Thoughts on the Captive Parrot Plight
By Christine Spanedda, Assistant Manager, Rhode Island Parrot Rescue
There is a quote that stands out to me by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, from his work ‘The Little Prince’: “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
The life of a parrot rescuer is a tired, frustrating one. We read the never-ending emails and listen to the countless voicemails that all say the same thing: I can’t keep my parrot.
Sometimes the reasons are valid - death of owner, loss of housing - sometimes, the reasons make us want to bang our heads against the wall repeatedly (we won’t get into those). At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter the reason because the result is the same. A parrot is now homeless.
The more I learn about parrots and the longer I live with them in my own home, the more strongly I believe that they should have never been brought into captivity. Even if you use aviaries, have other parrots for flock-like companionship, provide extensive foraging opportunities and creative enrichment, it will never be enough for an animal who was meant to fly miles a day and raise young with lifelong mates/flockmates.
We have to do better by the captive parrot. We have to stop breeding these intelligent, complex wild animals to be sold as companions in a human home. There are too many homeless parrots who need you instead. I’m tired of this. So, so tired.
The weight of these homeless parrots’ lives falls on the rescuer’s shoulders. Not the breeders’, not the pet stores’. The plight of the captive parrot is a heavy plight to bear.
But I, and the fellow parrot rescuers across this country, will continue to get up every day and unlock our rescue doors and greet our adoptable flock with a cheery “hello” and unconditional dedication. Because we care about our mission. Because if these parrots weren’t here with us, where would they be instead?
We want to change the reality too many captive parrots face; A small cage, a lonely room, depression from lack of enrichment and stimulation, heart and liver disease from improper, fatty seed diets.
And we ARE changing the reality of the captive parrot. One by one, we are improving the lives of parrots across New England. We live in a day and age where we can ask for help, teach, and spread information with just our fingertips on a screen. You can hear me talk in real time if I choose to do a live video. How cool is that? We are more connected as a community than ever. And I know you all care about the homeless parrots just as much as we do. Our rescue’s ongoing success is testament to that. We must look towards the future with hope.
This National Bird Day goes to the captive parrots, the ones with and without homes. They did not choose to be here behind bars, inside of walls. But here they are. We owe it to them to do our very best for them.
After all, we are responsible, forever, for those we have tamed.
Copyrighted. Blog posts may be used as guidelines for the proper care of your parrot. Not intended for medical or legal advice. Please consult with a licensed avian veterinarian regarding the medical care and wellbeing of your exotic pets.