Arkansas Parrot & Wildlife Rescue

08/16/2024

In just minutes she took to him.

08/16/2024

Macaw Adopters!
Incoming from the NW of AR. Riley is likely about 20. Lived last 5 years in a barn. His mate died 3 years ago. He needs lots of TLC.

I need my macaw adopters to step up their game. If he gets here, I’m at ten big macaws. At least three need personal attention I can’t keep up with which is making things dangerous. They’re starting to argue over space and contact.

I can’t read people’s minds, especially when I’m juggling everyone here. Apply. Friend me. Let’s video conference. Work with me!

08/14/2024

Thing 1 and Thing 2…

08/11/2024

Fred has an interesting pose for napping.

08/11/2024

Dear Adopters
Don't ask what's available. We've got over 50 birds at any time. There may or may not be a match for you. You need to do your own looking (scroll and read posts) and file an application before asking any adoption questions. It gives me points of reference so I have a clue what may fit your home or not.

Don't ask what the adoption fees are. They can vary dramatically. I set a standard fee of $1000 on greater species. If it talks a lot, makes tools, will get into lots of trouble, can be trained significantly, would cost you over $3000 to buy, expect the fee to be $1000. If there are age or health issues, I cut that. If it's a lesser species, I have to weight the rate to the value of the animal. It will always be less than a purchase unless there is something truly remarkable about the individual.

Rates may change over time. Concerns I had on entry or new information can re-weight the adoption fee. We can also carry you, but remember I need to be able to trust you.

There's an adoption contract with guarantees and protections for everyone. You can read it here:https://akademe.org/CURE/Adoption_Contract.pdf

1. Apply here: https://fb.jotform.com/220215139703042
I often respond to applications by email, so check your email. Please be clear what breeds of dogs you have, specific experience. Please don't tell me long winded stories or repeat the same thing in a different box. I need an idea of the character of your home. Is it busy? Quiet? Are you gone a lot? Other people and pets. We're trying to weave one or more new family members in without blowing up your house. This is decisively not like buying a puppy.

2. Identify possible matches by following posts here and in our adoption group https://www.facebook.com/groups/796797097047014
Please be sure to read what I write about the animals. I keep getting requests for animals that would attack family members.

3. Follow up with me! Friend and message me here: https://www.facebook.com/NobodyG

This is a critical step. I cannot emphasize follow up enough because I am being pulled umpteen directions all at once. I may have five minutes to rifle through some incoming applications and the next thing I know I'm being run the rest of the day on vet calls. Or someone calls or shows up. Not to mention the population of animals all wanting my attention all the time too. I lose my place. A bunch of new applicants or situations pop up.

We close at 4 which is when I begin the evening feeding and attention schedule. I don't mind emergency calls, but let's just keep it to emergencies unless we need to make a special accommodation. But realize for some reason everyone tries to call or message me after 4. My nose is glued to the phone often until midnight! Please try to follow up during the day.

Follow up will include a video conference showing me the environment planned for the adopted animal. It give you a chance to see our setup and ask questions to set up and be cage free. You then need to show up and visit to see where you have chemistry. You may have eyes on one animal who wants nothing to do with you and find you're in love with someone else who wants to run away with you. It happens.

If we're talking about you adopting a bird who is on hold, then don't let me forget you. Send me a simple PM like the animal's name so you aren't buried in messenger never to be found again. It's true for both of us, I'm sure.

08/10/2024

Rico is returning tonight after being adopted for 20 months. She needs a quiet, child free home with a skilled handler. She has caused several bad injuries. She also decided she doesn’t like women.

Adopter reports she has episodes where she will attack women and children, but between is the sweetest most cuddly baby. She comes with a cage.

She’s okay with another bird who stays out of her space.

08/10/2024

Ionizing can kill birds. Very important we say so regularly since it’s so common and easy to forget.

08/09/2024

Per advice here, we’re closing CashApp. Please use PayPal to donate.

Help me spread the word about Akademe Sanctuary. Together we can make a difference.

08/09/2024

I understand people go to work. I did. I still go away for most of the day many days of the week. We almost never close cage. Yes multiple species and many birds are loose in the house and unsupervised most of the time.

Your existential fears are not an excuse to make others suffer. If you have a legitimate fear, then take reasonable preventative precautions. You don't lock yourself in a closet all the time on the chance you could be hit by a bus right? Of course not. You look both ways crossing the street instead.

Think outside the box. This is not negotiable. Are there times you need to cage? Yes. They are very rare exceptions and typically indicate the animal is in the wrong environment if it needs to be controlled like this.

Time outs for a few minutes to reset a situation make sense.

Punitive closing them in a cage for hours does not.

