Garuda Aviary began as a private aviary when Tashi Bird, a Moluccan Cockatoo, came into the life of our founder, Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo. Tashi was a screamer, and was driving her former owner crazy.

So, Jetsunma adopted her. Jetsunma has a special affinity for birds (indeed, for animals of all sorts).She discovered rapidly that there are thousands of Tashi Bird's and other parrots out there, suffering neglect and abuse, or who are traumatized by moving from home to home. This inspired Jetsunma, the spiritual director of the Kunzang Palyul Chöling Buddhist Temple, to create Garuda Aviary, an avian rescue sanctuary, as part of her efforts to eliminate suffering for all beings. People across the country quickly found that we would take in neurotic and abused exotic birds that needed care. We quickly went from caring for a single bird to caring for 36.

Tashi Bird began in Jetsunma’s private home. As more birds came, an aviary was built next to Jetsunma’s home in Sedona, Arizona. In August 2006, the entire aviary made a cross country move to our temple site in Poolesville, Maryland.

Click here to read about the story of the move from Arizona to Maryland