Every Aviary has a special story of how they began...this is ours
Our very first bird...and so many more to follow
Our first rescue was a normal grey male cockatiel, who was rescued from a drug bust. The local shelter was unable to take him in, because they neither had the space or knowledge for caring for him properly. I was asked to foster him till a proper home could be found, however after investing hundreds in repairing his broken wing and leg, I decided to keep him as a pet. He had been in so much pain for so long, he really didn't know how to be sweet, or that people could be sweet either. He learned to trust, and eventually love me. It was the beginning of a very special bond I developed with my feathered friends. I began taking in more birds soon after.
Our second bird came in within a week of the first
A very skiddish normal grey female cockatiel with no feathers was our second rescue. I was so new with tiels [even though I had read everything I could get my hands on] that I didn't even know it was a female for sure, till she laid an egg. The two of them became instant friends, but I would not allow them to mate, because I wanted to rehabilitate them and find them new homes, not breed them. I didn't start breeding tiels until many years later, when I was fortunate enough to find a gorgeous female pied from a breeder, and decide to do both rescue work and breeding, although not together.
It wasn't until my flock had reached over 75,
that I learned the importance of quarenteen
I had been taking in rescue for a few years when a pair came to me that looked ok, but something was very wrong. I took them in and put them with the rest of the flock, as I had always done before. Within a few days the other birds started dropping like flies. One after another they started dying for no apparent reason. Within a week I had lost 73 birds, and my flock was almost gone, I was devastated! I took a few of the dead birds to a vet and he said they had died of a contagious disease that showed no symptoms. Nothing I could do to bring them back, but this is when quarenteening was explained to me, and why it was so important.
Back in the nineties, quarenteen was almost unheard of, but I learned the hard way why it really is very important. No matter where your birds come from, no matter how reputable the breeder, no matter how healthy they look...they must be quarenteened for 30 to 45 days, in a separate air space, no exceptions! As I stated on the first page, "This is to insure that they can acclimate to any new pathogens that may be present in your home. Each bird has different immunities to different pathogens, and this insures that each bird stays free of the others disease, and build up and develop a natural immunity over time." Once they have safely gotten through quarenteen they can be slowly introduced to your flock. Watch closely the first few days to make sure fights don't break out.
Back in the nineties, quarenteen was almost unheard of, but I learned the hard way why it really is very important. No matter where your birds come from, no matter how reputable the breeder, no matter how healthy they look...they must be quarenteened for 30 to 45 days, in a separate air space, no exceptions! As I stated on the first page, "This is to insure that they can acclimate to any new pathogens that may be present in your home. Each bird has different immunities to different pathogens, and this insures that each bird stays free of the others disease, and build up and develop a natural immunity over time." Once they have safely gotten through quarenteen they can be slowly introduced to your flock. Watch closely the first few days to make sure fights don't break out.
The most birds I have taken in at one time was 12,
the most I have had in my home at once was 176!
Several times I have taken in mass amounts of birds, a dozen at a time, for fear they would face sure death if not. It is not normal for someone to relinquish so many birds at one time, but sometimes you do what you have to, to make sure they get the best care possible. One year I took in 38 rescues in less than a six month period and had to find them foster homes, because I was running out of space!
It was the year I hit 176 that I realized I had to start getting selective on which birds I would take in and which I would send to the shelter. Before this I took in every bird that needed to be relinquished or re-homed. Now I take in only the most urgent cases. By this time, the shelter had learned [through workshops I had taught myself] how to care for birds properly, and so some they could help ease the burden I was bearing by myself, state wide. It was nice because the birds that just needed a new home, and didn't require any therapy or rehabilitation could be placed more quickly, while those that needed the extra time and attention could be worked with.
It was the year I hit 176 that I realized I had to start getting selective on which birds I would take in and which I would send to the shelter. Before this I took in every bird that needed to be relinquished or re-homed. Now I take in only the most urgent cases. By this time, the shelter had learned [through workshops I had taught myself] how to care for birds properly, and so some they could help ease the burden I was bearing by myself, state wide. It was nice because the birds that just needed a new home, and didn't require any therapy or rehabilitation could be placed more quickly, while those that needed the extra time and attention could be worked with.
How we got our name
It wasn't until 11 years after I started the rescue work that my aviary got it's name...
from a tragic incident and a poor bird named Sweet Pea
Due to the graphic nature of this story, reader digression is highly suggested, please have tissues nearby.
