News and Updates From Iowa Parrot Rescue
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This page was last updated on August 2, 2009
APRIL 5 2009
A really nice day here today....we had a series of excellent visitors, and sent two amazons to new homes. Frank will be in the Quad Cities, and Pokey has gone to live in Cedar Rapids. Both are with people we've known for some time.
We're expecting several more new birds in the next few days. I met them last week, and they'll be interesting. There's a BG macaw who will need very little in the way of rehab. There's a Congo grey with a little feather-barbering, but a nice personality. And there's a scarlet macaw who's plucked and may have some aggression issues...we'll see about that when they're here. Watch this space for more news on them.
APRIL 14 2009
Have you got your taxes mailed yet?????? LOL! I hope so. And if you found yourself without enough deductions for 2008, I hope you'll think of us in 2009...remember all donations to IPR are deductible.
We received a donation of a very nice cage from the Keifers of Davenport this weekend. Next Saturday I'll be going up to talk to a meeting of the Quad City Parrot Society. As I've mentioned before, they're one of our favorite clubs, and constant supporters. The meeting is at 7 at the Davenport Petco. I hope to see a lot of you there.
The expected birds have started arriving; Today I picked up the two macaws and the Congo grey...the BG mac is sweet and shy, very gentle. The scarlet was sweet with me...stepped up, took pets right away...but he's very aggressive toward Abi...may be a gender thing. He's badly plucked. The CAG is barbered but very clingy...hung on my shirt and cooed at me all afternoon. These three will be in quarantine for 30 days...look for them to be available in mid-May. Friday I'll be meeting our pal Judy D. in Des Moines to take in an amazon who she's transporting for us from Wisconsin (or Wis-cow-nsin as Janet's boy Yoyo has it). This bird is reported to have aggression issues...we'll see how he does.
APRIL 25 2009
"Busy busy busy", as Kurt Vonnegut put it. Last Friday it was Mozart, the amazon from Wiscownsin. As reported, Mozart is a tough boy who wants no contact with people. He does seem to like having other amazons near him though. Saturday I went up to talk to the QC Parrot Society in Davenport...had a great time, and saw several birds that I'd placed with members there.
This Friday I went to Ames for two more amazons...Frisco and Sinbad are a very closely bonded pair, Red-lored and Blue-front. I think both of them are wild caught, and they prefer to be seen but not handled. Also pending are a macaw in IL and a cockatiel in Muscatine.
I'll be spending much of next week doing home visits to prospective adopters. There are several people coming for their first visits this week, and one coming back for a second visit..."love is in the air"...I've taken Paco off the available page...he's just not ready to meet folks yet.
I've added two new pages to the site. One is a separate page called "processing" for birds in assessment, rehab, or quarantine...birds that aren't ready for adoption but we hope will be sometime soon. The other new page is a gallery of visiting birds. These are birds that are here temporarily. They come for many reasons, and all are expected to return to their own homes.
I want to mention that my long-time and very good friend Shari will be opening a pet shop in Mason City sometime this summer. More news on that later, but we're pretty excited. I'll be going up for the grand opening, and will let everyone know when she schedules it.
As the weather improves and we start doing more building projects, I thought I'd mention a kind of wish list. I could use 2x4s, 9 feet or longer, 1x6s and 1x4s in 10 foot lengths. I'll have need for three 36" storm doors and three 36" screen doors. If anyone has a source for less expensive 4x8 Plexiglas or Lexan sheets, I will be needing a dozen of those. For the outdoor flight cages, I'll need a bunch of treated 4x4s in 12 foot length, and treated 2x4s also in 12 foot. I'll also need rolls of hardware cloth in 4 foots width. All material donations are tax deductible, and save us from having to spend our cash. If you can help, we'll appreciate it. If we have anyone with framing or contracting experience, I could sure use some help when I start building the interior walls in the shelter.
Last, let me mention that I'll be out at the Mid-American Cage Bird Society bird fair in Des Moines on May 17nth...hope to see a lot of you there.
