Just earlier last week she drove 3 ½ hours roundtrip to take 11 birds to the vet. The couple also has three dogs and a cat.īrown said caring for the birds - which can cost $2,000 per month - is a full-time job, even with the help of a few dedicated volunteers. Currently, Brown and Smith are housing 50 birds - the most they’ve ever had - including 15 of their own. The pandemic, coupled with a greater awareness of the rescue’s work, has led to an increase in birds needing help. Then there are simply people who can no longer care for their pets anymore. The Charlie Brown Bird Rescue (/CharlieBrownBirdRescue) has also been involved with hoarding or abuse situations, something made more dire because very few, if any, area shelters take in birds. The death of a bird owner is just one scenario that might drive people to re-home a bird through the rescue. They require specialized diets made up of more than just bird seed, as well as large habitats full of enriching toys and medical care provided by a veterinarian who specializes in exotic pets, Brown said.Īnd she’s quick to add that the life expectancy of some species spans decades, which owners don’t always consider. The birds they care for - hookbills from the parrot family who are native to South America, Africa, Australia and Asia - include lovebirds and parakeets on the smaller end and cockatoos and macaws on the larger. There is such a lack of education about how to care for these animals.” “It really upset me that there are so many people out there who treat birds like that or worse. “Unfortunately, she was not well taken care of,” said Brown, who works part-time at an ice rink. They began their efforts after Brown, 30, got her first macaw, Subi, from another owner. ![]() Since the couple founded the rescue in spring 2016, they’ve helped hundreds of exotic birds find loving homes while educating new owners on just how much time and attention their new feathered friends need. “I love birds, and there are so many that need help,” Brown said.Īdded her girlfriend, Smith: “It’s so nice to find them good homes.” Though the noise at their home is constant - except at night - and cages can be found in nearly every room of their 1,500-square-foot ranch, the two founders of the Charlie Brown Bird Rescue (named after their Golden Retriever) wouldn’t have it any other way. And, of course, there is usually some parrot chatter going on with the birds who speak English. Startling squawks, rhythmic ca-caws and sweet trills resembling a song fill the North Side home of Amanda Brown and Kristen Smith most hours of the day.Ī green-winged macaw named Harry might be singing while a cockatoo in the back bedroom screams every time someone walks near his cage.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |