Play

Want to Help? Start Here.

Throughout our conversation with Pete Paxton, we’ve talked about what happens behind the scenes of the commercial bird trade. But awareness matters most when we turn it into action.

One way to help is to support organizations committed to providing lifetime sanctuary for birds already in captivity. MAARS is proud to be a GFAS Accredited sanctuary. GFAS accreditation involves an application and site-visit process designed to evaluate sanctuary operations and standards of care.

You can also speak up for birds still caught in the commercial breeding and retail system. Current petitions are calling on major pet-store chains to stop selling parrots and other birds, while legislative efforts are working toward retail bird-sale bans.

Take action:

🦜 Support MAARS: www.maars.org/support-maars/
🦜 Foster Parrots: www.fosterparrots.com/
🔎 Find a GFAS-certified sanctuary: sanctuaryfederation.org/find-a-sanctuary/
✍️ Sign: Stop PetSmart, Petco & Pet Supplies Plus from selling exotic birds: sign.moveon.org/petitions/stop-selling-exotic-birds
✍️ Sign: Urge Petco to end the sale of parrots and other birds
www.change.org/p/urge-petco-to-end-the-sale-of-parrots-and-other-birds
📣 Peta Investigation: investigations.peta.org/creekside-birds-parakeet-breeder/

You don’t have to operate a sanctuary to make a difference. Adopt instead of buying. Support reputable rescues and sanctuaries. Volunteer. Donate. Sign petitions. Contact lawmakers. And use your voice to help end the commercial bird trade.

Every action helps move us toward a future where birds are valued as individuals, not products. #MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit ... See MoreSee Less

Play

Bizzy, our Bird of the Month, knows what she likes and we want her to have a say!

Every day, Bizzy is given opportunities to make choices. Which enrichment does she want to explore? Where does she want to perch? What does she want to investigate, shred, or play with? Does she want to interact, or would she rather have some space?

For parrots in the wild, choice is a natural part of everyday life. They decide where to fly, what to forage for, who to socialize with, where to rest, and how to spend their time. Parrots in captivity have far fewer opportunities to make those decisions, which makes providing meaningful choices especially important.

At MAARS, enrichment isn't just about keeping our residents busy. It's about giving them opportunities for choice, control, exploration, and natural behavior.

What you're seeing is simply a normal day in Bizzy's life. She is making choices all the time. From where she goes and what she explores to how she interacts with her environment, those everyday decisions give her more control over her own life.

Good sanctuary care isn't about making every decision for them. Sometimes, it's about giving them the opportunity to decide!
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit ... See MoreSee Less