Safety for an injured animal being exposed to more injury is like being kept in a hospital bed. It sucks but is a short term solution to make sure they can be free later.

Protecting people from an animal who attacks.... Sorry but we cage threats no matter who they are. It's not unreasonable to contain the problem until you can find a better solution. It's not a permanent solution.

Surrender or rehoming is a difficult decision. Sometimes as parronts we need to make the tough call for the best interests of the animal. It's not your fault. It's not in your control. That's why you must do it.

Like everything else the key words are best interests of the animal. You don't need a perfect environment to have perfect love. Perfect love enables them to be their true nature and loves them that way. It doesn't expect them to adapt to you. Birds aren't good at adapting to us. We aren't that great at adapting to them either, but we can make an open environment of agreeable choices for them to negotiate for themselves.

So dear adopters. Your home may be great for your kids, or even kids we get, but that doesn't mean it is great for every kid. For this reason we don't discuss adoption without an application. We also generally accept all our differences assuming you aren't being cagey and showing we can't trust you.

We will not change our standards just because we are overflowed. We do not make decisions out of desperation. We step back and make sure it's going to work right for the animal. If it does, it works for everyone.

08/09/2024

I need to be able to trust you with a kid.
We do not negotiate with abuse.
Good care is easily seen and readily shown.

08/08/2024

Adoption
There are 55 birds here. There is no conversation about rates or adoption without an application. It's a waste of everyone's time. Besides, if you follow the posts you already know the personalities, who is available, their backstories, and adoption fees. You also know we do not allow caging, clipping or breeding.

Apply here first https://fb.jotform.com/220215139703042
Then join our adoption group https://www.facebook.com/groups/796797097047014
Follow, scroll, and read posts. Reach out to me and let me know something looks like a possible match. I will investigate your application, talk with you, have a video conference, and schedule a visit. The goal is to make a family.

What do we have readily available: A bunch of cockatiels, macaws and other highly adoptable birds. Even some of these are pretty finicky and may require you have something of a relationship before walking out the door with them. Then there are the residents. Some residents can never leave. Some can be talked into it. We don't get in the way of right love.

Our most adoptable kids at the moment are:
• Cockatiel pairs, non-mutations (100) and one tame lone male pied (50)
• Chacho, friendly 20 year old female Senegal (200) on medical hold until her wing heals
• Sarah and D**k, 38 year old double yellow Amazons used to a training regimen (1500 for both together)
• Patches, 15 year old greenwing macaw (1000) prefers women, timid, hates strange voices, comes with some toys
• Luna & Scarlet, 6 year old greenwing and 22 year old Scarlet macaws come with cage, toys, ropes, spirals... (1500 for both together) these two self-entertain and are super social
• Dolly, 30 year old umbrella cockatoo (1000), will pick a companion and may divorce you from your human mate by flying in their faces and biting them

We don't split pairs or flocks unless it is in their best interests. Our typical rate for greater species (macaws, cockatoos, greys, etc.) is 1000. Most of these species sell for 3-5000 each. We may raise or lower the rate based on extenuating factors like D**k and Sarah being super highly trained and trainable, or lowered due to extreme age or health risks.

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NOTES
We cannot guarantee the long term health of Scarlet or D**k for different reasons. This isn't to say they will die soon, only that they are uncertainties due to their history or nature. They could both live for many decades more with the right care.

Scarlet's history of seclusion and exposure to toxins and filth could lead to medical complications or death. She's shown no signs of illness, weakness, etc. If anything, she's come out of her shell and is showing signs of being very healthy. I'm holding her fee at this rate for now in hopes of placing these two soon.

D**k seems fairly common for a male Amazon in terms of being sedentary to the point of increasing his risks of fatty organ issues like congestive heart failure. Like most mature Amazons, he needs to be steered toward a slower to digest diet and better exercise. The two love training related activities, going outside and on adventures. His willingness to follow Sarah everywhere is a way to prolong his life. They both love outside time and are very social with other birds.

08/08/2024

We are stopping all rescue
We need to raise at least $1200 each month just to pay the basics around here before I drive anywhere or cover vet bills. Then I need a cap on intakes and adoptions. I’ve been over capacity and growing for months.

We’re on social security paying for literally everything ourselves. I haven’t had time to do a good audit to figure out just how bad we’re bleeding, but I’ll tell you this. We aren’t going anywhere or buying anything we don't have to, We don't have a mortgage or debt. We still have nothing left each month.

We get very few cash donations. There is exactly one sponsor and another party who sponsors by sending us goods. Both are supporting their sanctuary animals. Thank you.

We otherwise have no help. We are overwhelmed with animals who need attention. We can’t even get volunteers to come around and play with them let alone clean, or people to donate even as little as the price of a cup of coffee each month. But we get calls at all hours to take on the burdens of others. I can’t even eat dinner without chasing a dozen people's messages or calls. We close at 4 because we’re super busy after 4 on a tight schedule!

