Dear Friends,
As we reach the final hours of 2022, we wanted to express how truly grateful we are for our ever-growing flock of supporters who share our passion for educating companion parrot owners and supporting adoptable parrots in their search for a new family.
You are our parrots’ best advocates, ambassadors and influencers, not just monetary donors. Your voices and action make a difference and together we are an unstoppable force for parrot rescue and education!
In 2022, you ensured that our foster parrots found a soft place to land and Bandit, Austin, Sarge, Diva, Lucky, Pappy, Smokey Joe, Buddy, Skye, Riney, Maria, Copi, Pastorita, Shiloh - were all cared for, loved and rehomed this year thanks to you!
Will you help us make 2023 an even better year? Here are several ways you can get involved:
Become a volunteer! We are greatly in need of foster homes for our adoption program and for staff support in our communication, social media, education and membership programs. We’d love you to join us!
If you wish to make a financial gift, there is still time make a tax-deductible donation by December 31st. We can also accept contributions from a retirement account, donor advised fund or gifts of stock.
Please check with your place of work about employer matching programs to help your donation go even farther!
And spread the word about PEAC with your friends. Could you forward this email to at least one person who may love our mission?
Everything accomplished this year was because of your generosity and continued dedication to supporting our parrots.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
With gratitude and wishes for a bright and happy new year!
Kelly Flynn, President, Parrot Education and Adoption Center
Dear Donors, Supporters, and Friends,
I know by this point everyone is nestled in and hopefully enjoying friends, families, and holiday cheer!
Yet I didn’t want this day to go by without an official Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from PEAC's flock to yours!
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of our foster parrots, adoption, and education programs. It means more to us than you know!
May your days be filled with peace, hope and joy this holiday season.
Warmest wishes and Happy Holidays!
From all of us at Parrot Education and Adoption Center
Links:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of all our volunteers - we are THANKFUL for your support and the "second chances" you have provided to our adoptive parrots.
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will enjoy this update which includes an article about foraging!
Upcoming events!
Friday, December 2nd, our volunteers will be at Vegan in San Diego's Holiday Fair from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, next to Barnes & Noble.
Our foster parrots will be home getting ready for bed but stop by our table to say hello to our volunteers and learn more about our programs. This free event will be part of the First Friday Night Market at Grossmont Center. PEAC will be one of several beneficiary organizations, and we're accepting donations of parrot food, nuts, or toys for our foster flock. It will be a festive evening with music, food, and fun!
Tuesday, November 29th is Giving Tuesday!
This global day of celebration focuses on giving back to our communities, and for PEAC, it's the kick-off of our once-a-year fundraising campaign. Every year our goal is to cover the veterinary costs and care for our adoptable parrot program, which has helped rehome many companion parrots into educated and loving households.
For 24 hours, starting at 9:00 pm (Pacific time) on Monday, November 28th, through 9:00 pm Tuesday, November 29th, GlobalGiving will award $1,200,000 in bonus money to projects like ours. The more you give, the more they will match!
Your caring and kindness for our flock make PEAC successful in rehoming parrots and educating our community. We could not do any of this without YOU.
Success stories!
Since our last newsletter, seven more parrots have found new families and will share their first holiday season with them! Congratulations to Buddy (male, African grey,) Skye (male, Indian Ringneck,) Riney (male, Red-headed amazon,) Maria (male, Yellow-naped amazon,) Copi (male, Catalina macaw,) Pastorita (male, Greencheek conure,) and Shiloh (male, African grey.) Some of their adoption photos are sprinkled throughout the newsletter.
Additionally, we felt that Poncho (a 42-year-old, Double yellow-headed amazon) would do best in a long-term sanctuary and are so grateful to SoCal Parrot in Jamul, California, for stepping up to provide him a home (and one filled with many new parrot friends!)
Get Nerdy with Us - Foraging for Companion Parrots
I want to introduce one of our newest volunteers, Dr. Stephanie Rosenbloom, who has written the following article about the importance of foraging activities for our companion parrots. Dr. Rosenbloom received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Cornell University and co-founded the Nerdy Bird Collective. She advocates for seeking knowledge from evidence-based sources and believes in the benefit of asking more questions and giving others the benefit of the doubt. You can follow Stephanie's journey with her Alexandrine parrot, Petrie, on Instagram (he's adorable!) We will share her recommended links and sources from this article via our "linktree" at the end of this newsletter. On with the foraging (and nerdy) fun!