OK, enough from me...go scritch a bird.
MAY 8 2009
More birds arriving lately, and a few scheduled to leave as well...We've just taken in a super-sweet little peach-faced conure named Chester. He's about 20 and we think he's male. Loves people and handling, and is in pretty good shape all things considered. Also joining us this week was Popeye, a blue and gold macaw. Popeye is also about 20. He's plucked, and is afraid of leaving perch or cage...but once in hand he's a massive snuggle-baby.
There's a possibility of several African Greys coming in after the 17th...watch for news on that. We also have been alerted about some conures and a cockatiel who may be arriving soon...we'll update that as things happen.
As you can see, we're receiving quite a few birds this year...in fact it'll soon be getting to the point where our facilities are strained. If you're in a position to help by adopting, we'd love to hear from you. Just because you've adopted before doesn't disqualify you...we like multiple bird homes. So if you can take in one of these needy guys, please get in touch.
Scheduled for adoption in the next week or so are "New" Louie BG, Casey BG, and Charisma CAG. Simon Bolivar will be returning to his own home this coming week as well. We hope to have "Old " Louie and Bubba on their way in the next week or so when their new home is prepared for them.
We're scheduled to have visits soon from a toy-making group from Dubuque (May 15th) and the Quad City Parrot Society (May 16th). As I mentioned above, I'll be at the Des Moines Botanical Center on the 17th for the MACBS Fair.
MAY 22 2009
Well, a full couple of weeks have passed. A bunch of birds have moved into their new homes: Chester peach-faced conure, Charisma Congo Grey, Casey BG Macaw, and "New" Louie the harlequin macaw are all moved and settling in well we hear.
New birds who've arrived include a pair of Senegals who didn't succeed as breeders...Hotlips and Klinger will need a patient new home, but are in processing right now. Tuffy YNA will need a new home....he's a nice bird who just looks scary.
I'm now listing as available Gabby the scarlet macaw, who was taken in a drug bust...he's a sweet boy with me, but has been aggressive with others. Jose, Paco, and Pirate are all amazons that are ready for the right new homes. Mozart remains in assessment. Frisco and Sinbad still need the right home also. Frisco is a hoot! We had visitors last weekend, and he spent the whole time talking to them.
Awaiting homes still are a gang of macaws...Popeye, Gracie, Lacey, Jake, Buddy, and Leo. As you can see, we've had a huge number of big birds lately. Scheduled for arrival are three conures and a cockatiel...they'll be here this weekend. No news yet on the gang of greys...maybe they will get to stay in their home.
In social news this month....Lacey abandons Gracie and moves back in with Leo! I feel like a Hollywood gossip writer. Since New Louie's departure, Buddy is pals again with Jake...and Jake left her cage this week for the first time ever! Willy the Shamrock Mac is acting like he might be willing to make friends with me...tiny steps, but we take what we can get.
NEW VIDEO ...many of our visitors like the way we use the tops of arch-top cages as playstands. The techniques for building one are similar to how we make our hanging playstands. CLICK HERE for video with how-to hints.
JUNE 14 2009
It's been a busy but rewarding three weeks around here, and I apologize for letting so long go without a news update. First off, in new birds we have a pair of young cockatiels. They arrived with no names, no toys, no bath in the last year, and one perch bewteen them. The male is partly tame, the fem not so much...but tiels aren't hard to teach.
Izabird Quaker and her neighbor Jackie Sun Conure went back to their home after visiting for four months. They'll be living where they can't harm their owner's lungs. Simon military Macaw went back home after a vist, and took Mango BG Mac along for a trial adoption...we hear they're having some settling issues, but are dealing with them.
Tuffy Yellownape Amazon and Jose Orangewing Amazon both were adopted during this time, separately....This is the second time we've placed Tuffy, and the third time for Jose....we hope both adoptions work out well, but the guys will always have a home here if necessary.
