By Ashly Cass | Operations Manager
Hello to everyone on Team Wild Parrot- I hope this report is a welcome update and you all are doing well! As you can imagine, working in this little carved out niche of the widlife rehabilitation world (specializing in wild parrots) comes with its challenges. Among those challenges is one that is particularly frustrating because it comes mainly as a result of human behavior and we have to work hard to change many minds and hearts on this subject. That subject being- having parrots as pets. As an organization that intimately understands a parrot's needs, as well as the major conservation challenges they are currently facing- we actively advocate against keeping parrots as pets. Of course, we don't discount the lives of parrots currently living as pets or the individuals currently held at shelters/resuces looking for placement. It isn't a black and white issue and this subject comes with many compexities to consider. We are simply trying to discourage the act of purchasing parrots, which solidifies the demand, placing a dollar value on a parrot's life. Additionally, we try to convey the message that parrots are still very much wild animals, far from domestication, and they are very challenging to adequately care for. Couple that with expensive veterinary care, loud vocalizations and other difficult behavior challenges, it's becomes very clear that we are trying to force a wild animal into the "house pet" mold and it is a very large ask. Ultimately, it leads to a HIGH number of parrot surrenders and the birds suffer because of it. Currently, outside of our "busy season", about 75% of our phone calls are people requesting information about parrot relinquishment. It's a big problem.
At the end of 2023, there was national media coverage of a poacher snaring wild parrots in large mist nets at their roost location in Temple City, CA. We worked tirelessly for a couple weeks- trying to spread the word, contact authorities, pursuit legal action, etc. Within that time, there were a handful of local media outlets who ran the story, and the community of people were very fired up about someone harassing their beloved parrots. It is unknown what this man's intentions were with the parrots he caught, but it is assumed he was likely catching them to sell at local retail outlets or using them to set up/contribute to a breeding operation. There was video captured and shared of him dragging the nets and helpless parrots through the parking lot and into his vehicle. This is not the first time a threat like that has reared its ugly head; we've seen people climb tall ladders and steal babies from nest cavitites several times before. The reason this persists is because there is still a demand for pet parrots. People know they can catch a parrot, put it in a cage and go to the local swapmeet where someone will buy it for a few bucks. It's an unfortunate truth, and the part that is the real kicker- what we see here in SoCal is small scale compared to what happens in their native habitat. Nests are robbed on a massive scale, trees are chopped down for easier access to the out-of-reach cavities (rendering them usable for rearing the next generation of parrots), and the birds are endlessly suffering during their treacherous trek from their homeland to wherever the poachers transport them to. In the end, the poacher in Temple City was pressured enough by the media coverage and the locals (who were patrolling and pulling down the nets, releasing parrots in the process) that he eventually stopped this behavior, in this location at least. So, the real victors in this particular case were Temple City's parrot-loving guard dogs who stood up to protect the poor parrots who were just trying to meet up with their family for a restful snooze. Public outcry has proven to be the most effective tool during these situations and we can rally the troops when needed! However, this unfortunate event did inspire more widespread interest in our local parrots, resulting in more media- most of it good, hearty, wild parrot information tidbits. I've included some links below:
Nat Geo: L.A. is home to a famous flock of parrots. How'd they get there?
Feral Mexican parrots thrive on exotic L.A. landscaping...
Why parrots are so good for San Diego
On a lighter note, we have had some successes so far this year and we are currently preparing for 2024's upcoming baby season! Our first few Amazon intakes this year have made quick (almost miraculous) recoveries and are currently awaiting relase. We have taken some time during our slower season to analyze our daily operations and have made some adjustments to increase efficiency and overall parrot welfare. One of the main things we have been focusing on is developing a more robust enrichment program here at our facility. Enrichment is anything that "enriches" the parrot's lives and gives them more mental stimulation on the day to day. This can be anything from a novel food item, fresh branches to chew, an interesting puzzle feeder, or simply a new perch to climb on. Offering them variety every day (even if it's just something small), is really great for their mental well-being. To increase diversity and help keep costs down, we have been reaching out to our San Diego community for browse donations (tree clippings for the parrots to chew and eat) and OF COURSE they have been stepping up massively like they always do! Proving once again that Team Wild Parrot is only successful if we all contribute and make it a priority in our lives to advocate for these magnificent creatures- just like YOU do! Thank you again for your continued support- the next update should contain new baby photos for you all to enjoy! Until then, take care!
By Ashly Cass | Operations Manager
By Ashly Cass | Operations Manager
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