Papayago Rescue House, Inc.

Papayago Rescue House, Inc. An avian rescue focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming of parrots. https://papayagorescuehouse.org/donate/

Mainly supporting Georgia communities with their pet birds and unique needs.

This rescue’s perspective on parrots in captivityThose of us who work in rescue see parrots from a vantage point most pe...
11/30/2025

This rescue’s perspective on parrots in captivity

Those of us who work in rescue see parrots from a vantage point most people never witness. We celebrate every success story, every bird thriving in a home that understands their needs.

Platforms are full of videos that look cute or harmless, yet show situations we would quietly advise against. Not because we want to police anyone’s choices, but because we know what happens when things go wrong. We see the birds who pay the price.

What keeps us up at night isn’t the well-intentioned caregiver trying their best. It’s the parrots found in heartbreaking conditions, and the ones we didn’t reach in time. Ask EAST about the birds she is having to heal. Ask Soaring Spirits Sanctuary about the birds they had to recover. Ask T&A Parrot Rescue about the support they redirected to Soaring Spirits Sanctuary to help with the birds recovered. Thank goodness for them. Every. Year. There. Are. More.

It’s the moment you realize that even though people argue passionately about the “right” to keep parrots, the birds themselves often have no voice in the debate. Their suffering tends to be quiet, hidden, and prolonged in a first-world country. Be a first-world advocate and send these rescues some monetary love and support to help them mitigate the burden of recovery and all that it entails. The photo image is provided by EAST for her latest recovery.

This isn’t about a few bad apples. It’s about a system that was never built around the biology, psychology, or lifespan of a parrot. When the foundation is flawed, even good intentions can’t always prevent harm.

Our hope is that by speaking openly, grounded in research, experience, and the stories entrusted to us, we can help shift the conversation. Better awareness leads to better choices. And better choices lead to fewer birds suffering in silence. But there is so much more work to be done.

For the birds, always.

11/29/2025

Round 3: Avian Clinical Case Challenge – Answers Revealed!

1. The Silent Amazon – B. Aspergillosis
Subtle open-mouth breathing with a soft click can indicate early respiratory fungal infection. Amazons can hide illness, so early signs are key.

2. The Grounded Cockatiel – A. Ionized calcium
Sudden weakness and wing tremors are classic early signs of hypocalcemia. Checking ionized calcium helps catch it before seizures develop.

3. The Big-Bellied Conure – A. Hepatic
Abdominal distension with decreased stamina often signals liver enlargement or dysfunction. Normal appetite doesn’t rule out hepatic disease.

4. The Hungry, Skinny Parrot – B. PDD (Avian Bornavirus)
Persistent weight loss despite normal appetite can indicate proventricular dilatation disease. Crop function may appear normal early on.

5. The Sudden-Tilt Lovebird – A. Lead or zinc toxicity
Acute neurologic signs in a previously healthy bird often point to heavy metal exposure. Rapid onset helps differentiate from slower infectious causes.

How did you do?
Comment your score and share with friends; these are the subtle patterns every avian caregiver should know.

Round 3: Avian Clinical Case ChallengeThese short cases are based on real patterns avian vets see. Can you identify the ...
11/29/2025

Round 3: Avian Clinical Case Challenge

These short cases are based on real patterns avian vets see. Can you identify the most likely concern?

1. The Silent Amazon
An Amazon arrives quiet, slightly fluffed, with mild open-mouth breathing. No tail-bobbing, but there’s a soft “click” on inhalation.
A. Psittacosis
B. Aspergillosis
C. Air sac mites
D. Hypothyroidism

2. The Grounded Cockatiel
A normally active cockatiel won’t perch today. Wings tremble, and the bird seems weak but alert.

Which diagnostic clue matters most first?
A. Ionized calcium
B. Glucose
C. Packed cell volume
D. Total protein

3. The Big-Bellied Conure
A green-cheek conure has a visibly distended abdomen and reduced flight stamina. Appetite is normal.

Which system is most likely involved?
A. Hepatic
B. Renal
C. Reproductive
D. Cardiac

4. The Hungry, Skinny Parrot
A parrot is eating constantly but losing weight. Droppings are normal, and the bird is bright and interactive.

