Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary

07/08/2024

Thomas Kingston (R), James Szczesniak (M) Manny Hodgson (L) were 3 students from Y12 Thirsk School & 6th Form College who came to the sanctuary to do their work experience. I don’t think it would have been possible to get 3 nicer, more lovely, conscientious, polite, respectful, and all round gorgeous kids . Ok, one of them is my offspring, but even so…

04/08/2024

AUGUST

We've reached August and it seems that summer has finally decided to begin with sun and hot days! Our calendar this month features a mix of parrots at Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary, the Cockatiel, the Kakariki and the Australian King Parrot (guess where that one's from!). As the Kakarikis got a whole month to themselves earlier in the year we focus instead on the other two species. But first, let's find out some August facts!

◇ Originally called Sextilis, meaning six as it was the sixth month in the old calendar, August was renamed in 8bc to honour the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar.

◇ The Anglo Saxons called August 'Weod Monath' which meant W**d Month as it is this month that plants including weeds grow their fastest.

◇ Quick August facts! The sandwich was invented in this month, 1762. Rule Britannia was first sung in public August 1740. The last king to die in battle, Richard lol dies at the battle of Bosworth, 1485. Britain bans the use of climbing boys as chimney sweeps in 1840. In 1900 the first long distance bus service from London to Leeds began. The journey took 2 days!

♡ This East Australian Parrot is believed to have been named to honour the New South Wales Govener, Phillip Gidley King. No royalty involved!

♡ The bright, light green feathers on the King Parrots wing appear to glow yellow to other birds as most can see Ultraviolet light due to having a 4th type of cone in the eye (humans have 3).

♡ The Cockatiel is a member of the Cockatoo family and has a subfamily all of its own. It has been known to hybridize with another cockatoo, the pink Galah.

♡ Cockatiels live in scrubland, bushland and arid areas of inland Australia. They live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 25 in captivity, but the oldest ever known pet Cockatiel lived until the age of 36!
🦜❤

03/08/2024

31/07/2024

Quality control judging my stable duties. 🦜🙄. Feel like OFSTED are watching!

29/07/2024

Male and female Australian King Parrots exhibit clear sexual dimorphism, making it relatively easy to distinguish between the two based on their physical appearance. Here are the main differences:

Male Australian King Parrot:
1. **Head and Breast**: Bright red.
2. **Back and Wings**: Green.
3. **Tail**: Blue with some green on the upper parts.
4. **Beak**: Orange-red upper mandible with a black tip.

Female Australian King Parrot:
1. **Head and Breast**: Green.
2. **Back and Wings**: Green.
3. **Tail**: Blue with some green on the upper parts.
4. **Beak**: Dark grey to black.

Thanks Daku & Jarli for demonstrating these differences perfectly.

27/07/2024

Well today I’ve learnt the purpose of certain anatomical features. Thanks Sailor. Comfy pillows it is then…

24/07/2024

Albert! I turn my back for a nanosecond and he’s left his food to ‘help’ Mummy by eating the cleaning cloth. (Good job we only use F10.)
Albert doesn’t like eating his dinner with his friends so he has ‘Early Dinners’ in the medical room. Think he does this in order to cherry pick the best bits from our homemade parrot chop. However, according to Albert, cleaning clothes obviously taste better.

23/07/2024

GREETINGS CARDS AND MUGS!

I've (Yvonne) been a busy bee and with the 'help' of several parrots chewing my camera buttons, I've snapped a few shots to make some greetings cards and mugs!
They are now available to buy.

CARDS
In photo 1 we have Harley the Eclectus, 2 Cockatiels, and Griz twice. These cards are square 6"x 6" and cost £4 which includes postage. Any further cards of this size are £2.75 each.

The second photo we have Sun Conures, Pearly Conure and a Alexandrian Parakeet. Each card is 5"x 7" and is £3.50 which includes postage. Any further cards of this size is £2.25.

A pack of 7 which includes 1 of each design is £16.50 which includes postage cost.

Message for payment info and if you want various multiples of different size cards for price.
Post is 2nd Class and will be posted within 1-3 days of payment.

