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.

There is a Bandit in our home! This week we were given a little green and grey bird, named Bandit, a Dusky Conure. He is small and very sweet. He has been cared for by a delightful couple for 12 years. It shows how much they loved him in his no biting acceptance of me. He is a welcome addition to the flock.

I am so excited to be getting an old cage of mine for a pair of Blue and Gold Macaws.It arrived yesterday. Today the welder has fixed the loose spots, hung a great dane dog igloo from an iron rod, added food dish holder where I can easily reach them and cut out the rusted old floor. My job is to give it a coat of rust preventer and fill the floor with gravel. The final touch will be to add 2 very large birds. Their new home is in a grove of live oak trees. These moments make it all worthwhile.
Jean

Jean, I am so happy to be involved with Birdlink Sanctuary, Inc. Whether one is in a position to care for the crippled and broken within humanity, or care for those in the animal kingdom, it is a privledge to be there. Naturally, living with, and loving a Pionus (named Poco), makes me partial to birds. You are doing a wonderful and selfless thing! Thank you for letting me be part of it.
~Jackie

The paper work is back from the Texas Secretary of State and Birdlink Sanctuary Inc., is officially a Not For Profit organization. We will do as we have been doing, taking in pet birds that can no longer stay with their owners. We will be writing grant requests and having small fund raisers to cover our cost of operation.

Donations are welcome, bird toys, cages, food, labor or cash. We can use it all. If you have any fund raising ideas, please contact me. If you have a bird that needs to be placed, contact me.

Can you tell what I am holding? This is an example of what was brought to me to raise. These babies birds can be fed and care for successfully, by people that know what to do. This little guy survived and bit me before flying away as a beautiful bluejay.

August 1-5, 2010 "Association of Avian Veterinarians Conference". Barbara Heidenreich will be participating in this event. Visit http://www.aav.org/ for more information.

August 28-29, 2010 "Parrot Training Workshop" Finland. Barbara Heidenreich will be returning to Finland for another weekend of parrot training Visit http://kaijuli.papukaijat.net for more information and articles by Barbara translated into Finnish.

I have a parrot that talks up a storm and I love it! I have also enjoyed working with amazing talking parrots like "Groucho" back in my days at Natural Encounters. (You can see a video clip of us both on the Tonight Show at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfDFa2sQj1s )