Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary

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Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary Dedicated to the welfare of parrots great and small.

Situated near Thirsk, Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary provides a rescue, rehoming and rehabilitation service for unwanted parrots from across the the UK.

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween from the Parrots and I ❤️

Thank you so much Victoria Louise for your generous donation of extra walnuts in memory of beautiful Harry 🫶🏻
30/10/2025

Thank you so much Victoria Louise for your generous donation of extra walnuts in memory of beautiful Harry 🫶🏻

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIESPart 33Sun ConureAratinga solstitialisAs bright as the sun, cuter than a kittens paw beans and lo...
30/10/2025

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIES
Part 33

Sun Conure
Aratinga solstitialis

As bright as the sun, cuter than a kittens paw beans and louder than a explosion from a pneumatic drill at an AC/DC concert; today we look at the Sun Conure!

Sun Conures grow to 30cm in length and weigh around 120- 130g. Due to their
rarity, it is unknown how long they live to in the wild. Their range is now very restricted and they only found in two small areas of South America in the countries of Guyana and North East Brazil. It is unknown if they still exist in Venezuela and Bolivia. They live in open and woodland savannah, forested valleys and
secondary growth forests. Exact numbers are unknown but it is thought there are
only 1000-2000 wild birds left. There are more wild Bengal Tigers alive than wild Sun Conures.

The IUCN Red List Status now classifies the Sun Conure as ‘Endangered’. Up until
2008 it was listed as ‘Least Concern’.
You might expect CITES to classify them as Appendix I but they are actually classified as Appendix II. This means that they are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may be if trade is not closely controlled.
THREATS- Before trade was banned, Sun Conure numbers had plummeted over the last three decades due to hunting and trapping for the pet trade, with thousands being exported every year. Now illegal trapping and smuggling for the pet trade is still the biggest threat. Habitat destruction is also an issue.

At Morndyke we have seven Sun Conures, also known as Sun Parakeets. They like to stick together as a flock, although Pablo has a habit of pretending to be an Amazon and trying to join Amazon couples! They all like to hang around in the parrot house with Onka the Red Lored Amazon, otherwise they enjoy sitting as high as they can in the trees and perches in the aviary. They are nosy, fun, loud and beautiful and occasionally may delight a very lucky guest by landing on them...until they shout down their earholes!!!
♥🦜

HARRYI'm sure most of you will have seen the wonderful video and post yesterday about the sad loss of our darling Harry....
28/10/2025

HARRY

I'm sure most of you will have seen the wonderful video and post yesterday about the sad loss of our darling Harry.
We rarely post about when one of our parrots passes away.
Thankfully it is not a common occurrence. However, each and every time, it hurts. It hurts so very, very much.
We don't rehome our parrots, they stay and they become family. Whether they are wild or tame, we get to know them; their likes, dislikes, quirks and habits. It devastates us when they become unwell or pass away. Especially Tricia, she pours her heart and soul into each and every bird. I do not exaggerate when I say it utterly breaks her heart.

It doesn't just affect us though.
We are one of the very few places that has a large number of multiple species of parrots living together. Many establishments don't even keep more than two of the same species in an aviary. They are kept in singly or in pairs. Because of this, a lot of natural flock behaviour has not been witnessed. Even in the wild a lot of behaviour isn't seen because the birds are so rare after decades of plundering for the pet trade.
We've all seen tv programmes where an elephant has died and the herd are mourning.
Did you know parrots mourn their friends and family too?
As we humans mourned Harry, we watched as other parrots came into the parrot house to see him. Not something they do every day, this was specifically to see him. Harry was popular with us humans but it turns out he was incredibly popular with the other parrots too. So, like a herd of mourning elephants, many of them came to say their version of goodbye.

Imagine if we kept an elephant alone in a zoo for their whole life, in this day and age. There'd be uproar.
These birds are every bit as social as an elephant. More so in fact, as their partner bond is so strong and lifelong. In the wild a parrot is never, ever alone.

Harry has shown just how important a parrot flock is through behaviour we rarely get to see. People have been conditioned to think it's ok keeping them on their own. It's something Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary will always strive to change, both for the pet world and the zoological world, too. Far too many parrots still do not have a flock, even in professional settings. Heck, we even know not to keep chickens on their own. It's time to push that thinking for parrots too.

Harry, we will always love you so much. Rest well, dearest friend.
x x x
♥🦜

27/10/2025

This week we said goodbye to Harry and we are utterly heartbroken. I am making videos about some of our main characters and I couldn’t not share Harry’s. Please give him some love and say goodbye with us 🫶🏻😔

🎄⭐️🦜🎉🥳🍾🎁🎈🎊CHRISTMAS PARTY NEWS 🎄⭐️🦜🎉🥳🍾🎁🎈🎊We have 25 tickets left. That’s all! £35 a ticket. Email contact@morndykeparrot...
25/10/2025

🎄⭐️🦜🎉🥳🍾🎁🎈🎊
CHRISTMAS PARTY NEWS
🎄⭐️🦜🎉🥳🍾🎁🎈🎊

We have 25 tickets left. That’s all! £35 a ticket.

Email [email protected] to book a ticket.

Tables can seat 10 people. You can hold your Christmas Party with us at the Angel Inn Topcliffe on Saturday 6th December. 6.30pm for 7pm until 11.30pm. 2 course meal followed by mince pie and coffee. Smart dress or REALLY smart dress if you want.

Entertainment and fun is a guarantee! (Allegedly) .
This year we will have:
🦜A Professional Photographer
🦜£1 Games
🦜Origami Competition
🦜Treasure Map Game
🦜Tombola
🦜Merchandise Stall
🦜Gift Stall
🦜Surprise Bottle Stall
🦜Name the Bird Competition
🦜Auction of Gifts & Promises

It’s for a great cause. Every ticket bought guarantees the charity £20.

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIESPart 32Senegal ParrotPoicephalus senegalusThe scientific name of the Senegal Parrot, Poicephalus,...
24/10/2025

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIES
Part 32

Senegal Parrot
Poicephalus senegalus

The scientific name of the Senegal Parrot, Poicephalus, comes from ancient Greece and means 'grey head.' Poliós = grey and kephalé = head. Senegal parrots grow to 23cm in length and around 155g in weight.
It has a wide distribution in many West African countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Liberia. They can be found in wooded areas from farmland to closed canopy forest.

The IUCN Red Data Status classifies the Senegal Parrot as ‘Least Concern’. Due to
their widespread distribution population numbers are not known, however they are known to be in decline.
CITES lists them as Appendix II. This means that they are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may be if trade is not closely controlled.
THREATS include trapping and poaching for the illegal pet trade, deforestation and
persecution as a crop pest are the current reasons. From 1985 to 2014 they were
one of the most heavily trapped wild birds in the world with over 800,000 individuals exported from Africa to cages in Europe.

At Morndyke we have four Senegal parrots. They may be a small parrot but they are absolutely stuffed full of character; there is often mischief where a Senegal is present! Our cherubs are very active and inquisitive and like to see what you are doing and if it is something they can 'help' with. They also enjoy going about their own parroty business together in their little flock and love climbing around the large bushes in the aviary.
♥🦜

ANNOUNCEMENT! It's time to get your Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary 2026 CALENDAR ordered! 😍I am are currently working away on...
21/10/2025

ANNOUNCEMENT!
It's time to get your Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary 2026 CALENDAR ordered! 😍

I am are currently working away on a beautiful new calendar for 2026 filled with photos of your favourite Morndyke parrots. This year we asked our volunteers and supporters to contribute photographs from their time in the aviary and they delivered with some fantastic shots!

We are changing the size a little, too. Instead of the A3 size, this calendar will be A4 when closed but will open out to double pages. So you’ll still have lots of fantastic photos and plenty of space to write in the date section too. Also, the week will start on a Monday, as per feedback given!

BETTER YET…it is cheaper!
Calendars are £12.95 each including postage, any additional calendars are just £10 each. This is great value for money and you are helping our charity at the same time, as every penny goes to Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary to help look after our parrots.

The calendar will be available soon. Orders can be submitted now and will be posted as soon as they arrive from the printers. What are you waiting for? Get ordering! They’ll make lovely Christmas presents too! Oh, we will only have a limited number available. Once they're gone, they're gone!

Please send payment to
Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary
20-59-43
33268462
PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME AS REFERENCE
Then send your order details to: [email protected]
PLEASE INCLUDE:

Your name (also if payment is under a different name)

Postal address

Number of calendars paid for.

If you consent to Gift Aid (if your postal name and/ or address differs from the bill payers details, please also include)

Thank you for your support!
❤🦜

20/10/2025

True love does exist and it’s in parrot form. Archie, Odin, Caspar and Bo 🫶🏻

❤️

WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN ?In thunder, lightning or in rainWhen the hurly burley’s doneWhen the battle’s lost and w...
18/10/2025

WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN ?
In thunder, lightning or in rain
When the hurly burley’s done
When the battle’s lost and won
That’ll be ere the set of sun

All three of these Blue & Gold macaws came from the pet trade. One is young, one is old, one never ever left their cage for decades. All three had never laid eyes on another bird - parrot - macaw - blue & gold in their entire lives. They’d never had the opportunity to hide in a hole and play at nests. They’d never have now. And oh boy, they absolutely love it.

GIVE THEM BACK THEIR WILD

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIESPart 31Scarlet MacawAra macaoSay the word 'macaw' and most people immediately conjure up the imag...
16/10/2025

MORNDYKE PARROT SPECIES
Part 31

Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao

Say the word 'macaw' and most people immediately conjure up the image of a Scarlet Macaw. With beautiful, bright feathers of red, yellow and blue they are the perfect bird to represent parrots on logos, merchandise, the media etc.

The Scarlet Macaw grows to a length of 85cm and 1060-1123g in weight. They and their single subspecies are found in Central and South America in a number of countries including Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Honduras, and Brazil and also on the island of Trinidad. It is the national bird of Honduras. They live in habitat such as lowland forest, humid forest, rainforest and savannah.

The IUCN Red List Status classifies the Scarlet Macaw as ‘Least Concern,’ although their population is in decline.
CITES lists them as Appendix I. This means they are threatened with extinction and that international trade is prohibited except for conservation or scientific research purposes.
THREATS are sadly many. Before the ban in trade, Scarlet Macaws were trapped and transported in huge numbers, making them the most common macaw in captivity alongside the Blue and Yellow Macaw. Now, illegal trapping and smuggling is still a problem in every country in it's range. It is also affected by habitat loss and is hunted for its feathers which are used for ornamental purposes.

At Morndyke we have Venus and Orion. These two have come a very long way from the sorry state they were in over a year ago when we rescued them. They were suffering from malnutrition but were not skinny. Instead they had such a terrible diet that they were only eating sunflower seeds which offered very little nutrition aside from fats. Their feathers were dull and greasy. Now they are bright and stunning and Venus seems to have all the boys after her attention! Orion loves to pose for photos...I think he knows how good he now looks!
♥🦜

This is a really positive move forward in stopping the illegal pet trade in wild parrots .
15/10/2025

This is a really positive move forward in stopping the illegal pet trade in wild parrots .

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