As a bird rescue sanctuary, we are dedicated to educating the public on the extensive responsibilities and commitments of parrot ownership.

We understand that potential parrot owners are attracted by their beauty, their ability to intelligently interact with humans, and the attraction of owning an exotic pet. Often they are told that these are low-maintenance pets.

But parrots are hardly low-maintenance! When their physical and emotional needs are taken into account, a parrot can be as high-maintenance as a small child. The fact is that parrots have the social and intellectual development of a 2 to 5 year old child.

Birds often become what is known as "feather pluckers", when they remove their own feathers. This behavior usually stems from boredom and is difficult to alter once it begins.

They are just like children in so many ways.......

Imagine such a child: He screams unimaginably loudly at dawn and dusk (and all times in between), chews the furniture and drapes, is unbelievably messy, constantly demands your attention, and engages in projectile pooping! But unlike a human, the parrot will remain this way for 80 years!

It often gets worse as they get older. Upon reaching sexual maturity, a loving, cuddly young parrot may become aggressive. It may love one member of the family and be vicious towards the others. Remember, parrots are not domesticated creatures. They are only 1 to 2 generations removed from their natural habitat, and cannot be trained out of their natural instincts of screaming, chewing everything, and being messy.

The daily reality of parrot ownership is almost inconceivable to a novice bird owner, and far less attractive than the dream of a docile, loving bird buddy.

Because many people who purchase birds are ill-prepared for such a long, intensive commitment, parrots are often the subjects of abuse and neglect: They are commonly housed in dark garages or basements so their screaming can’t be heard. The bird is traded for merchandise or sold in the classified ads to get rid of it. Or the parrot is thrown against the wall night after night to stop its screaming. No wonder the parrot becomes mean, depressed, or insane as a result.

"Think of them having a 5-year-old human brain with a 2-year-old human's moods and imprisoned in a cage for a lifetime that, with proper care, can reach 80 years."

Morgan Henderson, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 24, 2003

The bottom line is that birds are handed down from household to household more than any other pet.

The merry-go-round of home-to-home ownership is perpetuated by so many different circumstances: a divorce, a move to an apartment where neighbors are bothered by the parrot’s screams, a move that doesn’t include the pet parrot, or an owner’s death. Yet, due to their emotional capacity, parrots bond intensely with their owners and grieve when each human bond is lost.

Please consider this information before deciding to own a parrot. The birds of Garuda Aviary represent a small fraction of the thousands of abused, neglected or unwanted birds. Parrot rescue is born out of necessity and with your help, we can stop this cycle of sadness.