In The Media                                                                                                                

A haven for 'little souls': Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary nests in a Tsawwassen home


By Boaz Joseph - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: June 16, 2009 1:00 PM
Updated: June 16, 2009 2:08 PM

 

Just after breakfast, Jenny Tamas’ phone rings.
But instead of a bell tone, there’s a soothing passage of classical music.

The quiet melody is intended to pacify her house guests. She says it’s better for them to learn Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Opus 46 (Morning Mood) rather than to imitate a pesky telephone ring.

Tamas hangs up the receiver. “That’s the second call this morning,” says the adoptions director at Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary. “We have a waiting list.” It’s going to be another busy day in her Tsawwassen home, where Tamas tends to her flock of “little souls” – parrots, lovebirds, canaries and other companion birds that, for one reason or another, have been left homeless.

She approaches Eckkie, a green eclectus parrot, a species from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
Eckkie is a mix of curious and friendly, his head feathers almost a furry texture in the living room window light.
“His wings are drooping. I thought he was abused. When he was born, he didn’t get the right amount of calcium and sufficient nutrients,” she notes. “His wings are always going to be drooping like this.”

“Hi,” he squawks.

There’s no doubt about his affection for Tamas, as the nuzzles come hard and fast.

“He doesn’t like hands, but you can give him kisses.”

The bird, one of the few in her house allowed to leave its cage, will sit on her back or foot as she watches TV.
Nearby, in their own cages, are other birds, each with their own personality, most of them up for adoption.

Greyhaven volunteers have taken in 87 birds so far this year.

They’ve been abandoned or otherwise sent to Greyhaven when their former owners have died, become ill, been divorced, wanted to travel or have simply been overwhelmed by the demands bird ownership.

“It’s a huge commitment,” explains Tamas, pointing to Penny, a double yellow head Amazon. “These guys will live 50, 60 years, maybe even longer.”

Most people have no idea of the sort of effort needed to care for the feathered creatures.

“People call up and say ‘I’d like a bird that talks – a big bird.’ ”

Just as they should do their research, Greyhaven does theirs, vetting potential owners. “We don’t just give anybody a bird.” That includes smaller birds such as budgies and parakeets, which appear to need little care, but they can be high-maintenance.

“There are so many people breeding them in their kitchens and they don’t know what they’re doing. “If one rescue can take in 87 birds, there’s a problem. It breaks your heart.”

Greyhaven’s rented Surrey location was closed down two years ago as the property owner made other arrangements.

The non-profit’s society’s 60 volunteers spend time educating the public about birds, fundraising, feeding their winged charges, cleaning their cages and adopting out birds, all the while on the lookout for a new non-residential facility for the birds.

While Tamas does make do with the space she has – and her house does, at times, sound like a rain forest – there’s an obvious need for a formal facility. Her advice for anyone wanting to adopt a bird is to do their research and prepare for a life-long commitment.

“If you can’t do that, get a gerbil.” For more information, visit www.greyhaven.bc.ca


Ten things to know before adopting a bird:


1. Parrots, including lovebirds, parakeets, and cockatiels, are noisy and messy, and can be destructive. Vocalizing (squawking, chirping, talking) is an important part of any parrot’s social communication. Birds eat continually, dropping and discarding bits of food everywhere. They are programmed to chew and shred wood, whether it is a perch, toy, picture frame or furniture.

2. Birds are very sensitive to air quality. Unlike humans, a bird replaces nearly all the air in its lungs with each breath. Birds should never be exposed to tobacco smoke, chemical fumes (hairspray, cleaners, etc.) or Teflon-coated materials. Exposure to some toxic inhalants can cause immediate death.

3. Chlamydiosis (psittacosis) and avian tuberculosis can be transmitted through the air from birds to humans. Birds also continually shed feather dust, which may aggravate asthma.

4. Light exposure and sleep are very important to birds. Birds need at least four hours of daily exposure to UVA and UVB rays to provide them with vitamin D, which promotes vitamin A absorption, which is critical for upper respiratory health. Birds must have at least 10 hours of sleep each night.

5. Birds are not domesticated animals. Domestic animals have been bred for hundreds of years to live in the care of humans and are distinct from their wild ancestors. Birds commonly kept as pets are no different than their wild relatives.

6. Birds need veterinary care from a veterinarian that specializes in birds.

7. Birds are active and inquisitive and must be provided with ample room to move about and play. An indoor or sheltered outdoor aviary or a flight-safe room (windows covered, no cats/dogs, no ceiling fans, etc.) is good for exercise. Birds with clipped wings can get exercise by climbing, swinging, and flapping.

8. Parrots are extremely social animals and have been compared to human toddlers in the needs of their emotional and social lives.

9. All parrots have long life spans. Depending on species, they may live 20 to 50 years or more. Caring for a bird is often a life-long responsibility.

10. All birds need a varied diet – not just seeds or pellets, but grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.

Source: Monica Engebretson, grassroots coordinator, Animal Protection Institute

E-mail: info@greyhaven.bc.ca