MUGS
I will also be doing mugs! Is there a parrot you would love a mug of? Please contact us and if I have a photo a mug can be made and posted to you for £12!❤🦜

20/07/2024

Alan doesn’t like parrots.
Alan doesn’t like any animal that creates a lot of work and doesn’t make a profit .
Alan is a Yorkshire Farmer.
Which of these statements is false ?
Geoff knows the truth.

17/07/2024

We never know what is going to come through our doors. These two little scraps of life came in and are going to need a great deal of TLC to help them recover. This is one of the many reasons why quarantine and disease testing is so incredibly important for any new babies that come in.

16/07/2024

This just might be the best photo I have ever taken. I laugh every time I look at it and you can be a bazillion percent certain it will be featured in next year's calendar! Maybe I should get it made into a mug too! 🤣
It's Oscar who was calling out to Boko. Except she was calling "Hello" every time when making that face whilst flaring out her tail feathers. Oscar and Boko had decided to go on a break due to Oscars infidelity (I kid you not. It's like a soap opera here!) however it would seem Boko has forgiven her as they were snuggled up, preening, minutes after this apparently irresistible display!🦜❤

13/07/2024

Mellow found a pigeon egg.

10/07/2024

Enrichment for parrots often involves providing activities and foods that stimulate their natural behaviors and keep them engaged. Brazil nuts can be a part of this enrichment strategy due to their nutritional benefits and the mental stimulation they offer. Evie & Charlie III think so too.

06/07/2024

*Men For Rent*

*If you are offended by gender stereotyping, please don’t read this post*

Online auction planned for December.

Do you know of a man who is willing to offer (for free) a service to the highest bidder?

He would need to be willing to pose for a photo showing his useful assets and skills, and give a brief description of what he is offering (and the area he is willing to travel to).

These “gifts” could be things like:
*DIY for 2 hours
*Clean your car
*Cook a meal and share it with you
*Mend your garden fence
*Ta***ic Massage
*Reiki Healing
*Story telling
*Mend a computer
*Mow the lawn

The possibilities are endless.

Please email ……: with your generous offers . Please ensure the man you are offering is aware and consents to this.

03/07/2024

What is a parrot?
A parrot is a bird belonging to the order Psittaciformes, which comprises roughly 393 species. These birds are characterized by their strong, curved beak, an upright stance, and zygodactyl feet (two toes facing forward and two backward). Parrots are known for their vibrant plumage, high intelligence, and ability to speak and other sounds. They are found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions and include well-known species such as macaws, cockatoos, and parakeets.

02/07/2024

JULY

Lord Byron famously said "The English winter- ending in July to recommence in August."
It's felt like it so far this year. We've dabbled in the occasional good day but it would be nice to begin a proper summer now! The parrots certainly agree. This month stars our Sun Conures although named for their outstanding plumage, these parrots love the warmer, sunny weather. Read on for this months facts, including an astonishing and sobering one.

☆ In the old Gregorian calendar, July was called Quintilius which means five, as it was the fifth month. In 44bc the Roman Senate decided to honour Julius Caesar who was born on the 12th of that month and renamed it July. However, up until the 18th century it was pronounced with the emphasis on the 'Ju' and would have sounded like 'Julie' or rhymed with Duly, for example.
☆ The Anglo Saxons named it Heymonath or Maed Monath, meaning Hay making month or Meadow Flowering month.

☆ Swan Upping takes place in July over a 5 day stretch as teams travel 70 miles up the river Thames counting and marking all the swans! Also, take note of the weather on St Swithin's on the 15th July- tradition states whatever the weather does on that day will continue for forty days!

♡ The Sun Conure comes from a relatively small area of South America, being found in the North Brazilian state of Roraima, South of Guyana and French Guiana and the very South of Suriname.

♡ They are a very social flock bird and are extremely loud, perfect for communicating with flock mates across hundreds of metres of forest.

♡ Sun Conures were considered 'Least Concern' on the IUCN Red List. Then in 2007 extensive surveys revealed the damage of habitat loss and excessive capture for the pet trade. Until then around 800,000 Sun Conures PER YEAR were caught.
They are now listed as Endangered.
There are so few to study that we cannot find out an accurate life expectancy age.
THERE ARE MORE TIGERS IN THE WILD THAN SUN CONURES.
Let that sink in...