Leo Greenwing is off to his new home, after more than three years in the rescue! I was really happy to see him being given a chance to be a house bird...but it's always a little bittersweet to watch one go that has been here that long and made such a huge change. Seeing him step up for his new human was a thrill...when he came here, he had never been handled at all, and now he'll go to anyone.
Bubba and Old Louie went to their new home today. Bubba hasn't been here that long, and never was much of a problem...but Old Louie..wow! When we took him in 6 years ago, he had been 35 years in a tiny round cage eating moldy sunflower seed. He had an untreated wing fracture and a fatty tumor on his head. He had no idera what toys were for, and never had a bird friend. Now he eats well, steps up, plays with topys, and has a great pal in Bubba. They'll be off to join two other big macaws in a special-built macaw room with plenty of sun and space.
That's 13 birds placed in the last three weeks...It seems like a lot, and it is...but remember that three were returning home and three more had been awaiting their moves for some time....we do NOT rush these things. We DO try to find home for as many of the birds here as we can...we believe that nearly all of them are better off in a home with their own people and space, than here where they have to share space and time with so many others.
Lacey and Gracie are an item again...and with Leo gone, I expect that'll last now. They will make a fine pair of low-maintainence birds for someone with space to share. It appears that Pirate and Mozart aren't ready to be pals yet...I tried them together after a week of getting used to each other in adjacent cages, but they just weren't going to have it.
Among the house birds, we have a sinus infection for little Paco Redlored zon. Being toweled to take his meds has seriously set back his willingness to be handled, and thus the chances of placing him anytime soon. His neighbor Timot Cherryhead conure has suddenly taken up chewing woodwork as a full-time operation ...seems there's this closet door that just HAS to be removed. So he has had some of his freedom taken away....he can only be out when supervised. We're still hoping to find that elusive right home for Verdi Senegal...he's being really picky about people. Charli the Orangewing zon has decided that the big play area is still too small to share with Ziggy TAG (it's only 8'x4'x10' high), so we've set him up with his own place to hang out.
JUNE 28 2009
Much business this past week or so. We had a lot of fine applicants visit the rescue, and planned some home-goings. We also took in a group of little birds, and added a couple of large visitors.
Popeye macaw went home today, to join a flock with Pakula macaw and Jose amazon. Popeye is totally smitten with his new mom, and has made it clear that she belongs there. We have arrangements made for Frisco and Sinbad, the sweetheart amazons, as well as one of those pretty little ringnecks..they'll go home when cages are ready for them.
We also have a potential home for Verdi Senegal...we'll be talking some more to firm that up.
Back for a second visit is Simon Bolivar the military macaw....he's my pal. Also visiting for a longer term is Sophie, a sweet young BG macaw. Unfortunately, she broke a blood feather on arrival, and I had to extract it...so she is seeing me as the boogie man under her bed right now...I'll try to make nice with her later.
Available for adoption is a drop-dead gorgeous pair of lovebirds, Bonnie and Clyde. They're not tame, but as good-looking as they are they can afford to have attitude. Hissy and Nicky are a pair of male tiels, a lutino and a grey...they are nice little guys who need a nice home. There's also Sky, a really nice little female tiel...who has no pal right now.
July 10 2009
Lots of comings and goings the last couple weeks...in fact, it's getting to be pretty busy all the time lately. Verdi's new home is definite, and he'll be moving in two weeks. Simon Bolivar went home, and Mango macaw came back from a trial placement that didn't go as well as we hoped. Sophie macaw is here to visit for awhile, and we also took on Tyler Quaker and Sabrina ringneck. Sabrina doesn't like women, but is pretty sweet with men, as long as they don't mess with her dishes.
Tyler found a home the day after she got here, and has gone off to have fun there. Klinger and Hotlips also have been adopted, and will be happy with their new place.
Sadly, Amos amazon's owner passed away last week. He's been in the visitor category for several months, and been a big hit with visitors...we're going to see about making him a permanent resident here.
