Thirty parrots seized from Georgetown home; some up for adoption

Thirty exotic parrots were seized over the weekend from a Georgetown homeThirty exotic parrots — some Macaws, African Greys and Amazons — that were seized over the weekend from a Georgetown home now are in need of new homes and toys, a Kent County SPCA official said.

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Where screeching, scarlet macaws enjoy raucous celebrity status

Feral macaws in Kirkby Stephen: 'As we crossed the road, a pair peered down at us from the sky, Technicolor adornments on a grey day.' In London, parakeets are regarded by some as a feral nuisance; in Kirkby Stephen, the locals relish their glimpse of Amazonia

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Birds vs. bees

From left, Andrew Morrill and interim cub scout leader Shawn Denton demonstrate how the completed bird houses will look. Florida Power & Light has agreed to help set poles for the bird houses to be mounted. Image by Michelle KanaarThat buzz you might hear among some South Florida bird enthusiasts is about bees — reports that Africanized honey bees, known for their aggressive behavior, are taking over birds’ nesting sites.

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Veterinarian rescues parrots from deplorable conditions

A Moluccan Cockatoo was one of the birds rescued. Image by Susan Pfannmuller

As a veterinarian, Julie Burge has rescued and cared for domestic birds and family pets abandoned in communities ravaged by hurricanes and tornadoes.

The deplorable conditions from which she rescued six parrots last week from a vacant Pleasant Valley house were just as bad, if not worse, she said.

The two cockatoos and four macaws were unhealthy with tattered and discolored feathers. Several birds had large bare patches where feathers had been plucked out or chewed off, said Burge, who operates a veterinarian practice and bird rescue operation in Grandview. She previously rescued pets after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Joplin tornado.

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Macaw Population Being Revitalized in Nicoya Peninsula

Once abundant in the Nicoya Peninsula, the Ara Macaw (lapa roja) population has decreased over the years, but efforts are now being made to help the macaws recover.

Nelson Marin Mora, director of the Tempisque Conservation Area with Minaet in Nicoya, said there are now very few macaws in the peninsula, primarily because people have captured the vibrantly colorful birds to sell as pets. However, Marin assured that the new Wildlife Conservation Law will help since it carries very strict penalties, with fines of up to 1.2 million colones ($2400) for anyone who has wildlife in captivity without authorization.

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