Let's end illegal bird trade, let's end unsustainable deforestation.
Because if not wild Sun Conures end.

29/06/2024

Parrots have complex social structures and behavioral needs. Isolation and confinement in small cages fail to meet these needs, leading to physical and psychological issues

27/06/2024

THE DEFINITION OF CARNAGE has recently been changed in the Oxford dictionary.
It now states "Carnage; What happens when Tricia and Yvonne are running a stall."

On Saturday 22nd we set up a stall outside the Dog and Gun in Knayton for the local fayre. Only it didn't start there. It started with Tricia trying to get things done like a mad thing so we wouldn't be late. Time running short, I moved my car nearer the supplies to make life easier.

I felt a horrific bump where a bump should not be.

I hardly dared look but to my relief I'd somehow run over a coat. The relief changed back to angst when I realised under the coat was Tricia's egg sandwich lunch. In the money float bag. With her glasses. Tricia had popped it all by my passenger door to not forget it.
Oh dear lord she's going to kill me! Luckily the glasses were undamaged but covered, as everything was, in egg mayo. She'd only just washed the coat, of course too!
We somehow still made it in time only to set up and find out we were 2 hours early!
The stall itself went very well. Thank you everyone who has donated items so far! We did sell a few items, even if Tricia's method of yelling "give me all your money" and not mentioning various other things left Yvonne with hands on head going "You can't say that!"
Even better, no-one came back to complain that their change smelt eggy!

We're having another go! Come and meet us at Borrowby Show on the 27th July! We will attempt to avoid egg everywhere this time!😅🦜❤

26/06/2024

Our Parrot Sanctuary focuses on the welfare and care of parrots by providing a permanent home for unwanted birds. Our approach emphasizes three core principles: freedom, flock life, and flight. We aim to allow parrots to live freely in an enriched environment, interact within large dynamic groups, and fly as they please

22/06/2024

Providing space for flight and social interaction is essential for their mental and physical health. Ensuring parrots have the freedom to fly and live in flocks can prevent issues such as feather plucking, aggression, and depression

19/06/2024

Freedom to Fly
Flight is a fundamental behavior for parrots, contributing significantly to their physical health and psychological enrichment. It allows them to exercise, explore their environment, and exhibit natural behaviors, which are essential for their overall well-being. Providing space for flight helps maintain their cardiovascular health and muscle tone

18/06/2024

HIDDEN BEAUTY

New Zealand's smallest parrot, the Kākāriki, is a speedy and incredibly active, tiny bullet of a bird who loves nothing better than clambering amongst our large piles of ex Christmas trees. We have quite a few Kākāriki but you'd never know it, in fact you're lucky to see more than two or three at any one time! It's not that they're shy, no- not these plucky parrots! They just love a good pile of foliage, just as their wild counterparts do.
However, when they do pop out and stay still enough to see, they are an explosion of colour, whether they are their natural green with reds and yellow, or a wonderful colour morph such as Mary Shelley who graces your screen today! 🦜❤

15/06/2024

Being with Their Own Kind
Living with their own kind is crucial for parrots to express their natural behaviors and instincts. It allows them to communicate, play, and engage in mutual grooming, which are all behaviors that contribute to their emotional and social fulfillment. Isolation or lack of interaction with other parrots can lead to significant stress and behavioral issues

13/06/2024

We are now GIFT AID registered. It costs you nothing to do but creates an extra 25% extra income for us. We would be SO GRATEFUL if it could fill in this form and send it to us/ email it/ drop it off/ carrier pigeon it etc. Thank you , love from the parrots 🦜

12/06/2024

Flock Life
Parrots are inherently social creatures that live in flocks in the wild. Being part of a flock in captivity allows them to engage in social interactions, establish social hierarchies, and form bonds with other birds. This social structure is important for their mental health, as it provides stimulation and reduces the likelihood of behavioral problems such as feather plucking or aggression

11/06/2024

HELLO EVERYONE, IT'S DAKU HERE!

I wonder if you might help me?

Greedy Griz gorged all my walnuts! Scoop scooped them up and swallowed them down! Boko belted down a batch too!