I try to avoid doing this too often, but...things are a little tough for the rescue economically. While the intake of birds is more than double, and travel is also increased, donations have dropped off by about 80% over last year. It's getting to be hard to make the monthly bills, and there's nothing for continued work on the shelter, like for outdoor flights and such. We also have a certain amount of debt that has to be paid on monthly. So, if you can help out, we'd sure appreciate it. Please remember that donations are the ONLY source of income for the rescue....we receive no public or corporate money. Also please remember that your donation to the reacue is tax deductible....and tell your friends too...there are still people out there who can use a charitable deduction, and who like to help protect animals. Thanks for watching. Now go pet a parrot.
JULY 21 2009
Busy busy busy.....Sabrina ringneck, Helga ringneck, Frisco RLA and Siinbad BFA all went out to new home last Wednesday. Mango goes this Friday, and Verdi next Thursday.
A long road trip Saturday brough home Booboo grey and Frito Orangewing zon...Frito is about ready for a home...Booboo needs some teaching...she's cage-bound and hand-shy, but interested in people.
After picking up the birds in Roland, I went on up I-35 to Clear Lake to visit our pal Shari, who's just opened a very nice pet shop there. Got to play with Ruby, a Senegal I placed with Shari some time ago. Shari's store is spiffy, and we hope she does really well with it. After that visit, I went on down US 57 to Waterloo to visit the new home where Mango will be going...very nice folks there, with a non-stop chatterbox quaker.
It looks like the try-out of Pirate and Mozart together is going to work...this morning they were preening each other. Then they ate out of the same dish at the same time, and went for a walk together on the floor, did some shared chewing on the baseboards. Back up on the cage and more preening, ate together again...very promising. They're still in the isolation room to reduce distractions...maybe they can come out in GenPop next week.
I'd like to organize a work-day to take apart and move the outdoor flight cage...anyone interested in helping with that, please let me know what dates you might have open and I'll try to coordinate a big labor party.
We received about $350 in donations after my last post here...we appreciate it a lot, folks...thanks!
JULY 25 2009
Frito went to see Dr Jo Drahos at Riverside Animal Hospital in Muscatine yesterday, and had his scissorbill taken down...he looks very cool and suave now. He was SUCH a good bird at the vet...didn't hardly squirm or yell even when we were putting the Dremel on his beak. Even right after being treated, he sat and snuggled against my neck and got pets. This is a specially mellow sweet bird, and Dr Jo says I have to be sure to get a really special home for him.
Dr Jo told me a funny story. Amos the DYH always says "Hi Babe!" to her (and some other women) Dr Jo says she has told him he has to call her DOCTOR Babe. LOL! Amos seems to be fascinated by kids, and will climb down off his cage and walk over to inspect them. Still no final decision on his future.
BooBoo CAG is calming a little...she may be ready in a few weeks. I don't know if she'll ever get her feathers back...she's been plucking a long time, and I suspect the follicle are damaged. But she does like to look at people and chatter.
I delivered Mango macaw to her new home yesterday....she's the ponly big bird there, and will have a lot of doting I think. When I left, she was cuddled up to a nice teenage girl getting her head preened.
Mozart and Pirate are officially a team now, and have moved back out onto the main aviary floor. They take very good care of each other, and are quite protective. These guys will never be friendly to people, but they aren't alone now, and that's the important thing. If they are to be adopted, it'll have to be someone who can be happy to just watch them and care for them without hoping to make pets of them.
Wednesday I went tp Dubuque for a fun activity. The Humane there does a weeklong summer camp every year for elementary age kids. They're exposed to info on animal needs, pet care, and humane treatment. This is the third summer they've invited me to talk to them about parrots. I took Ralph and Amos with me...kids who've never met a bird before were able to hold a large macaw and a serious amazon on their arms...some of these kids are so little I had to help them hold their arms up under Ralph's weight. Janet Walker of Dubuque, a longtime parront and member of our board of directors was there with Jax cockatiel, Tiki conure, and Yoyo caique. The kids got to see Tiki and Jax in flight, and pet them. Yoyo is still carrying a grudge against me, since I trimmed his wings seven years ago...the little guy just cannot get over it.
