Rescue Unwanted and Abandoned Companion Birds

This year marks Mickaboo's 25th year of rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing companion birds large and small.  Over that time, Mickaboo's army of volunteers have helped more than 5,000 birds in need, educated thousands of people about bird rescue and responsible bird care, and fledged a sister organization to help pigeons and doves.

Mickaboo couldn't do what we do without the generosity of supporters like YOU and corporate partners like Pet Food Express ("PFE"). 

PFE supports the animal welfare community in many ways throughout the year - and in September, PFE hosted the Bay Area Pet Fair, a month-long celebration bringing together pet lovers and the animal welfare community to encourage adoption. Twenty of Mickaboo's rescued birds found forever homes during the Fair.  Here are some of their stories:

Luna was a 17-year-old poicephalus who enjoyed hanging upside-down in her cage while watching the world. She was surrendered when her former owner married, and the merged households deemed Luna to be incompatible with the cats who became part of the new household.

Amadeus was a sweet African Grey surrendered to Mickaboo when his owner's health no longer permitted them to care for Amadeus. Many birds have a life expectancy of 20 years or more - birds the size of Amadeus can live for more than 50!  It has become common for us to receive birds displaced by their owner's health condition or passing.

Archie and Chappy are beautiful conures whose owner had to move to a non-pet-friendly home, and who also felt she wasn't giving her birds the time they needed. Because of their long lives, it is probable that birds will be involved in life events (moves, marriages, separations, new jobs, etc) that may result in the birds losing their home.

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Thank you for all that you do throughout the year to support us in our mission of rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing.  Here's to the next 25 years!

Links:

• See our rescue flock
• Learn how to care for companion birds
• Learn how to adopt or foster a bird from Mickaboo

We would like to tell you about our latest aviary rescue, and how YOU can help us with it.  First, the how-you-can-help piece.

A matching gift event is in progress now through 9 pm PT.  The more you give (up to $1000 per donor), the higher the match (while funds last)!

• Donations of $100-$499 will be matched at 30%
• Donations of $500-$749 will be matched at 40%
• Donations of $750-$1000 will be matched at 50% (woohoo!)

While all donations are welcome, please consider making a special one-time gift now to leverage this matching opportunity.

Your gift helps birds like the parakeets (aka "budgies") in our latest aviary rescue. Mickaboo was contacted by a man in his late 80s who had a backyard aviary. The aviary was originally built in the 1930s, and had been enlarged over the years. Nineteen budgies were occupying the aviary when Mickaboo was asked to remove them.

The owner had done his best to protect his birds from predators, but had been thwarted over and over by gnawing rodents. Nest boxes allowed the budgies to breed, but, sadly, the population was controlled by visiting rats.

The rats would make new entrances as fast as the owner sealed the existing ones. The ratholes also allowed some budgies to escape and become easy prey for neighborhood hawks.

As soon as the owner reached out to Mickaboo, two volunteers drove to the property to extract the birds. All nineteen budgies were rescued, and their health is being evaluated.

The owner was a well-meaning gentleman who cared about the birds but did not have a great deal of knowledge about how to keep his budgies safe and healthy. For example, he did not realize that they could not be trained to fly free outside the aviary during the day and safely find their way home at night.

We are grateful the owner reached out to Mickaboo when he realized he could no longer continue to repair and maintain the aviary. The rescued budgies will be seen by an avian veterinarian as appropriate and, once cleared health-wise, will be placed in Mickaboo's foster homes.  

Based on past rescues, we estimate the veterinary cost of this rescue will reach at least $4,000. We will appreciate your helping us raise the needed funds.

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Looking for another way to help us? Adopting one (or more) of our rescued birds, aside from being a way to add an interesting companion to your life, is one of the best ways to preserve Mickaboo's capacity to save other birds in need.  Every time you adopt one bird from us, you're changing the lives of at least TWO birds. Please see our adoption criteria in the links below. 

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Thank you in advance for helping the beautiful, intelligent birds in our care. 

Links:

• How to adopt from or foster a bird with Mickaboo
• Take our (free) bird care classes
• See our rescue flock