Outdoor flight cage opens!

The birds now have an outdoor flight cage for their use so that they can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.  Not only is it very healthy for them to get outside, but they also have the opportunity to announce to the local bird population that they are 'the big bird in these parts!  Now visitors can visit with the birds when they are in the flight cage and get to know them personally.

The grand opening of the flight cage was held Sunday, September 14, 2008.  For pictures of the event click here.

The celebration coincided with the visit of noted writer and bird advocate, Mira Tweti, whose book Of Parrots and People is due to be released by Penguin in September, 2008.  Ms. Tweti, who is a nun in the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, expresses her commitment to engaged Buddhism through her avian rescue work.  She gave a presentation and reading prior to the opening of the flight cage.

Click here for a tour of the new aviary building

What’s next? 

Completing the landscaping and work areas for the aviary must be done:

Elements of the landscaping phase will include two large concrete patios for times when we do big cage cleaning, a 45-foot retaining wall, ground covering on the nearby hillside, and of course, colorful plantings all around. The landscaping has been professionally quoted at $14,000. We hope much of this can be done with volunteers and in kind donations.

The birds thank you for your generosity, and hope you’ll come and visit when the outdoor aviary is completed!

Will You Help?

Volunteer your time and expertise

•Clear small trees and brush from around the aviary site (bring your chainsaw)

•Clear weeds (bring your line trimmer)

•Pour two patios--one 10’ x 21’ and the other 10’ x 46’ (bring a concrete expert)

•Build a 2’ high masonry block retaining wall, 45’ long (bring a mason)

•Plant ground cover on the adjacent hillside

 Help with fundraising

•Help get the word out – ideas and person-power needed

•Sponsor a yard sale or car wash or event

•Sponsor a large gathering for dinner with family and friends at Chicken Out

Seek in-kind donations or sponsor

•Ground cover, evergreen plants for hillside

•bags of Portland cement

•¾” gold rock: call Ani Pema to order

•Fencing, for outdoor flight area: call Ani Pema

•Hardwood mulch

So much is possible with your generous contribution. Will you help?

Please make your check payable to Garuda Aviary and mail to us at 18400 River Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837, or

Donation Amount: $
Merchant Account

  Donate online and indicate in the comment box how to use your donation.   

Garuda Aviary is part of Tara’s Babies Animal Welfare, and as a 501(c)(3) organization donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. 

Questions or suggestions?  Contact Claire Waggoner at garudaaviary@earthlink.net or 301-378-0080.