So I'm having to send out the humans to work on stalls at a few shows to earn some more walnuts. Walnuts is currency for you humans, yes?

To do this they need some help. They need unwanted items that they can use for tombola type games and to sell too. Unused smellies, bric a brac, wine & beer, toys etc. We can't sell electrical items but if you have something else in good condition that you could donate, please message below and volunteer Yvonne will get in touch regarding dropping off/collecting items.

Thanks everyone!

By the way, I think the humans should dress up as me to stand out and get lots off attention! 😃 🦜❤

08/06/2024

Parrots thrive when they have the freedom to fly, socialize with their own kind, and live in a flock environment. These aspects are crucial for their physical and mental well-being.

06/06/2024

Caspar is THAT child. You know the one I mean. The one that ignores all the rules and then gets caught in the act, freezes in mid crime, with said crime evidence absolutely all around him. Then denies it.

Caspar & Luna love the medical room. I chuck them out religiously, with them cursing and swearing at me, literally, and then turn my back and in ‘weeping angel’ style, they are back in. Staring. Daring me. They stare a little longer then resume their activities.

Yesterday Caspar was unusually quiet. I kept glancing up and he would stare at me - a nanosecond after I looked at him, just enough time for me to see his beak close. I tried to blank out that sinking feeling. I carried on.
Then the lights went out.
I stared at Caspar. He stared back- beak in the last stages of closing. Then I stared at where he was - right next to the £1000 incubator. He stared back, daring me. I noticed the front of the display had a section missing. I glared at Caspar, he glared back. The whole farm had plunged into dusk. I pulled the incubator out and to my horror saw the reason. The were pieces of wire everywhere and exposed mains electrics. Caspar is still alive. However, he won’t be for long if I catch him.

That’s not where the story ends. The barn next to the aviary is the barn that has the fuse boards in for most of the farm. It has an electric door that only works if there is a guaranteed electrical supply. Alan hadn’t factored in Caspar when he built this. He also hadn’t put in a manual door that meant he couldn’t access the fuse boards if they tripped. I had mentioned this fact several times, but it fell on deaf ears.

Caspar had done the job well. I had to ring Alan. I sort of told him that the lights were out. I also had to tell him that the fuses were all on now in the parrot house but there were no lights. My phone smoked with the language that came out of it. I hung up. And hid.

Our newly converted barn has a whole in the wall- looks to me like a Banksy painting now. The good news is that the lights are all back on. I’m hiding. I’m also hiding Caspar.

03/06/2024

JUNE

It is June and our calendar features our second month of Amazon parrots (our first was way back in January)! We have many Amazon parrots here at Morndyke and wanted to show as many species as we could, each as beautiful as the next!
Here's your monthly facts...

♡ Amazon parrots are monogamous, mating with 1 partner for life. Depending where they live, some Amazon's have different local dialects!

♡ When Amazon parrots were first discovered, they were called 'Kriken' which is French for 'Screechers'!

♡ The national flag of Dominica features the painfully critically endangered Imperial Amazon. Other Amazon parrots are found on coins from Belize, Jamaica, St Lucia and the Bahamas.

◇ June is named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno, although some think it may be named after after the young 'Juniores' as per our May fact.

◇ The Anglo-Saxons named June, Sera Monath, meaning Dry Month. The comedian Billy Connelly stated "there are two seasons in Scotland. June and winter!"

◇ It can still snow in June, in 1975 on the 2nd June many cricket games were abandoned due to snow showers! On the other hand it can get hot enough that the Eiffel Tower, which is made from iron, can expand and gain 17cm in height!

🦜❤

01/06/2024

Earlier in the year, we had the privilege of meeting our local MP Kevin Hollinrake at our sanctuary. This wasn’t just a social call, it was a meeting to discuss some big changes that I want to make happen. Kevin Hollinrake is a front bench Minister in the Houses of Parliament , with the power to bring about change . He is currently the Minister for Business. He also is a very decent chap who is willing to listen. He listened to my plans to STOP THE ONLINE SALES OF PARROTS AS PETS. Watch this space. Parrots AREN’T the same as a spare dishwasher part or a second hand jumper. Why therefore are they sold on online sites that treat them as such. THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING. Watch this space.