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NEW!
Mickaboo April 2009 newsletter

Foreclosures and Pets
(American Humane Society article)

The Wild Parrots

Mickaboo Angel Program!
We have updated
and revamped the Angel/Sponsorship Programs
Click here for more info!

Post a Tribute to your favorite bird or bird friend!

See our new Mickaboo DVDs!

Donate your vehicle
to Mickaboo

Buy From Our Retail Sponsors!

Check out the mickaboo store!

Don’t breed, don’t buy... adopt a rescued bird!

IMPORTANT -- Please READ!

Due to an extraordinary increase in the numbers of birds needing placement, Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue is running short of qualified foster homes. Many of you know that Mickaboo does not have a "place of its own" - no offices or other facilities. All of the birds that we rescue and care for are kept in the homes of volunteers who have been trained as foster parents. Some of the very largest birds, such as macaws and umbrella cockatoos, need sufficient space and caregivers with more experience than others. When such birds have been seriously mistreated or neglected, it may take a longer period of time for them to recover and be ready for adoption. Because of these factors, and especially because of the increase in the number of birds being surrendered, we are unable to accept any new macaws or umbrella cockatoos at this time.

The other troubling condition we are facing is a substantial increase in the number of cockatiels coming in to us. Since cockatiels are perhaps the most gentle and social of companion birds, the increasingly large numbers being surrendered or abandoned is almost inconceivable. Whatever the causes of this trend, and certainly the economy and foreclosures are partly to blame, we are very sorry to have to announce a moratorium on accepting cockatiels. Mickaboo is a group of volunteers, and this situation finds us appalled and very worried. We are trying various ways of increasing our capacity and our supply of foster and adoptive homes, but as of midnight on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, we must begin turning away cockatiels in need of homes.

On Saturday, June 27th, we will hold a special "Small Birds Adoption Fair" to introduce people to as many of our cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds, and finches, as we can manage. We will also have a pre-adoption class and will offer interested persons the opportunity to complete most of the qualifications for adoption in one day. To find out more about this event, please check here.

The process for approving a foster home is the same as for approving an adoptive home. So if you would like to foster birds for Mickaboo and help us work through this temporary difficulty, please join us at our next free bird care class. The schedule and locations of all of the classes can be found on our website here.

We need bird-loving people who want to change the world - one bird at a time. If you are having behavior difficulties with your bird, especially with a macaw or umbrella cockatoo, please consider contacting us for assistance, or attending our next advanced bird behavior class, as an alternative to surrendering your bird. Information on the next classes can be found here.

Featured bird: Newton & Sweetie
Well, we have settled in nicely into our foster home. We love our pellets ... really, we love any food, but since both of us are a tad overweight, our foster mom has been making us forage for the grubs all over the apartment. It's hard work, but there is always a yummy treat at the end of it. While we prefer pellets, we will nibble on greens, such as carrot tops and lettuce, but aren't interested in vegetables yet. We also have learned to enjoy being misted from a spray bottle, which has improved our plumage significantly. As we have settled in, more battle scars from a former life have emerged. Aside from missing an eye, Sweetie has an overgrown beak that needs a trim every once in a while. The vet is trying to pinpoint the issue, but most likely it is due to the fatty seed diet she had... (read more)

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