Donating a Too

Donating a Cockatoo, Macaw or Grey

We are currently accepting all species of Cockatoos, Greys and Macaws with the exception of;

Umbrella’s colony Full* Goffin’s colony full

Blue and Gold’s colony full*

*we can refer you to another facility

We welcome birds that have screaming, feather picking, self mutilating, biting or have phobic behaviors. These issues are usually resolved, once the bird has acclimated into the colony.

In addition to the species that were featured on this web site, we also have colony space available for Major Mitchell, Rose-breasted, Long Billed, Blue Eyed and Red Vented Cockatoos.

If you would like to donate a Cockatoo, Macaw or Grey to us, please call 360 654-1538 pacific time. Leave a detailed message including, the species and we will call you back, as soon as possible. We will gladly take the time to answer your questions and concerns. Each case is unique and together, we can help you decide if this, is the best option for you and your bird.

We will ask about behavior history, diet, age, personality traits and health issues, if any. It is very important, for the safety of all Sanctuary residents that, we be notified in advance of any illness, past, or present and symptoms that your bird has exhibited or been exposed to.

Cockatoos that are chronic screamers, attention vacuums', biters and hyperactive, calm down once they are introduced into the flock. Shy birds, gain confidence and self-reliance from the other birds in their colony. Change is stressful and some birds adapt better than others. Ideally, they would be flying free in the pristine jungles of their homeland and far away from the cage in our living rooms. We can however, surround them with a loving flock of their own kind. Better late than never.

*Please read if you are considering donating a bird to any Rescue or Sanctuary This is not your average list of screening tips!

The Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary is one option, of many. We have an unconventional flock method of housing birds in the species specific colonies and we are not the ideal option for every bird. Each has it’s own unique personality and there are no two alike. Every bird has core personality traits unique to its specific species but, beyond the core trait, there are infinite combinations. You know your bird better than anyone. If you have a shy, phobic bird, it may not be comfortable in the chaotic environment of a busy facility, that is open to the public. If your bird is outgoing and gregarious, he may enjoy the ever changing volunteer pool. Pick a facility that your bird will enjoy and thrive in. Please research your options carefully and consider the following:

Does the facility warehouse birds? Warehousing is actually, very similar to breeding facilities, row after row of individual cages. Some facilities, have hundreds of birds with cages stacked two and three high, in every room of the house and out-buildings. The difference between a breeding facility and a warehousing “sanctuary”, a breeding facility gives the bird a mate, the warehousing “sanctuary” gives the bird toys.

Do the Math. If there are hundreds of birds, in hundreds of cages, with hundreds of food and water bowls, how many people will it take to give the birds individual attention, each day? Answer, it cannot and will not get the individual attention it needs and wants, in a warehouse style facility. Especially, if it is a Cockatoo!

Beware of Rescuer Burnout! You know how much work it can be to take care of a pet bird. Many people give up their birds because of the constant dust and mess. Does the Rescue you are interviewing, house birds in individual cages? Now, multiply that mess times x 300 birds! Every day of every week of every year! It can be done, but for how long? Keep in mind, volunteers are just that,……. volunteers. So, unless the facility is owned by a multi millionaire, or consistently well funded to hire employees, they better get creative and find solutions for the work load, or risk burnout. Housing birds in colonies cuts the work load tremendously and the birds are happier because they have more space and constant attention from fellow flock members.

During the past 15 years, we have watched nearly 75% fail from burnout and lack of funds. And, unfortunately, he birds are distributed to other facilities, if their lucky. Or, sold to the general public thru an adoption fee. Here, in Washington State, some years ago, we had a “sanctuary” that ran regular ads in the regional papers, they offered a permanent home to unwanted birds. The Sanctuary took in hundreds of birds, all species. They had acreage and it sounded like a perfect place. Until the birds went up for sale a few years later. I contacted the “facility” and offered to help, naively thinking that there was a health issue or other emergency. I was told that, they just wanted to sell the birds to buy Hyacinth Macaws. Which, they eventually did.

Does the Facility operate in an area that has the proper zoning? If not, they could be shut down or forced to move with as little as 10 days notice! Even the big, well funded rescues need to check their zoning. Moving is

very expensive and a waste of precious donation dollars. Not to mention, hard on the birds, regardless of species. You cannot, legally run an animal shelter, Rescue or Sanctuary in a residential neighborhood.

Will your donated bird live on the Sanctuary premises, you visited? Or, will your bird be living at someone else’s house, without your knowledge? A “foster home”. Many facilities, even the big ones, farm out birds to “foster homes”. Isn’t that similar to adoption? Well, it is to the bird! He is living with another family. Bonding with a family that you did not get a chance to interview. If you want your bird to live in a Sanctuary, it should live in the Sanctuary that you chose. Adoption is adoption. Re-habilitation and Adoption programs utilize true, foster homes, until the appropriate home can be found. True Sanctuaries, by definition, do not “foster birds”.

The IRS definition of Sanctuary says “...animals are not to be taken off Sanctuary grounds…” Section170 [b][1] [A][vi]

Do you know that, some of the BIG rescues actually, send foster birds to live with family’s who live in different

States? Or, in some cases, across the country. That would be, hard to monitor or control properly.

Is the facility on land that is rented ? What if the landlord finds out that an animal shelter [rescue, sanctuary] is operating on his/her property? You know what a Cockatoo can do to a house! If they rent, we suggest you

look elsewhere.

What are the goals of the Sanctuary? Are they spreading themselves too thin? Do they want to be the biggest? The best? The only? Are they focusing on the birds at their facility or promoting themselves? Are their goals realistic? If the facility is overwhelmed with their current workload why would they add projects that are not efficiency related?

Does the facility house small birds too? Fact: Many species of smaller birds carry diseases! Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Budgies and a few others. Nothing against small birds. But, as long as the vaccination or office call, costs more than the bird,…..there are going to be problems. Large birds, because of their higher value, are now, commonly vaccinated as babies.

Hopefully, the items on this list will scare you into keeping your bird and working through, whatever problem it was that, led you to research Rescue and Sanctuary options. Having said that, we do recognize, some things cannot not be fixed*. Or, you have a wild caught bird that, should be retired to live with his own kind. You can call us at 360 654-1538 Pacific time.

* The exotic bird community, unfortunately, contains more than it’s share of self-righteous people. They declare that any undesirable Cockatoo behavior can and should be, modified. The Fact is, not all birds housed in Sanctuaries, are here because the owner felt inconvenienced, or lost interest in it. Some of our residents, are here because the owner wanted MORE for their bird, than to have it sit in a cage, for the rest of its life. Some Cockatoos have huge personalities! They are full of life, demanding, extremely active, very smart and hard to calm down and hard to entertain …… and hard to live with.

Is it really, in the birds best interest to have their individuality modified to fit human expectations? Should we consider the fact that, some personalities are, too big for a cage? As with humans, some people are better suited working in chaos, while others thrive in a quiet environment. Some Pit Bulls make great pets, but others do not. Some Cockatoos make great pets, but others do not.