Report from Ziggy’s Haven on recent 500-bird auction

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Posted by Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Network

Wendy Waas, president of Ziggy’s Haven, a bird sanctuary in Florida, made it her mission to rescue as many birds as she could from a breeder’s “going out of business” auction. Through collecting donations, Ziggy’s Haven was able get 17 birds from the auction. Wendy said, “We raised $3400.00 towards this cause and spent $5610.00 to save these birds. Our vet is donating his time, but we will still have the lab work expenses.” Ziggy’s will provide lifelong sanctuary to the birds, unless particular ones seem to want to be around humans. In these cases, they will screen potential adopters.

Click Here to contribute to Ziggy’s Haven

Wendy was kind enough to share the auction experience with us, and her report follows in part.

Conditions the birds were removed from at Beech’s Bird Ranch
Wendy reported, “There were over 25 semi trailers—a true Factory Parrot Mill. And the sad part is that there are thousands more across the country just like this one. When does it end for the parrots? When will they be allowed simple enrichments such as fresh branches to chew or nuts to eat? When will they be allowed the freedoms of something larger than a 4x4 wired enclosure attached to a semi trailer that contains another 4x3 wire enclosure and a nest box. Semi trailer after semi trailer was packed to the gills with small cages and hundreds of birds.”

Once Someone’s Companion
Wendy talks of the difficulties in seeing some of the birds who appear to have been someone’s pet at one time. She writes:

“A female moluccan that was rescued by my friend was once someone’s companion. She says "I'm a good girl and I can talk!" She is absolutely starved for human companionship. I picture this poor bird who was once loved by someone being tossed into a 2x2 cage in a semi trailer with a small area outdoors to become nothing but a "factory money maker.”

“I picture her saying "I can talk....I can talk," to those human hands which she longs for as they reach inside to steal her babies or check for new eggs. I see her hanging to the side of a small cage sticking a small foot through the wire as she tries to get someone’s attention as they walk by and saying "I can talk...I'm a good girl". How many others were once someone's companion and are now tossed in a small cage to become "factory money makers"? How many more beg for a scratch on the head when a human comes by? When does this end? And for those that we couldn't save... they are off to the next semi trailer to continue the cycle; to remain "a proven factory breeder" in another breeder’s semi trailer. I sit here in tears knowing that there are so many more out there living this same sort of life. No enrichment in their cages. No branches to chew or bells to ring. No rights to choose their own companion and frolic with others of their kind. No life whatsoever except to reproduce so that many of their offspring can end up in the same kind of hell these birds endure day after day. No fruits or veggies because that is too costly, no toys or enrichment because that will distract them from their breeding duties and be too costly for the keeper of the birds.”

Better days ahead for rescued birds
While many avian welfare organizations disagree with ever buying birds from breeders to save them, several organizations looked at this particular auction differently. Mr. Beech was a large-scale breeder who decided to sell his birds after he fell ill with cancer—hopefully his breeding days are truly over. The birds listed below are now removed from breeding life, and will finally allowed to just be birds.

Birds Rescued by Ziggy’s Haven

1 Moluccan cockatoo
1 Citron Cockatoo
1 Umbrella Cockatoo
3 Timneh African Greys
3 Sun conures
1 Half Moon Conure
1 Blue Crown Conure
2 Yellow Nape Amazons
2 Blue and Gold Macaws
2 Scarlet Macaws

Click here to visit Ziggy’s Haven website for more pictures of the rescued birds, and more ways to help

Take Action to Help the Birds
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