Parrots are Home at Last

In August 2006, the Garuda Aviary parrots made a dramatic cross-country move, from Arizona to Maryland, to temporary housing in a huge military tent and predator-proof cyclone fence.  When the summer got too hot and temperatures in the tent soared, the birds were moved into a gutted music studio—an improved but still far from adequate shelter. The effort to build a new aviary began in earnest and the main building was completed in August 2007. Today, the parrots are happily perched in their new home, a splendid new aviary building,  made possible by the generosity of donors and hard-working volunteers. Separate dander and non-dander and isolation rooms--each with its own HVAC system, a workshop for making toys and habitats, a food prep area for all those wonderful fresh and natural foods the birds love…the building is a gigantic accomplishment, and beautiful inside and out. 

Click here for a tour of the new aviary building

What’s next? 

Like all living creatures, the birds need sunshine, fresh air and the enjoyment of nature.  Parrots are flock creatures and very social, and love to hang out together for playtime.   The woods that surround the aviary grounds provide a beautiful setting for providing a large outdoor play area where they can squawk loudly announcing to the local bird population they are ‘the big bird ‘round here’.   They can climb high, spread their wings and flap to their hearts’ content, walk in and out of a rainfall shower and enjoy what they would love if they could live in their natural habitats. 

Another delightful aspect of the outdoor aviary is that visitors will be welcome! You will be able to observe these glorious creatures in action, watching their antics and hearing their often surprisingly intelligent comments. What a treat!

At the same time….

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

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.