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In early August, the Garuda Aviary was put on notice that they would have to look for a new home for its 30 plus rescued exotic birds.The aviary staff was dumbfounded: where could they relocate these birds so quickly? The solution that emerged was an offer by the founder of the aviary, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, to relocate the entire flock onto land in rural Maryland where a new, larger aviary could be built.

Immediately, a number of dedicated volunteers went into action compiling a long list of logistical and financial needs to ensure the absolute safety and welfare of the birds during what would be a dramatic cross country, 2200 mile non-stop trip.

On Wednesday, August 16th just after sundown four, 5 passenger vans fully loaded with the 33 Garuda Aviary feathered residents, 11 drivers, one vet, one bird caretaker, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a large Budget rental truck with all the cages and towing another Jeep, pulled out of the Sedona aviary for the last time.

The plan: travel non-stop except for gas, bathroom breaks and fast eating stops. The mission: get every Macaw, Cockatoo, African Gray parrot, Amazon parrot and Conure there safely with as little trauma as possible and as quickly as possible.

Four white vans moving through traffic along US Route 40 from Flagstaff, AZ straight through to Kentucky looked like some precision operations team from the CIA. Concerns among some of the (non-bird people) drivers that the shrill screeches from the parrots would render them a little crazy, never materialized. The flock was fantastic. Maybe it was the fast moving scenery and the lack of familiar surroundings that kept them transfixed except for the typical shrill chatter that occurred at dawn and sunset.

Intrepid bird wrangler and caretaker, Christopher (Rigdzin) Zeoli, performed heroic work feeding, watering and constantly checking the birds at every stop. Dr. Pema Mallu, holistic vet extraordinaire, was vigilant in making sure the birds were as healthy as possible and free of stress. She had oxygen tanks on hand just in case. Drivers rotated two or three hours on, two or three hours off. Christopher went from van to van like some bird whisperer, assuring the precious cargo that all was well and tending to their needs.

Meanwhile, back in Maryland, dozens of volunteers were working feverishly to erect a substantial M.A.S.H Army surplus tent with thick heavy canvass side flaps and reinforced steel mesh walls sunk into the ground to protect the birds from predators. The estimated time for the trip was about 50 hours and the new temporary space had to be ready.

“We had a secondary goal of getting the birds to Maryland before sundown on Friday ” reflects Claire Waggoner, Garuda Aviary manager and logistics coordinator: “the flock needed to see their new home and surroundings before sunset in order to feel secure and not be completely panicked.”

Dawn on day two found the caravan in Kentucky blue grass country. A blood red sun shrouded in mist made it easy to stare at for a few seconds without pain. The countryside was breathtaking—green/blue rolling hills punctuated by endless white fences and galloping thoroughbreds.

Heading northeast through West Virginia, it looked like the deadline would be met to arrive late afternoon. Then the lead vehicle, Claire's Jeep, developed trouble. It had lost power in Texas, had corrected itself and was now slowing down again. Pulling over and stopping, the convoy assessed the situation. Only an hour or so from Maryland, it was decided to separate from the Jeep and go full bore to get the birds there by sunset.

Traffic got thicker and thicker, the sun was dropping and it looked like the goal might be missed and the birds would be unloaded and resettled in the dark. Claire was still behind but pulled in for gas. Turning off busy route 270 in Maryland, the four remaining vehicles (the Budget truck had been on its own since Flagstaff) zipped through the countryside with determined intention. Ten minutes before the sun set all four vans and the truck, which amazingly arrived at the same time, pulled onto the land right up to the temporary tent shelter. Final preparations for the birds had just been completed that afternoon.

Exhausted drivers and birds had made it safely

and with minimum stress…given the

conditions. The next day, Christopher assessed the birds and saw that their normal behaviors and expressions were returning—a great sign. Mission accomplished: 44 hours, 2200 miles and lots of coffee. It was a bittersweet moment: exhilaration that we got the birds there so quickly and in good shape; but sadness that many of us wouldn’t see the flock on a regular basis any more. The consolation is that Christopher and Pema are in Maryland permanently with the birds, so that they have the continuity and quality of care that has been the hallmark of Garuda Aviary.