This is a very emotional story, and poem that follows:
I started doing rescue work for all animals, birds included, nearly 30 years ago, and as you may have guessed, I have so many happy stories as well as sad stories to share...this is a sad one. Unfortunately around 25% of the birds and animals that have come to me over the years have died, because it was already too late when I was notified that they were in need of my help. At least they knew love for a few brief moments before crossing over the rainbow bridge. I keep thinking of when I die, and all my critters will be there waiting for me on the other side. I am surprised my Creator has not stopped me from doing rescue work, for fear of filling heaven with too many animals, and not having room for any more people, LOL.
First, the story behind the name Sweet Pea Aviary...I had been doing rescue work for 11 years before my aviary got it's name. Sweet Pea was the name on the cage of the bird that stole my heart.
It was late summer and I was called in to evacuate all living things in an abandoned building. Little did I know before ariving that there were litterally hundreds of dead birds there waiting for me. Cages and cages lined the walls of every room, and most were dead or close to it. I spent hours removing bodies, and removing cages between bouts of crying and throwing up. I have a strong stomach, but this was by far the worst case of neglect I had ever seen in my life.
I made my final rounds and thought I was through when I heard a tiny noise from a back closet, there on the shelf was Sweet Pea. Her tiny emaciated body, encrusted in feces. She was in so much pain, pinned to the bottom of the cage in her own mess, and unable to move. I used wire cutters to cut her cage free and tried to remove her from the cage, but found she was trapped. She was stuck tight and must have been for some time. Every time I tried to move her, her flesh would seperate from her body, and she would cry out in agony. In all her pain though, she never once tried to bite me, the whole time. I talked softly to her and I think she knew I was there to bring her some relief. I removed her with the whole mess from the bottom of the cage, and she just looked at me as though to say please end my pain, please don't let me die alone. I tried to get up, to go to my truck to get the shot that would end her pain, she didn't even make it that long though. She knew, if only for a fleeting moment that she was loved, she looked at me, let out a sigh and then died there in my arms. I sat there on the cold wooden floor and sobbed for what seemed like hours.
There was no need for any animal to suffer like that, and I would get to the bottom of who was responsible, if it killed me. I swore to her that day that I would find out who did this to her and make them pay...and I kept my word. Seven months later I found the couple who had left the birds at the house, and got the authorities involved so they could do what needed to be done. I knew they would take care of the perpetrators and punish them to the fullest extent of the law. I also knew if I had taken it into my own hands, my anger would have gotten the best of me, and I would have ended up in jail.
Here is a copy of her poem, that I wrote to her perps on her behalf...and I sent it to them in jail!
Tribute to Sweet Pea
My name was not important, although you should have known,
Now that I'm in heaven, you should see how much I've grown.
What was my life worth to you? And why would you not pay?
How far would you really go? If I got sick today?
You didn't give me near enough food or take me to the vet,
You said "you eat like a bird, so you get what we can get".
I wasn't a very pretty bird, but my expences were sooo cheap.
What's the price you put on life? For something that you keep?
Now I have glorious feathers and my legs and back have healed true,
Cause here in heaven "beauty on the inside" shines through and through.
Why did you leave me all alone? When my heart still had a beat?
Why did you abandon me? Was I not just as sweet?
Me and all my feathered friends looked to you for love,
But not until we died did we recieve it from above
I'm sorry I wasn't born, from a beautiful magic egg,
Why did you not care for me, cause' I didn't plead and beg?
Were all my friends just as ugly to you? They are all here too,
In heaven above we fly happy and free, away from both of you.
I depended on you to help me, as I couldn't care for myself,
But you didn't take the needed steps, and you left me on a shelf!
I will never forget your cruelty, or the kindness in the end,
When "she" came to end our suffering and be our special friend.
Today I finally get to go home, as my new mamma looks me in the eye,
I knew true love if only for a moment, cause I knew it was safe for me to die.