What’s highest on the differential list?
A. Giardia
B. PDD (Avian Bornavirus)
C. Crop stasis
D. Hypothyroidism

5. The Sudden-Tilt Lovebird
A lovebird suddenly develops a head tilt and keeps falling from perches. Onset was rapid.

What jumps highest on the suspect list?
A. Lead or zinc toxicity
B. West Nile virus
C. Aspergillosis
D. Vitamin A deficiency

Wing Trims: What they do and don’t doMany caregivers trim their parrot’s wings for safety, but it’s important to underst...
11/28/2025

Wing Trims: What they do and don’t do

Many caregivers trim their parrot’s wings for safety, but it’s important to understand exactly what’s happening.
1. What trims remove
Primaries: the outer flight feathers that generate thrust.
Sometimes, unintentionally, secondaries: the inner flight feathers that generate lift.

Effect: The bird loses most of its ability to flap strongly, gain altitude, or glide safely.

2. Why trimmed birds can still fly
Even with a trim, parrots retain:
Some secondaries (lift): even a few intact secondaries help them glide short distances.
Strong muscles and tail feathers: these aid in steering, braking, and balancing.
Short bursts of flapping: they can often “flutter” forward, land, or jump between perches.

Result: Flight isn’t gone, just impaired and less controlled, which can actually increase risk if the environment isn’t safe (draws attention to them struggling).

3. Risks & realities
Falls from even low heights can injure the keel bones, legs, or feet.
Trimmed birds often panic midair because they cannot maneuver or stop properly.
Tail feathers take extra stress, leading to breakage or fraying.
Confidence and emotional security can be affected; some birds become more fearful or reactive.

4. Takeaway
Wing trims reduce but do not eliminate flight. They change how a parrot moves, lands, and balances. Knowing this helps caregivers create safe spaces and understand the bird’s new limitations without assuming the trim “makes them completely flightless.

Next Friday, we will discuss if wing trims are ever justifiable.

11/27/2025

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Birds can smell — and the science keeps proving it.For decades, parrots were labeled “anosmic” (poor smellers). But mode...
11/26/2025

Birds can smell — and the science keeps proving it.

For decades, parrots were labeled “anosmic” (poor smellers). But modern studies in avian neuroscience and genomics show a very different picture.

Here are some scientific insights that surprise most people:
• They have functional olfactory bulbs
While smaller than in mammals, birds’ olfactory bulbs are well-developed relative to their ecological needs.
Parrot species generally fall in the moderate range, similar to other birds that rely on scent for food and environmental cues.
• They carry hundreds of olfactory receptor (OR) genes
Songbirds average ~200–600 OR genes, and parrots fall within that range.
These genes help detect volatile compounds in foods, plants, soil, and even social signals.
• They can detect harmful microbes
Experiments show parrots avoid foods contaminated with bacteria or mold based on scent alone.
Some species can detect geosmin, the earthy scent produced by microbes, useful for avoiding spoiled food.
• Scents influence social and reproductive behaviors
Studies in other birds demonstrate scent-based recognition of mates, parents, and nest sites.
Parrots show similar responses: they investigate feathers, preen-gland odors, and environmental smells with clear behavioral changes.
• Navigation is not just visual
Pigeons, seabirds, and vultures use complex “odor maps” to orient over long distances.
While parrots rely more heavily on vision, they still use olfaction to:
fresh browse
habitat quality
predators or unfamiliar animals
safe roosting areas

• Their respiratory system makes scent exposure high-impact
Because parrots inhale air deeply into an air sac system, airborne chemicals hit their system far faster than in mammals. This is why:
scented candles
wax warmers
aerosols
perfumes
cleaners
et al
can irritate or overwhelm them, even at levels we barely notice.

Bottom line:
Nares → nasal cavity → olfactory receptors → olfactory bulbs → brain interpretation.
Respecting that helps us create safer homes and more natural experiences for them.

Several weeks ago, I produced an article discussing macaws' diet. I inadvertently referred to macaws as frugivores. But...
11/25/2025

Several weeks ago, I produced an article discussing macaws' diet. I inadvertently referred to macaws as frugivores. But that isn't true, and it is misleading, which could cause issues with captive macaws. I am taking this opportunity to correct with proper terminology.