I’m driving all over and people rarely even throw me a few for gas. I’m not home to take care of anything or give attention that is needed. Or if I am, people are distracting me so I can’t give attention or deal with what I need to. We can’t even get good paid help to show up and do an adequate job. We can’t afford to pay them, but we manage to squeeze it off anyway.

I’m punching it. We aren’t going to do ANY RESCUES at all, wildlife or parrots if we don’t have support. We can’t be expected to do everything and pay everything ourselves. We need regular donors and volunteers. No more products without asking us first. We’re exploding with stuff we can’t sell or use, and stuff we can use but don’t find when we need it and end up buying it again.

I will deal with what we have. I will be placing animals as usual with contract and fees. The fees as usual will go into our emergency fund which has been depleted by 40% this year to subsidize our support of the massive flow we’ve experienced, maintenance, etc.

Adoptions have been slow and not as agreeable as anyone wants. The fees are set aside for emergencies and contract purposes. I’ve been working with people on the fees as I understand not everyone has this kind of money just laying around. I really need adopters to follow through and follow up. There are way over 300 applications. I need you to carry you and watch out for yourself, set up, do the video conference to show me what you’re planning, show up and make friends.

If you want to help sponsor, PayPal’s fee paid portal has a monthly donation option. It’s easy to track for everyone. It is here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BSYN7TZZ4MX4N

One time payments can take a longer and fee free path here: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/153062

Sorry lookie lous, but I don't have time to babysit every person who wants a comprehensive list of every animal without even filling out an application so I can narrow it down. You want to see what we have? Scroll.

08/07/2024

Poncho… as soon as I posted someone local volunteered!

Was free to the right home. She has two clubbed feet. She needs a flock of cockatiels and other small birds and more personal attention.

08/06/2024

Why is this adorable pair still here? Luna & Scarlet entertain each other. Apply https://form.jotform.com/220215139703042

08/05/2024

Sarge

08/05/2024

Sarah loves a front row seat to watch the evening movie.

08/04/2024

Sarge is so sweet and always into adventure. I'm trying to get him interested in a nest. Instead he wants to nest everywhere he shouldn't like the kitchen cabinets, by the toilets in the bathroom, etc. That could be manageable if he picked one spot and wasn't being destructive about it.

So if he insists on taking he house down, then I insist he takes his wild out to the aviary. He enjoys it out there. He hangs out with Dexter's crew, who are very nervous about someone of his magnitude among them. But he is no threat to them.

08/04/2024

Shasta and Red spend most of their time outside. Once in a while I have time and space to bring her in for a cuddle or to play. But then she wants back out. In the evening she will come in to eat, then go back out until bedtime when I insist she comes in. First thing in the morning she wants back out.

08/02/2024

July Fails!
We've had incredible luck with most of our adoptions until this last month. These are nobody's fault. There were mild warnings about Patches and Serena, but a sample size of one isn't much of a warning. Unfortunately it took adoption to show patterns.

First, Dolly fell in love and decides she doesn't want to share. We were told she hates me, but she's loved every man walking in the door. She prefers a woman but doesn't want to share the object of her choice.

Patches may prefer women, but stepped right up for me as a stranger twice. She does not trust anything unusual like strange voices or mannerisms. She's used to being bullied by a B&G, so she may be a bit on the sheltered side when it comes to people. She's getting along fine with Scarlet and Luna.

Serena has reportedly growled and shown fear toward small children. 11 and up seem not to phase her. We will need her opinion if you have children and want to adopt her.

Serena was adopted with a pair of very friendly cockatiels: Archimedes and Kushi. The stress with Archimedes poor heart killed him, leaving poor Kushi on his own. He is coming back too so he can find a new buddy.

It's important to note that few of our birds will have small child experience. Most have no experience with children. They come from homes of seniors who may have had children visit. A lot of people cage their birds with visitors. Please insert the word child in the sentence and ask if it still sounds right before doing it to an animal.

It is important that adopters share videos and concerns. The best adopters stalk me with constant updates and questions. I shouldn't be nagging you for updates. It usually means something is wrong and you don't know how to tell me. I can't help if I don't know. And sometimes there's nothing anyone can do.

There's a 60 day clause in the contract that anyone can pull the plug on for a reason. It's like dating. You can't expect it to be perfect and right, but you try. If it fails, you try again. We don't do shotgun weddings. If it's not working, bring the bird back and you get a full refund. No judgment. These girls have as much right to say no as any other girl. If we want happy families, we need to accept no and keep trying until we find yes.

We still have Chacho the Senegal, D**k and Sarah, Luna and Scarlet, plenty of cockatiel pairs...