Why is foraging so important?
In the wild, parrots aren't simply provided food—they spend hours actively searching for it! The act of searching for and finding food is referred to as foraging, and in some parrot species, it can constitute up to 75% of their day. That said, just because something is a certain way in the wild does not mean it's the ideal situation, nor does it mean that it needs to be that way in captivity. For example, parrots encounter variable weather and predators in the wild, but we as companion parrot owners aren't exactly in a rush to incorporate these aspects of the wild into our parrots' lives! So, where does this leave us with foraging?
It is important to keep in mind that pet parrots are, for the most part, only a few generations removed from the wild. This is in stark contrast to other commonly kept animals, like dogs and cattle, having been domesticated over the course of thousands of years. Parrots are at the end of the day challenging animals to live with, in part because they act on their wild instincts (such as flying to the top of curtain rods to chew on window frames). It is not unreasonable then to assume that providing our birds with opportunities to engage in natural behaviors is not only beneficial, but possibly necessary. There even exists some scientific evidence for this! For example, parrots will choose to work for their food even when the same food is freely available, a behavior called contrafreeloading. Parrots have demonstrated contrafreeloading in numerous studies, which suggests that the actual act of foraging (and not just the result of getting food) is a behavioral need amongst parrots, including those raised in captivity.
Another indication of the necessity of foraging is the observation of reduced "problem behaviors," such as excessive screaming or feather picking, when foraging opportunities are introduced. Though there are many factors that can contribute to such behaviors, the tendency for foraging to reduce their prevalence suggests that foraging plays a critical role in the psychological wellbeing of our birds. There are many other benefits of foraging, as well. For example, foraging can be physically challenging and thus increase physical activity levels, which is especially beneficial for clipped birds or other birds that for one reason or another may not fly. Even for birds that are flighted, there are potential physical benefits of foraging, such as increased grip strength. Foraging also provides an easy avenue to introduce your parrot to new things! With my own parrot, I noticed both an increase in grip strength and comfort around unfamiliar objects only a few days after I began actively encouraging foraging.
Foraging opportunities come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from complex puzzle toys to simply covering a bowl of food with paper. Several parrot toy companies make toys specifically designed to encourage foraging, and there are many different textures to choose from. My personal favorites are toys from Planet Pleasures and parrotJOY (in our linktree). DIY foraging options are also great, just be sure to only use parrot-safe materials. Keep in mind that although foraging is a natural activity for our parrots, they may need to be introduced to it. Set yourself up for success by starting off easy and then slowly increasing difficulty. A favorite starting point of mine involves showing your bird a treat inside of a bowl, covering their food bowl with a piece of paper, and then allowing your bird to interact with the covered bowl. It's also good to keep in mind that easier challenges can be equally as successful for experienced foragers! For example, filling a clean paper egg carton with foraging stuffers (like crinkle paper, pinecones, and so on) and sprinkling some treats throughout isn't the most challenging foraging set up, but it is a crowd pleaser! As always, whenever you introduce your bird to something new, observe their behavior to make sure they are engaging in a safe way. Happy foraging!
Thank you Stephanie! We've included some photos of our volunteers during a summer party, crafting foraging toys (and the results,) to get those creative juices flowing.
Once again, during this season of giving thanks, we are deeply thankful for YOU and your support of PEAC's mission and programs!
With gratitude,
Kelly Flynn, President, Parrot Education and Adoption Center
Links:
Dear Members and Friends of PEAC,
Did you catch PEAC’s Paulina the Amazon Parrot on TV?!
NBC San Diego’s “Down To Earth” Segment with Dagmar Midcap
Last week, PEAC was thrilled to join other local pet rescues Wee Companions, San Diego Small Breed Rescue of Southern California (who also re-home reptiles,) and Animal Bond Academy to appear on “Down to Earth” with Dagmar Midcap on San Diego’s NBC 6 pm news! Todd Strain interviewed PEAC board member Beth Lipski who brought adoptable parrot “Paulina” to meet and greet.
Our biggest message (which was echoed by the other rescues,) is that our greatest need is for volunteers, especially those who are willing to foster an adoptable parrot. Did you know that May is “National Foster a Pet” month? So now is a perfect time!
Todd, Dagmar & NBC did a great job with their reporting and all the rescues and animals were wonderful:
Just CLICK THIS LINK to watch the recording!
