Support Sassy

Sassy joined the flock in mid-2021 but has since decided he must explore every single inch of his new jungle gym in true Goffin’s fashion. “Oooh, what’s this?” “Oh, where does that go?” “Hmmm, if I climb across that pipe and hop onto that door, I can shimmy down the frame and skitter into the next room.”

Some birds arrive at MAARS in emotional confusion, lost, and overwhelmed, while others come in knowing exactly who they are, with confidence in every move. Sassy is somewhere in between, a curious mix of hesitant uncertainty and independent self-reliance. A charismatic little Goffin’s cockatoo, Sassy will make you fall for him and then dismiss you because he has many other things to do.

When humans think of birds, we generally think of flighted beings. Flight is the essence of birds; flight is what makes a bird a bird. Frequently captive parrots are deprived of the joys of flight, either intentionally by clipping or pinioning wings or inadvertently because no one ever encouraged them to fly.

Sassy is still finding his wings – while he was encouraged to fly by his previous guardian, he chose to use flight only to launch an attack at humans in a fit of frustrated rage. Luckily at The Landing, he has learned other options: he can choose to interact with his favorite humans, hang out with feathered friend Bizzy, or go solo and meander down the hall. He will often climb or walk to his chosen destinations, but sometimes he FLIES. And not in a flight of fury; he flies because he wants to fly. And when he flies, our hearts soar.