08/01/2024

Patches is a 15 year old greenwing macaw. She prefers women and doesn’t like unusual voices. Her partner, Izzy, was overly aggressive. Not sure if he just felt like he was protecting her.

07/29/2024

07/29/2024

Under Arkansas state law, non-releasable wild animals are to be euthanized. Transferring them even for free into private hands to be pets is considered trafficking. It is a crime and a violation of the rehabilitation permit.

Rehabilitators are not allowed to keep wildlife as pets period. It violates your permit.

There are correct procedures to follow to recondition hand raised babies to releasable. It is best to start that conditioning shortly after weaning. This is why there are permits and requirements for rehabilitators.

We take in, recondition, and release all restricted animals, including skunks. We have a special enclosure just for juvenile raccoons. We have other enclosures we can use for other species. If we aren't the best place for the intake, we find the best place and put it there.

If you want to be a rehablitator, find a regularly permitted mentor, a vet, be sure it doesn't violate local codes, and fill out the forms here: https://www.agfc.com/en/wildlife-management/wildlife-rehabilitation/

You will also need a copy of the Standards Manual here: https://theiwrc.org/product/standards-for-wildlife-rehabilitation/

The list of rehabilitators in Arkansas is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NY0B2BwFLIIbSLHEHu59G9f2XkKlYvlH/view

Source of 09.14: https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/09.14/

07/27/2024

Bonded pair of 38 year old double yellows. Highly trained. Apply and/or follow up with your application. https://form.jotform.com/220215139703042

07/24/2024

07/23/2024

The correct way to clip a bird's wings from BirdTricks.

This is the only proper way to do this, guys.

07/19/2024

I need intended adopters who have applied to speak up and move the process forward. I get and have lots of applications. Those who are intent on adopting enough keep pushing after applying are most likely to succeed in adopting.

Cockatiel pairs are minimum fee. We have non-mutated pairs. Nothing fancy about them. They need lots of space to be birds, and as a pair can be worked as pets.

Sarge is super sweet, gentle, belly up, good with everyone including kids. But he is super needy. I wake up and he's come across the house for a cuddle. If I'm not paying attention, he's wandering the house, scouring cupboards, chewing up moulding.... He needs constant attention or adventure. He loves being outside or going on trips. You need to be set up for him. He doesn't come with anything. He does have a few phrases and hasn't made any loud noises. Regular adoption fee.

Luna is super fun, plays all day, doesn't leave her area, very sweet. She talks but isn't noisy but does make a few low key squawks and whistles. She only has nubs for toes, limiting her mobility. Can use some handling training as she can get a bit worked up and pinch. She's also cuddly and a belly up kid. Set her cage next to a couch and she will be all over you and her cage. She loves playing with ropes and other toys hanging from the ceiling. Comes with cage and toys. All you need to prepare is places on the ceiling to attach things. Regular adoption fee.

Scarlet needs lots of patience, TLC, some training. She's sweet and with work would be a wonderful companion. She's been too sheltered. Not aggressive, bitey or loud. Seldom makes more than a low volume squawk. She likes hanging out on the high perches and sleeping on a spiral rope. Will provide a spiral rope if you don't already have one. Half the regular adoption fee due to her challenges.

Chacho's owner is a male, but he prefers females. Does like the occasional taste of a male or other pet. Seems super sweet on me. Really wants to be the only bird. Not a great flyer. Comes with cages, carrier, and tons toys. Reduced fee due to challenges and age.

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Our macaws get a variety of kibbles provided in a 14" wide planter platter to forage in. We provide a few pounds each of Zupreem fruitblend, Zupreem veggieblend, and Kaytee rainbow. They also love the 3-D Parrot Food and Kaytee Parrot Mix from Walmart, as well as walnuts, Gala apple, banana, and other fresh foods. We eat healthy and share what's safe for them.

The presumptive adoption fee for greater species like macaws, cockatoos, greys, etc. is $1000. Most do require preparation in advance of adoption. We may need to do a follow up conference call to be sure you are ready.

Minimum adoption fee is $100. We contract all adoptions and require regular pictures and videos to show their quality of life and care. Their families care and follow.

We may need to adjust the rate if you are really far away out of state.

07/19/2024

07/19/2024

Incoming 20 year old Senegal. Moody about men and other pets. Finds them tasty at times. Chacho is believed to be female. Owner is surrendering due to health changes. If you've applied, let me know you are interested. If you haven't, then apply here first. https://fb.jotform.com/220215139703042

07/16/2024

Using target training to tame a bird.

Here is a hands off approach to tame a bird and get it where you need it to go as well as explaining what the 3 levels of target training look like! If you w...

07/16/2024

Pete napping upside down on his back