Little Beaks

21/12/2025

Partners in crime (and cuteness)

video description: watching up close side on to the opening of a log. Two lovebirds are peeping their heads out, checking out what's happening, doing a couple of synced head bobs, and preening each other.

20/12/2025

Thanks for such a positive response to the idea of an assisted rehoming group!

A number of people raised points i hadn't thought of, which has been very helpful.

A quick clarification and next steps, based on the questions and feedback coming through:

If we move ahead, this would be a rehoming assistance group, not a foster or adoption program.

Little Beaks wouldn’t be placing birds, covering vet bills, or making final decisions. Our role would be to:
• Set clear welfare and care standards
• Moderate posts and interactions
• Provide education and guidance
• Help reduce harm during the rehoming process

Anyone joining as a potential home would need to understand and accept responsibility for a bird’s lifelong care.

We’re also thinking carefully about how people would join the group, to ensure birds are protected. At this stage, we’re considering:
• An application process
• Questions about experience and current birds
• Photographic evidence of housing/set-ups (this would be required - refusing to provide photos no would be an automatic no)

Before we finalise anything, we’d really appreciate your input:

Does this sound fair and reasonable?
Is there anything you’d want to see included to keep birds safe?

If you’d prefer to share feedback privately or anonymously, you’re very welcome to email us at info at littlebeaks dot org, or via https://www.littlebeaks.org/contact

We understand not everyone is comfortable commenting publicly, and all perspectives are valued.

If we proceed, the group would start small and be invite-only while we ensure everything is working as intended.

As always, our priority is - and will remain - the birds.

20/12/2025

Birds are not merchandise.

World Animal Protection is calling on New York City to ban the sale of birds in pet stores.

Because what’s sold as a ‘pet’ usually starts as this:
• Mass breeding in commercial bird mills
• Babies taken from parents too early
• Lifelong deprivation of flight
• Malnutrition from inappropriate diets
• Chronic stress, fear, and isolation

This isn’t rare.
It’s common practice in large retail chains.

At Little Beaks, we support this call fully.

We’re not based in the US, so we don’t see the end results of this system directly; however, we are regularly contacted by people in America seeking advice about birds bought from pet stores who are:
• Unwell far too young
• Behaviourally distressed

The patterns are consistent.

Important clarification
• We know this does not apply to all breeders
• Small-scale breeders who prioritise welfare do exist
• However, the majority of birds sold through big American pet chains are sourced from large-scale commercial breeding operations - commonly referred to as bird mills

That is what this legislation is targeting.

Why this matters beyond NYC
• Retail sales normalise birds as ‘easy’ or disposable pets
• Demand fuels commercial breeding and the wildlife trade
• Rescues and sanctuaries are already overwhelmed
• When cities change the rules, others follow

Who can sign

If you’re in NYC, your message goes directly to a council member.
If you’re outside NYC, you can still sign to show support - and sharing helps reach those who can take direct local action.

Learn more and sign the petition at https://act.worldanimalprotection.us/keep-birds-free-nyc/?fbclid=IwdGRleAOy93VzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeoUtqj_fQtAvcWsa6VMkUx5DnVwlc8SBABByIm90X-Ys1ywdT9XQgOO3W4R8&brid=h6kyH_1jcJP-iFVBbUfzag

Birds deserve lives - not price tags.

Birds belong in the sky, not behind bars. That’s why we’re working to ban the sale of birds in pet stores.

20/12/2025

What rescue and sanctuary is all about ❤️

They're comfortable just being with each other, totally relaxed and happy to snooze in the sunlight.

A couple of these birds have shorter crest feathers. These are actually wonderful to see; they arrived here after being stressed and plucked in previous environments, and these shorter crests are feathers which have grown in since.

Tiny tufts of recovery and their new life 😊

One or two who, not long ago, would've taken flight at the first sight of the camera getting near.

Now, not only staying put, but staying relaxed.

This is what rescue, and providing sanctuary, is all about, and why we're making changes to ensure we can focus on those birds who need it most.

Thank you for being here and supporting us ❤️

video description: along a thick branch hanging under the daylight sky in an aviary, 6 weiros sit together, looking relaxed and dozy. A few minutes in, a seventh pops their head up just in front of the camera. Another two weiros chill on a branch just behind and slightly above. A silver food container is attached to the aviary wire below, in the background, which two slightly blurry budgies are in.

19/12/2025

Just hanging out on a Friday evening ❤️

Thanks for the positive response to the group idea - sounds like it's worth a try, so I'll start planning.

In the meantime, enjoy these faces, plus Mr Fluffball at the end.

video description: camera pans along a branch, first over a weiro just staring in the directing of the camera, then a green budgie preening, then a white weiro at the end, who is sitting comfortably and lets out a single squawk as the camera sits on him. Another weiro is relaxing in the background.

19/12/2025

We’re considering creating a small, private rehoming assistance group.

We’re receiving more and more messages about birds we simply don’t have the space or species-appropriate facilities to take in.

It’s heartbreaking to have to say no - especially knowing there are people out there who would be able and willing to provide safe, informed homes.

We also receive a number of enquiries from people hoping to adopt from us, which, as a lifelong-care sanctuary, is something we don’t do.
This idea is for those people too.

The idea is a private, (initially) invite-only group where:
• People needing to rehome a bird can post
• People wanting to take birds in can connect in a responsible, welfare-first way
• Potential families understand what responsible rehoming looks like
• Birds are not treated as ‘items’, quick fixes, or impulse decisions

This would not be an adoption page, sales group, or rescue intake channel.
Little Beaks would not be rehoming birds ourselves.