We’ve also placed the story as the top-click on our link tree HERE!
Celebrating National Volunteer Week!
You may not be aware, but PEAC is run on 100% “volunteer power!” Everyone who fosters our parrots in their own homes, takes them back and forth to veterinary exams, feeds and cleans up after them, attends educational classes and meetings, and spends their free time engaging the public and answering questions about parrot care at the events we attend, is a volunteer! (Whew, that was a mouthful, but they really do it all!)
Should you encounter one of these extraordinary people in the wild, please share a hug or pat on the back for the services they perform. And…if any of this sounds like fun, please join us! We always need help with social media, office administrative duties, foster care, and educational outreach programs. You can help out as much or as little as you like! Visit our website to learn more and use the “Contact Us” form. Or say hi on any of our social media profiles - we can’t wait to meet you!
Meet 3 Parrots Who Still Need a Loving Home
PEAC has 9 parrots who are currently available for adoption. You can find all their bios and photos at peac.petfinder.com. Meet the three we’re featuring this month!
Garcon, is a charming 40-year-old DNA-sexed male Blue-fronted Amazon. He was in the same home for 36 years and his owners were devastated when health issues forced them to relinquish him to PEAC. He talks and babbles throughout the day including such expressions as "Helloo, Garcon", "Hi", "Whatcha doing?", "I love you" and so on. He takes a few days to warm up to new people like most parrots. He has learned about a pelleted diet and we're also busy teaching him about foraging for his pellets. He is very people-oriented and just wants to hang out with his human flock. He seems to pay little attention to the other Amazons in his foster home. Do you have room in your heart for this little guy?
Kermit, is a 20-year-old female Military Macaw. Having been in only two homes, Kermit really enjoys hanging out on her play-stand during the day, chewing up wood toys, and has shown a preference for women. Just like any parrot, she likes to be a part of your phone conversations! Some of her favorite words are, “Hello, Kermit, and come here.” Being a silly girl, she also mixes up the words “cracker” and “Aflack” to “Aflaker!” Once Kermit gets to know you, she is a big lover and loves to just sit on your arm. Kermit is known to do well with children and other animals but prefers other companion birds to keep their distance. Do you have room in your heart and home for this precious little girl?!
Paulina, is a female Yellow-naped Amazon who is in her early to mid-20s. She was in her last home for 15 years and speaks a little Vietnamese and Spanish. When you get her going, she is a hoot and says things like, “Hello Paulie!”, “How are you?”, “Okay,” “Okay, bye,” “Who loves you Paulie?”, and a children’s cry that turns into a devilish laugh! Paulina is a hearty eater and went from peanuts, corn, and celery to fresh chop and Nutriberries. Given her previous diet, she’s a bit on the heavier side and her foster mom is working hard on helping her lose weight by loads of foraging.
Paulina has had some damage to her toes and is missing three toenails. As a result, she does not grip well and needs someone with steady hands. She can navigate her cage well but will need her next person to make some accommodations to make things a bit easier for her. She also enjoys showering with her person, just sitting on an arm, mumbling sweet nothings, and head scratches (on her terms). Will you be the next person to give this sweet girl all the love she deserves?
Adoptions are Springing-Up!
So far in 2022, we’ve had seven adoptions! Diva, Austin, Sarge, and Smokey Joe (all Congo African Greys,) Pappy a Double Yellow-headed Amazon (who now has a best-buddy “Norton,”) Bandit, a Lilac-crowned Amazon, and Lucky, a Greenwing macaw. We’ve compiled a group shot of our graduates below.
It is always hard to see them leave but knowing that they are with a person or family who took the time to educate themselves and work through our process, makes it a little easier. Congratulations to everyone!
We love staying in contact with our adopters and watching their relationships deepen and grow over time. Often, we are sent pictures, videos or get to follow their social media updates. Last year, Rocky, our 50-year-old Blue and Gold macaw was adopted. He is quite the character and loves saying “Rock rock” in the cutest voice!
His dad added a new nickname for him: “Rockcardo” and we wanted to share their latest picture as our parting shot. The joy they share really sums up what keeps us going.
Thank you for supporting PEAC and making such a huge difference in our birds’ lives!
With deepest gratitude,
Kelly Flynn, President, Parrot Education and Adoption Center
Links:
Dear Donors, Supporters and Friends,
"Hey, I don't know about you, but we're feeling twenty-twenty two!"
Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a Merry Christmas!
Because of your support, 2021 was an eventful year! Here are some highlights:
Hellos in 2021
Eleven birds found homes through our adoption program (and one is pending for January!) PEAC also helped two other parrots (Bingo, a White-fronted amazon, and Keno, a Blue and Gold macaw) exit temporary rescues and find sanctuary with the nonprofit Parrots First. Rafael, Rocky and Kiwi were all adopted and went home to their families since our last update.
PEAC turned 25 years old and welcomed new volunteers, fosters, teachers, board members and officers. And what was (almost) the first thing they did? Have a parrot-toy making holiday party for our foster flock! (Don’t miss the pictures below!) They also put in hundreds of hours this year answering emails, providing support and advice for husbandry/care questions, teaching classes, visiting potential adopters’ homes, fostering, making supply runs, and so much more. We have the best (and hardest working) team in town!
One of our new fosters is an avian veterinarian who just moved to San Diego (Dr. Athena Gianopoulos of Feathers and Fur Animal Hospital.) Her current foster, Pappy, is a handsome Double yellow-headed amazon in his mid-twenties. Dr. G says Pappy’s favorite things are grapes, head scritches, grapes, Harrison’s birdie bread and… grapes.
Goodbyes in 2021
But we also had to say our goodbyes in 2021 to beautiful 50 yo Yellow-naped Amazon “Larry,” who lost his battle with cancer. His foster mom (and family) are genuine angels who did not leave Larry’s side and filled his last year with delicious food (he loved!) and playful times.
Reluctantly we also say goodbye to one of our longtime veterinarians Dr. Brian Loudis (All Pets Animal Hospital,) who recently announced his retirement and move to the mountains of Oregon. I know we will all miss him and wish him the very best with his new adventures.
Hellos (Again!)
You may have noticed that two feathered friends recently returned to PEAC: Lucky (Greenwing macaw) and Skye (a gray Indian ringneck.) As we’ve learned, life can throw a curveball at you, which can be hard to dodge even in the best of times. Due to changes in their lives, their families decided to bring them back to PEAC.
Welcome back, Lucky and Skye! We know another loving family is out there for each of you. (Sidenote: Skye has been doing outstanding “target training” with his foster dad! We’re sharing the video clips on Instagram and Facebook if you want to follow along.)
Lucky and Skye are joining the 11 other parrots available for adoption. You can find all of their bios at peac.petfinder.com Or use our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/peacsd
Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?
We asked some of our foster flock what their resolutions are…
Maria, the Yellow-naped Amazon, has some workout goals this year. His foster mom helped him go from a flabby seed eater to a fabulous forager! Maria's secret to staying trim is to tear apart those toys. Maybe he can help you with your exercise plan by dropping all of his toys on the ground which you must keep picking up for him... over and over. A one and a two and a one and a two - feel the burn!
Pastorita (“Rita,”) is sharpening her strategy skills. Her foster parents have introduced her to Chinese checkers, and she loves being the center of attention. Little do they know that Rita planned it that way from the start, and they’re the ones wrapped around her little finger (toe!) This game-playing Greencheek conure is looking for someone at her "level" to challenge for the championship, could that be you?
Did you know January is "National Adopt a Rescued Bird Month"? Celebrate by sharing our newsletter, brochures, website, or social media to help our foster flock find their forever families! Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we have plenty of "love-birds" just looking for their special someones.
What’s Happening in 2022?
Our monthly online video classes (via Zoom) will continue! The next sessions for our general adoption requirement are on Sundays, from 1 pm - 4 pm January 30th, February 27th, and March 27th.
Visits and adoptions with our parrot flock will continue! We are following the state and CDC guidelines for a safe meeting during the Covid-19 pandemic, and details or schedules may change on short notice. We appreciate your patience, kindness, and flexibility during these challenging times.
As to whether we’ll be attending “in-person public adoption events,”… I looked into my magic crystal ball and it says “cannot predict now; ask again later.” We promise to let you know as soon as we do. Keep following our instagram and Facebook accounts for the latest scoop!
Bring on 2022! We’re Ready for it!
Everything accomplished this year was because of your generosity and continued dedication to supporting our parrots.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
With gratitude and wishes for a bright and happy New Year,
Kelly Flynn, President and Board Member,
Parrot Education and Adoption Center
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