Jean,

One of the exciting things I get to do is travel around the world teaching parrot behavior and training workshops. The best part of this is the opportunity to meet parrot people and their birds face to face. You never fail to have a good time when you get a group of people together with a common interest.

Here are a few pictures I took on my visit to the sanctuary on Saturday.

Here are some pictures I've taken from my visits to Birdlink Sanctuary. There is one of my son, Thomas, with Pogo, his foster-bird.

We have been blessed by our interactions with Jean & Jim at the sanctuary. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Kim

Jean,

I thought I would pass this on to you. The Kaytee Avian Foundation is gathering information to help parrots live long and happy lives in our homes. If you or someone you know is involved in parrot rescue or adoption, please visit/share this link to an important survey below. Facilities that participate in the survey are eligible to win $1500 (retail value) in products to help them provide the best for the birds in their care. See below for more information and the link to the survey.

Barbara

Dear Avian Enthusiast

We will be participating in the Hot Dog Trot, in Weatherford, Texas on august 14th. We will have some of our birds with us. We hope to train an African gray to be a pet therapy bird and exposure to crowds is part of the training.

We have two african grays, from different places, about 1 year old. And it is a match made in heaven. They are Saphira and Eragon.

It seems that Bandit has adjusted just fine to his new foster home. He eats so many different things, unlike Poco - who acts scared every time I try to introduce anything new. Bird food and nuts suit him just fine. A carrot here and there serves as gourmet food.

I put a dog igloo up in the top of the macaw cage, they have not gone into it. Today we had huge rain storms and 50 mile an hour winds, and the macaws were on top of the igloo. There are three bolts holding the bottom on. Jim had spinal injections yesterday so he can't help me. He said to get a socket and undo the bottom. Couldn't find them for a while, then they were too big and I am standing on a ladder in the center of the cage trying to see what I am doing, while I really got soaked to the skin, through Jim's hat and my full length rain coat, jeans and tee shirt.

The two yellow dots at the top are the blue and gold macaws adjusting to the new cage. This was a big project. The cage had to be brought here from Ferris Texas. All the rain created mud that prevented access, for months, to the barn where it was stored. Finally it arrived. The cage had been stored for 10 years since we last used it. So wonderful welder Kevin Collard reworked it. He made some major revision to the utility of the cage so it is much easier for me to feed and keep clean. Then, Rubin Garcia sanded, primer and painted the whole cage and loaded fresh gravel for the floor.

We have a new buddy that is very sweet. His name is Bandit. His owners surrendered him last week after having him for 12 years. Bandit is confused trying to adjust to the noise and activity of our home. He is eating and doesn't bite but he has not ventured out of his cage. I have had the door open for several hours this morning and he never even considered coming out. Maybe another day.