MAARS was founded 1999 because many organizations did not have a surrender or placement program for parrots & private homes were surrendering them at an increasing rate.

It makes me proud be apart of an organization in which education to keep parrots in their homes & with their" flock" is first & foremost. If MAARS placement services are still needed we are able to find appropriate placement, give the parrots as much time as needed & most importanly help them find their place in the world.

Here is one of their stories.

Henry: Small Comfort

Before becoming a Sanctuary several local animal control and humane society shelters relied on MAARS to take in birds from their facilities when the birds’ care requirements exceeded what the shelter was capable of providing.

The bird, a Nanday Conure, was brought to the shelter after his guardian passed away. No other history was provided, not even a name or age. He arrived in a very small cage, with only one sandpaper perch and not a single toy. He was, indeed, without plumage over most of his body and, what feathers he did have, were very soiled. He bore the familiar stainless steel leg band that was put on all imported, wild-caught parrots in US quarantine stations, the joints in both of his wings were partially immobile and his feet were arthritic and also lacked full range of motion.

The bird was named Henry, placed in a large, clean cage with plenty of perches, toys and food. He was given a much-needed bath and gently dried with a towel. Henry was wary of hands but, safely wrapped in that towel, he closed his eyes while his head feathers were preened. For the first few hours he ate and drank almost constantly. He had trouble standing on both feet for very long and chose to rest on the large cotton rope perch we provided. Although Henry was quarantined from the other birds in his foster home, he was soon calling back and forth to the small flock in the next room.

The US stopped importing almost all wild-caught birds for the pet trade back in 1992, so, we know that Henry is at least fourteen years old. His physical condition – almost certainly caused by a cage too small to allow him to extend his wings, one inadequate perch, no opportunity to bathe and unimaginable boredom and isolation – led us to believe he was, perhaps, twice that age

From now on, Henry will have plenty of space and light and toys and any other small comfort we can offer. Pain medication seems to have eased the discomfort in his feet, he has become more curious and less nervous, and is learning that there will always be plenty of food for him to eat and water for drinking and bathing. Never again will he be alone in this world, he will be surrounded by friends for the rest of his days. No one can ever give back what was taken from Henry – his freedom, flight, feathers and flock are gone forever. Nor can we ever comprehend his loss or his will to live. But he is a survivor, one who deserves our reverence and respect.