Parrot dietary categories – Quick reference chart
Nectarivores
Definition: Birds adapted to consume nectar and pollen as primary energy sources. Typically have brush-tipped tongues and rapid gut transit times.
Parrot Examples:
Lorikeets & Lories (Rainbow Lorikeet, Red Lory, Musk Lorikeet)
Swifts (nectar-leaning, though more varied than lorikeets)

Key Note: Require specialized nectar/pollen diets; cannot be managed on typical parrot diets.

Frugivores
Definition: Species whose diet is primarily fruit in the wild, with morphology adapted for soft fruit and high sugar intake.
Parrot Examples:
Fig Parrots (Cyclopsitta, Psittaculirostris) – the closest parrots to true frugivores
Eclectus – fruit-forward, but not true frugivores; they require high fiber, flowers, and vegetation, and avoid sugary domestic fruit.

Key Note: Very few parrots are genuine frugivores; most only include fruit rather than rely on it.

Granivores
Definition: Birds that specialize in seeds and grains, often with strong beaks adapted for husking and seed processing.
Parrot Examples:
Budgerigars
Cockatiels
Rosellas
Red-rumped
Many Australian grass parakeets

Key Note: Still need fresh vegetables and low-sugar plant matter in captivity; all-seed diets cause major health issues.

Generalist Herbivores (MOST PARROTS)
Definition: Birds that eat a varied mix of seeds, nuts, unripe fruit, vegetation, flowers, and plant material. Diet shifts with season and availability.
Parrot Examples:
Macaws (Blue & Gold, Scarlet, Green-winged)
Amazons
African Greys
Conures
Pionus
Poicephalus Species (Senegal, Meyer's)
Quakers/Monks
Cockatoos (many species, though some are more granivorous)

Key Note: These parrots are not frugivores, even though they eat fruit. They rely on fiber-rich, lower-sugar plant material and fats.

Opportunistic Omnivores (Occasional Animal Matter)
Definition: Parrots that primarily consume plant matter but may eat insects, larvae, or small invertebrates seasonally.
Parrot Examples:
Kea (most notable)
Some Australian species during breeding season (e.g., Red-winged Parrot)

Occasional reports of macaws and Amazons consuming insect larvae opportunistically in the wild.

Key Note: This does not justify protein-heavy captive diets; it is seasonal and minor.

A simple takeaway for the public
Most parrots people keep at home fall into generalist herbivore or granivore categories, not frugivores. Using these terms correctly helps prevent harmful misunderstandings about fruit-heavy captive diets and supports better microbiome health.

Antibiotics — When they help and when they harm (Part 3)Antibiotics are powerful tools in avian medicine. Used at the ri...
11/24/2025

Antibiotics — When they help and when they harm (Part 3)

Antibiotics are powerful tools in avian medicine. Used at the right time, they save lives. Used at the wrong time, they can quietly create bigger problems than the one they were meant to fix.
Most parrots do not need antibiotics unless diagnostic testing confirms a bacterial infection. Unlike in mammals, guessing and treating “just in case” can be especially risky for birds.

Here’s what misuse can do:
• Disrupt the microbiome — many antibiotics wipe out beneficial gut bacteria that support digestion, immunity, and nutrient absorption.
• Invite secondary problems — when good bacteria are cleared, yeast and opportunistic bacteria can take over, creating new infections that are harder to manage.
• Drive resistance — bacteria learn to survive repeated or unnecessary exposure, making future infections more difficult to treat and narrowing the options your vet can safely use.

The goal is always the same: treat illness effectively without harming the systems that keep a parrot healthy.

To protect your bird’s microbiome and ensure treatment works as intended:
• Follow your avian vet’s guidance closely.
• Use antibiotics only when testing supports their need.
• MiDog offers next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to accurately identify and characterize microbial populations in samples. The presence of both bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as antibiotic susceptibility (resistance) is identified, so no more guesswork about which antibiotic will work. We can run those tests for you at much less than a vet's office.
• Complete the full course once started as stopping early fuels resistance.
• Ask your vet whether supportive care, such as probiotics, is appropriate for your bird’s situation.