Instead, it would be:
• Education-led
• Welfare-focused
• Moderated to prevent dumping, backyard breeding, or unsafe placements

Before we move ahead, we’d love to know:

Is this something you’d find helpful?
Would you be interested in being part of a group like this - whether you’re needing to rehome a bird, or are looking to offer a loving and welfare-focused home?

If we go ahead, it would start small and by invitation only.

As always, our priority is the birds.

18/12/2025

Sorry for the lack of posts this week - it's been one of those ones where every time I go to do one, something else has come up 🫠

I know many of you look forward to them each day though and I apologise that hasn't been provided the past few days.

Also, the festive season is pretty much upon us, which I know can be a happy time for many, and hold a lot of triggers for others.

Over the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy yourselves.

For anyone who needs to hear it: be kind to yourself and know that you're not alone ❤️

Here's a few of our mischief makers enjoying some fresh grass.

video description: some long strands of fresh grass lay on the aviary ground just in front of the camera. Initially, a yellow kakariki and a green budgie approach to check it out. Other budgies make their way down to check it out themselves, waddling along the ground. There are a couple of twigs and low branches in the background that some birds use as a landing platform before making their way to the ground.

16/12/2025

At 9.30 on a work night i suddenly got focused on some website stuff, then tried to sort some automation.

Brain, why are you like this 🫠

I quickly got frustrated thanks to app bugs, so am sharing my blood pressure remedy with you in hopes it helps you calm down too, if needed, or gives you a giggle regardless.

Here's hoping I don't smash a computer tomorrow 😅

video description: a couple of curious cheeky weiros checking out the camera from a branch. One spends most of the time with their beak and nose basically touching the screen, blurring the bottom part. Other weiros and budgies chill on branches behind... Except for one budgie who can be heard at the end, off screen, screaming loudly.

14/12/2025

Monday morning reminder: slow down before you believe what you see online.

After storms last night, a power outage through to this morning, and heat that nobody slept through, we’re tired and uncomfortable... and very aware how lucky we are.

Our thoughts are with Bondi and everyone impacted by the attacks.

I won’t say more on the situation - this isn’t the place for it - but I do want to repeat something I heard on triple j this morning:

• Be careful what you read and share online.
• Misinformation spreads fast, especially during breaking events.
• Clickbait thrives on fear, outrage, and varying degrees of truth.
• Even ‘harmless-looking’ posts can cause real harm when they’re false.

Social media rewards speed, not accuracy.
Pausing to check sources matters more than ever.

Please take care. And to anyone who needs it, hopefully these very relaxed and sleepy weiros make you smile.

video description: on a hanging branch, six or so weiros sit closely together, sleepily, some beak grinding. A budgie chills in the background. A weiro in the background on a lower branch, just visible, is one-legged and sits with his wing dropped slightly for balance. There are some patches of sun on the weiros' fronts.

12/12/2025

This little legend 😎

Benny is a French moult survivor, but one of the happiest and most active of our special needs bubs ❤️

video description: a green patchy budgie with flight feather missing, a stump where his tail would be, and some scarcely feathered cheeks, feeds and flirts with a blue male budgie nearby on a branch. It's hot so the blue budgie has wings out slightly.

12/12/2025

Is your bird a 'fussy eater'?

Ever wondered why some birds refuse to eat fresh food, or anything other than seed?

We often get people commenting on posts or messaging us with the same questions:

1) why is my bird so fussy with food?
2) how do you get your birds to eat such a variety?

Today's post is to help answer both those, and hopefully help you to help your birds discover new nommies.

What looks like ‘fussy eating’ is usually neophobia, a natural fear of new foods (or anything new, really). Parrots and other prey birds (as opposed to birds of prey/predatory birds) who aren't weaned onto fresh foods early in life are far more likely to struggle with their diet later.

Here’s why early exposure matters:

• Young birds’ brains are primed to explore new tastes and textures.
• If a chick is raised on seed alone, they don’t learn to recognise fresh foods as edible.
• Older birds depend on flock cues; if they’ve never seen veg before, it feels unsafe.
• Late-introduced foods can trigger stress, avoidance, or complete refusal.
• Birds raised without fresh foods are at higher risk of vitamin deficiencies, obesity, and poor immunity.

But it’s not hopeless - adults can learn too. Progress often comes from:

• Watching confident flockmates eat.
• Repeated exposure without pressure.
• Offering foods in different shapes and textures.
• Mixing new foods with familiar ones.
• Making fresh veg part of their environment every day.

Welfare note:
Diet isn’t a preference. It’s a learnt behaviour. When a bird 'won’t touch' fresh food, the real issue is usually their early diet, not stubbornness.

video description: a mix of fresh vegies is scattered in a small area on the soil ground of a parrot aviary. Budgies and weiros waddle up - some flying in - to check it out. Carrot seems to be a favourite. Pudge the plumhead joins in to grab a piece of carrot and disappear again. The vegies include carrot, kale, brocolli, and purple cabbage.

11/12/2025

Some multi-coloured dinosaurs.

How have parrots got so much personality 🥹

video description: ground view of a large section of aviary, front to back, ground to sky. Budgies and weiros hang out on branches and foliage in the background, with some waddling around on the ground, foraging. A couple of kakarikis have fun with the camera, dashing across screen like little acrobats, and inspecting the camera up close.