Rehabilitating and rehoming unique birds is the objective of Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico.
The public can learn more about the not-for-profit and how it can help its cause throughout a fundraising occasion from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Tractor Brewing Company in Nob Hill, 118 Tulane Dr. SE.
“We try to do events a couple of times a year,” said Alysandra Newbill, co-founder of Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico. “And at our events, we do education on adopting one of our rescues, education on taking care of a bird, kind of what everyday life looks like, the needs, the care if anything were to happen or what it takes to volunteer with our organization. So it’s just kind of a big educational thing to raise awareness.”
Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico will bring a few of its ambassador birds to the occasion and likewise hold raffles to help raise money for the not-for-profit. Raffle products, that include present cards and present baskets, are contributions from regional businesses.
“We bring a couple of our ambassador birds and occasionally, when the area that we are doing the event at is enclosed, other people will bring their birds that they’ve adopted from us so we can see them,” Newbill said. “And the bird community comes out and visits.”
The not-for-profit strictly takes care of unique birds that have actually been abandoned or given up.
“We take in exotic birds, (such as) macaws, conures, cockatoos, anything that’s not wildlife rescue (intakes),” Newbill explained. “So no sparrows or pigeons … It’s the exotics who have been either surrendered to us or we rescue them from situations where people can’t really take care of them or they’ve been left behind at an apartment or a home.”
The rescue likewise attempts to help unique bird owners who have actually had their birds accidently leave.
“We get those calls from people,” Newbill said. “We’ll ask them to send us a picture and we’ll post it up on our website. So if anybody sees them, they can call us and we’ll help try and help catch the bird or reunite the owner with the bird. We try to help as much as we can because we know there’s circumstances where they get out.”
Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico is constantly looking for contributions to help look after its birds. The contributions can be financial to aid with veterinarian care, food and toy contributions along with contributing personal time.
“We accept donations of fresh fruits and vegetables to help feed these little guys their natural foods,” Newbill said. “And then seeds (and nuts) like walnuts, Brazilian nuts and almonds. Toys, like the wooden toys that birds love to play with and chew up, or time if anybody just wants to donate time and come cuddle with them and help (them) socialize. We always accept that too.”
More info on how to help the not-for-profit or learn how to adopt a bird can be discovered on its website, birdsofafeathernm.org.
“We have an initial questionnaire for people to fill out,” Newbill said relating to adoption queries. “So they’re able to give us all the information we need and we kind of screen them to see if they’re the right fit for any of our guys. Kind of see what everyone’s needs are.”
The rescue presently takes care of about 60 birds with the help of fosters. Newbill and her family’s love of birds motivated the production of Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico.
“Birds have always been in our family,” she said. “And we saw a need for a parrot rescue. And I think we are one of the only ones in New Mexico. There’s just a huge demand, like there is for dog or cat rescues, for birds as well because people don’t see the high needs that exotics (have). They’re a desirable trophy type of pet but (people) don’t see the messiness, the biting, and the amount of love and care they need, so they get left behind and kind of forgotten about.”
Newbill said taking care of unique birds is similar to looking after a young child.
“They’re just like having a two year old all the time,” she explained. “They’re loud, they’re messy, they want your attention. They cling on to you … Oh, they’re my world.”