Thoughtful use keeps these medications effective, safeguards long-term health, and helps us care for parrots with the precision they deserve and we are capable of.

Time to rethink some old ideas about parrotsFor generations, people kept parrots the way earlier societies kept exotic a...
11/23/2025

Time to rethink some old ideas about parrots

For generations, people kept parrots the way earlier societies kept exotic animals; symbols of curiosity, status, or novelty. Even today, that mindset quietly lingers. We still hear, “I just want a bird to be my friend,” or “I’ve always dreamed of having a talking parrot.” But as our understanding grows, it’s become clear that many of our inherited assumptions simply don’t match what parrots actually do and need to thrive.

Modern behavioral science and welfare research show us that parrots are not solitary ornaments for human homes. They’re complex, social, flight-adapted beings whose lives revolve around flock bonds, movement, and agency. When we talk openly about rethinking yesterday’s habits, keeping parrots alone, treating them as lifestyle accessories, or assuming they “adapt” to any setup, we give them a chance at a future built on what’s true rather than what’s traditional.

Part of this shift means confronting the idea of animals as objects, products, or property, things we own rather than individuals with their own needs, preferences, and emotional depth. When parrots are viewed as belongings, it becomes easier for outdated practices to persist: clipping wings for convenience, pinioning to keep them grounded permanently, chaining to restrain them, or filing beaks for reasons unrelated to health. These approaches may have been normalized in the past, but today they stand in stark contrast to everything we know about their physical and emotional well-being.
We’ve come a long way as a society. We care more deeply, we listen more closely, and we try harder to honor the lives we share space with. But this is a moment to keep moving forward. Instead of recreating the “menageries” of the past, collections built for human satisfaction, we can choose relationships grounded in welfare, respect, and scientific insight.
Parrots don’t need to prove anything to us. They don’t need to be displayed, collected, or shaped into something more convenient. They need flock, flight, safety, enrichment, and the freedom to be who they were born to be.

Let’s keep challenging old norms. Let’s keep learning and evolving. And most of all, let’s build a world where parrots are valued not for how they look in our homes, but for who they are in their own place and space.

Advanced Avian Medicine Round 2 – Answers Revealed!How did you score on Round 2? These clinical clues are the same ones ...
11/22/2025

Advanced Avian Medicine Round 2 – Answers Revealed!

How did you score on Round 2? These clinical clues are the same ones avian vets use every day. Let’s walk through the answers together:

1. Liver – C
Biliverdin staining (green urates) points to impaired liver function; birds excrete bile differently than mammals, so liver issues show up fast.

2. Leg weakness – C
African Greys often show subtle neuromuscular weakness before seizures begin in hypocalcemia cases.

3. Vitamin A deficiency – A
Hyperkeratosis of the feet and beak is a classic sign; keratinized tissues overgrow when vitamin A is low.

4. Respiratory distress – B
Tail-bobbing is a compensatory breathing effort; parrots rely on body motion to ventilate their air sacs.

5. Metabolic bone disease – A
Chronic calcium/phosphorus imbalance affects bone density, muscle function, and organ health.

6. Renal disease – B
PU/PD (lots of drinking + lots of urine) is one of the earliest red flags for kidney trouble in parrots.

7. Vent and cloaca – B
Papillomatosis causes wart-like growths most commonly in the cloacal region of many South American species.

8. Zinc toxicity – B
Neurologic signs plus green diarrhea is a classic presentation, often linked to household metal exposure.

9. Endoscopy with biopsy – C
Radiographs help, but a definitive Aspergillosis diagnosis requires visualization and sampling of lesions.

10. Bacterial or fungal infection – B
A markedly high WBC count points toward an active infection that the immune system is fighting hard.

How many did you get right?
Drop your score below and tag a fellow bird lover who’d enjoy Round 3. The next level will dive into diagnostics, labs, and emergency signs. What’s the harm in learning more about our friends? Nothing as long as you aren't using this information to do your own diagnosing.

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4462 Bretton Court NW
Marietta, GA
30101

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