Flock Talk

Dcember 2013 Issue #18

Website

Birdies eat too!

Birdie Bird Scooby

Rosebud

Cricket and Garble

Chico

Belle Trixie

Welcome

Dear Friends of the Flock,

As the year comes to an end, it's time for both giving thanks and looking ahead. We are grateful to you for supporting the Sanctuary and sharing this exciting year with us.

2013 meant big changes at the Sanctuary, the largest of which was the completion of our new instructional facility. Beginning with the spring semester of 2014, the recently completed Skylar Learning Center at SBBS will offer educational programs for children of all ages. We are very excited at the prospect of sharing our passion for parrots with young and old alike!

Also in 2013, SBBS was fortunate to be included in the important and controversial PBS documentary, "Parrot Confidential"; it can be streamed online at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/parrot-confidential/parrot-confidential/8496/ Be sure to check out the heated discussion in the comments section.

Most significant of all, we nurtured and cared for nearly 70 rescued or relinquished parrots this year. Some, like the African Grey Bubba, (who has been renamed "Bubbles" by his doting new owner), found a lifelong friend. Others, (like Doodle), now have sponsors and a permanent place in the SBBS flock, surrounded by their feathered friends. A few of our parrots that proved unadoptable now have a forever home, flying freely at a private sanctuary where they can just be birds again. All of this was possible because of you and your generosity.

We look forward to even more changes in 2014. Because of the added exposure given the SBBS by our participation in "Parrot Confidential", requests for placement at the Sanctuary have increased ten-fold. We are working on plans for expansion and hope to have a cage-building party sometime this spring. Check our website for upcoming events.

When you share our newsletter, visit or donate to the Sanctuary, volunteer your time, bring us fruit from your trees, or lend your voice, it means the world to us. All of us peeps -- both human and feathered -- are grateful for your continued support. Please remember us in your charitable giving this year. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) and 100% of your gift is tax-deductible!

Wishing You A Merry Everything and Happy Always!

Jamie McLeod

Sanctuary Director

Babu The Grey Elf

An Early Visit From Santa

Wow...Santa showed up early at the sanctuary with an ENORMOUS box of donated toys from the West Valley Bird Society! Busy beaks are littering the ground with multicolored confetti...it's party time! Huge thanks to the members of WVBS for your generosity.

Don't Give Up On Us

Two parakeets were recently found abandoned on our front porch! Abandonment of any animal is illegal in California, and it saddens us to think that someone could just give up on the poor little guys. They are currently in quarantine with a SBBS volunteer foster mom after being seen by the vet and treated for those awful scaly mites!

Sponsor Us

Meet Ko

An umbrella cockatoo who lives in the large communal aviary, Ko, spends his days with male cockatoos fondly known as, "The Boys in the Hood." They are all in the three strikes program; adopted out three times and brought back again, and again---and again. Members of our forever flock all have innate macho behavior with which humans tend to have a problem; typically, it's excessive screaming and biting. This time of year, old-world birds feel hormonal, especially after recent rains. Rain can trigger a breeding cycle, as it signifies the coming months will bring a food supply for offspring. Each November after the first rain, We see big behavioral changes and the Boys in the Hood begin to act like restless natives on the warpath!

Ko is usually a cuddly, sweet bird. He's very intelligent and a great talker. When hormonal, horns sprout and his personality changes. If on the ground, he starts to cuss violently and chases perceived enemies (usually men), intending to remove a toe. With a firm approach that turns the focus back on positive behavior, he is easily calmed. We thought Ko's last home would be his forever one, but again testosterone began raging!

Friends from out of town came to visit and everyone got to play and cuddle with Ko. The next day, Ko's peeps went to work as company hung out at home. The guests, having had so much fun with Ko the night before, took him out of his cage for another love fest. Bad idea!! The man started bouncing him up and down near his face. Ko reached over and took a chunk from his cheek. Thrown to the floor, Ko had a Tourette's-like attack, chased the couple down the hall and trapped them in the bathroom! He pounded on the door, cussing with gusto. After 10 minutes he quieted down, so out they peeked. He was lying in wait, ready to pounce. Luckily, their cell phone enabled a call to Ko's peeps, who came home to rescue them. The next day Ko was back and it's here he will stay.

Recently, Ko's tongue was bitten by another hormonal male cockatoo, requiring stitches. On the way to the vet in Calabasas, Ko completely chewed through his plastic carrier, necessitating a stop in Ventura to purchase a metal one. Once again, hormones were responsible. He is currently at home with Jamie getting meds and lot's of TLC. Ko is currently seeking sponsors...$50.00 will keep him well fed for a month!

Some months ago we ran an article Jamie wrote about hormonal behavior. If your angel's halo has been replaced with horns, check the newsletter archives on our website to read, "The Birds and Bees".

Sponsor Ko

Pablo and Lola

It's been nearly a year since we lost our dear friend, Robert Wilmott. His three birds, although Robert hadn't left instructions, are in loving hands. Osgood, the African Grey, found a home with a woman in Camarillo who works at home as a graphic artist (as was Robert). Lola, the blue crown and Pablo the cherry head Conure were a little harder to place (think loudness factor) and are currently staying with one of our sanctuary volunteers, Kelley Giffin, who was a dear friend of Robert Wilmott.

Sponsor Pablo and Lola

Amazon Helps Support the Sanctuary

You can help the Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary every time you shop at Amazon. Use this link to Amazon.com whenever you shop, and SBBS will receive a percentage of your purchase, no matter what you buy! It's as easy as that and SBBS will not receive any information about your purchases. Your privacy remains intact!

You can find more information about helping us by shopping on Amazon on our website.

www.sbbird.org/help/amazon

Our new mailing address

We have recently changed post office box numbers! Our new address is Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary PO Box 454 Santa Barbara Ca 93067-0454

In the tiny town of Summerland the mailman does not deliver to street addresses. All mail must have the PO box number on it or it will be returned to sender.

Wish List

Grant writer, copy writer, social media volunteer, administrative assistance, computer tech support. Manzanita & eucalyptus branches 1/2-2 inch in diameter up to 10 feet, towels, and fruit & veggies.