Yesterday’s visit to the car dealer for an oil change proved both interesting and educational. While sitting in the comfortable waiting room, with free popcorn, and a soda at what had to be just a little more than what the dealer paid, I was watching the ceiling mounted TV. Animal Planet was the show of choice, and Jack Hanna caught my attention. As did the colorful parrots, and the lady explaining what was happening.
Mary Bradford, who, along with her husband, John, loves and cares for a multitude of tropical birds, many of which are parrots. They began this venture with one bird back in 1989 with one parrot that had been caught in the wild. She was a 6 year old female Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot. Her name is Moppet and her comical antics brought joy to their lives after the grief caused by the passing of several immediate family members. It wasn’t long until the pet store from which they had purchased the first parrot called and said it needed a home for a very special bird, one that was totally blind. With that bird joining their family, their venture began.
During the Animal Planet Show, (the year of which I did not see), Jack was invited to go into one of the aviaries where many talking birds lived in their cages. Mary asked if he wanted earplugs. He said he did not and opened the door to the aviary. He was back within seconds for the earplugs as the noise level of the bird talk was quite deafening!
One special bird caught my attention. Mary explained that they love the birds, feed and water them, give them exercise, clean their environments, and treat them medically. One member of their bird family had a wound on its chest. Mary said she had changed the bandage on this wound daily for nine months, and still it had not healed.
Some of the birds are taken to schools for educational programs for the students, and some to nursing homes to bring cheer to the patients there. The tropical bird aviary has had some assistance throughout the years, and became a not-for-profit (501)c 3 organization some years ago.
I so admired the unselfishness of this couple in their quest to provide a home and care for so many tropical birds, whose injuries or personalities make them unadoptable or unable to engage in breeding. They appreciate any and all help that be given through tax deductible donations to their tropical bird aviary. You can read more about these marvelous birds and this wonderful couple here and learn how you can support them in their work.
http://www.parrotrefuge.com/aboutus.html
All clip art is from the Public Domain. This blog post written by Pam Todd, http://www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com/, whose shop features crocheted handmade items for pets, people, and homes.
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