My dear Sweet Pea, I will always love you with all my heart, may your tiny soul soar always in my heart, and your tiny body rest in peace. In your honor, my aviary will be named for you, and I shall keep your name in a place of honor, always above my door. My aviary will always be different, special, and like no other. Where kindness and love will prevail over money or greed, and your story shall live on forever. I will love you always your cockatiel mamma, Ruth
This is a very emotional story, and poem that follows:
I started doing rescue work for all animals, birds included, nearly 30 years ago, and as you may have guessed, I have so many happy stories as well as sad stories to share...this is a sad one. Unfortunately around 25% of the birds and animals that have come to me over the years have died, because it was already too late when I was notified that they were in need of my help. At least they knew love for a few brief moments before crossing over the rainbow bridge. I keep thinking of when I die, and all my critters will be there waiting for me on the other side. I am surprised my Creator has not stopped me from doing rescue work, for fear of filling heaven with too many animals, and not having room for any more people, LOL.
First, the story behind the name Sweet Pea Aviary...I had been doing rescue work for 11 years before my aviary got it's name. Sweet Pea was the name on the cage of the bird that stole my heart.
It was late summer and I was called in to evacuate all living things in an abandoned building. Little did I know before ariving that there were litterally hundreds of dead birds there waiting for me. Cages and cages lined the walls of every room, and most were dead or close to it. I spent hours removing bodies, and removing cages between bouts of crying and throwing up. I have a strong stomach, but this was by far the worst case of neglect I had ever seen in my life.
I made my final rounds and thought I was through when I heard a tiny noise from a back closet, there on the shelf was Sweet Pea. Her tiny emaciated body, encrusted in feces. She was in so much pain, pinned to the bottom of the cage in her own mess, and unable to move. I used wire cutters to cut her cage free and tried to remove her from the cage, but found she was trapped. She was stuck tight and must have been for some time. Every time I tried to move her, her flesh would seperate from her body, and she would cry out in agony. In all her pain though, she never once tried to bite me, the whole time. I talked softly to her and I think she knew I was there to bring her some relief. I removed her with the whole mess from the bottom of the cage, and she just looked at me as though to say please end my pain, please don't let me die alone. I tried to get up, to go to my truck to get the shot that would end her pain, she didn't even make it that long though. She knew, if only for a fleeting moment that she was loved, she looked at me, let out a sigh and then died there in my arms. I sat there on the cold wooden floor and sobbed for what seemed like hours.
There was no need for any animal to suffer like that, and I would get to the bottom of who was responsible, if it killed me. I swore to her that day that I would find out who did this to her and make them pay...and I kept my word. Seven months later I found the couple who had left the birds at the house, and got the authorities involved so they could do what needed to be done. I knew they would take care of the perpetrators and punish them to the fullest extent of the law. I also knew if I had taken it into my own hands, my anger would have gotten the best of me, and I would have ended up in jail.
Here is a copy of her poem, that I wrote to her perps on her behalf...and I sent it to them in jail!
Tribute to Sweet Pea
My name was not important, although you should have known,
Now that I'm in heaven, you should see how much I've grown.
What was my life worth to you? And why would you not pay?
How far would you really go? If I got sick today?
You didn't give me near enough food or take me to the vet,
You said "you eat like a bird, so you get what we can get".
I wasn't a very pretty bird, but my expences were sooo cheap.
What's the price you put on life? For something that you keep?
Now I have glorious feathers and my legs and back have healed true,
Cause here in heaven "beauty on the inside" shines through and through.
Why did you leave me all alone? When my heart still had a beat?
Why did you abandon me? Was I not just as sweet?
Me and all my feathered friends looked to you for love,
But not until we died did we recieve it from above
I'm sorry I wasn't born, from a beautiful magic egg,
Why did you not care for me, cause' I didn't plead and beg?
Were all my friends just as ugly to you? They are all here too,
In heaven above we fly happy and free, away from both of you.
I depended on you to help me, as I couldn't care for myself,
But you didn't take the needed steps, and you left me on a shelf!
I will never forget your cruelty, or the kindness in the end,
When "she" came to end our suffering and be our special friend.
Today I finally get to go home, as my new mamma looks me in the eye,
I knew true love if only for a moment, cause I knew it was safe for me to die.
My dear Sweet Pea, I will always love you with all my heart, may your tiny soul soar always in my heart, and your tiny body rest in peace. In your honor, my aviary will be named for you, and I shall keep your name in a place of honor, always above my door. My aviary will always be different, special, and like no other. Where kindness and love will prevail over money or greed, and your story shall live on forever. I will love you always your cockatiel mamma, Ruth