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About CPR |
Companion Parrots Re-homed is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our Mission The exclusive mission of Companion Parrots Re-homed is to accept companion parrots from unwanted, emergency or crisis situations throughout the Greater Charlotte, North Carolina, area and to facilitate through training and education, new adoptive homes for these sensitive and intelligent birds. Meet the Birds
At our website
or
at Parrot University 321 S Polk St, Pineville
Summer Visiting Hours: Monday 10 AM - 7 PM Tuesay - Closed Wed - Fri 10 AM - 7 PM Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday Noon - 5 PM PLEASE HELPPlease donate securely with PayPal. Your gift of any amount will directly help the birds.
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Free Classes at Parrot University |
Please RSVP as classes fill quickly. Additional sessions will be scheduled based on demand.
Call 704-889-2325 or email
Positive Reinforcement Training
Sun, July 24, 2 pm
Sun, Aug 21, 2 pm
Sat, Sept 24, 2 pm
Parrot 101
Wed, July 13, 6:30 pm
Sun, Aug 7, 2 pm
Sat, Sept 10 2 pm
Parrot 101 for Kids
Thurs, June 23, 2 pm
Avian Medicine
Sun, July 17, 2 pm
Wed, Aug 17, 6:30 pm
Avian Anatomy
Sun, Sept 18, 2 pm
Sex & the Single Bird
Sat, Aug 27, 2 pm
Class Schedules check 'Calendar of Events' at
Please Support Our Sponsor
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New Birds
Joining us soon |
Birds that are new to the CPR adoption program go through a quarantine period before they are housed at Parrot University or in a foster home.
Coming out of quarantine and joining us soon are:
Birdie, African Grey
Rosie, Goffin's Cockatoo
Contact CPR or visit Parrot U to find out more. |
Recently Adopted |
Here's a list of our wonderful recent adoptions.
Toby, Amazon
Rocky, Cockatiel
Pretty Girl, Cockatiel
Milton, Sun Conure
We know that all of these lucky birds will be so happy with their new families!
Some of our new families post their adoption stories, photos and updates on Facebook.
Click to join us.
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Bosley's Big Birdie Birthday Bash
AND Parrot University's 5th Anniversary | |
| Bosley the Birthday Girl! | Sat, July 23, 2011 - 11 am to 4 pm
Please join us at Parrot U on Saturday, July 23rd from 11 am to 4 pm for Bosley's Birthday Party.
There'll be birthday cake for people and parrots, presents for the birthday bird and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday around noon.
There will also be some wonderful raffle items with proceeds going to support the birds of CPR. And we'll have guided tours so you can meet all the birds currently in our adoption program.
Parrot U will be having a special sale to celebrate their 5th Anniversary. The first 50 customers will receive FREE Companion Parrots Re-homed magnets. Plus, we've added a Positive Reinforcement Training Class on Sunday, July 24 as part of the weekend's events. Please call or email to reserve your seat for this FREE class.
We hope you'll plan to join us and party with the parrots. Miss Boz will be highly insulted if you miss her birthday!
By the way, were you wondering why this is not Beau's Big Birdie Bash, as in years past? It's because Beau has been adopted! Maybe Bosley will get the present of a new home for her birthday.
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Meet The Birds of CPR | |
Birds Available for Adoption
Meet the featured birds of CPR for June. All them are ready and waiting for new homes. Please come to Parrot University to meet them!
| Ms Bosley |
Bosley
Species: Macaw
Age: unknown
The birthday girl just oozes personality and she's strutting her stuff, in full flirting mode, in this photo. Ms. Bosley is intelligent, boisterous and playful and her hilarious comments and commands keep everybody laughing. Bosley requires an experienced owner and apartments or condos are not recommended. Click to watch a video of Bosley.
Please help us celebrate Bosley's birthday and find her the special forever home she deserves, where she can love, be loved and flourish.
| Connor |
Connor
Species: Blue-crowned Conure
Age:10
Connor's a happy girl that chatters a lot and always wants to know "What ya' doing?'' She likes to shower and mimic animal sounds and loves a papaya treat. Connor's family was expanding and wasn't able to give her the attention she deserves. She will make a wonderful companion.
Click to watch a video of Connor.
| Peanut & Lily |
Peanut & Lily
Species: Pacific Parrotlets
Age: 6 (Peanut); Lily's age unknown
Peanut and Lily are a lovely bonded pair. Each was hand raised and could learn to step up again. These birds are perfect for an apartment or condo. They bring lots of personality in a small package.
Do you know somebody who would like to provide a loving home for this adorable pair?
Click to meet more wonderful birds that are available for adoption. You can read the birds' stories and watch the videos.
Thanks to donations from people like you, these birds are now in a safe, caring place, waiting to meet their new families. Please consider a tax deductible donation in any amount, to help support The Birds of CPR. |
Happy Endings -- Jake | |
Meant for each other
| Jake |
By Michael Graziadei & Taffy Price
In July 2010 while spending our vacation days around town, we ventured to Pineville to visit Parrot U for the first time. We'd heard about it and read about it, but had never taken the time to visit. Little did we know how much this visit would change our lives.
During our first visit, we met Bosley and Beau, and Michael fell in love with a Grey named Andi. You see, I was already the proud parent of Buddie the Cockatiel and Lou the Sun Conure, but Michael joined my "flock" afterwards, so "my" birds were tolerant, but not loving towards him. Andi was the first bird Michael had ever actually "petted" (and she didn't appear fond of me, which thrilled him more) and it was at that moment he knew he wanted a "bird of his own".
Months later, we visited again and to Michael's disappointment, Andi had been adopted. By that point, Michael was more determined than ever to find his own bird so Parrot U became a regular stop in our weekend plans. We tried to form bonds with some of the "residents", hoping that one would let us (Michael really) know that it wanted to be part of our family. After all, we learned it's as much about the bird picking the family as it is about the family picking the bird. We began taking classes, which reinforced Michael's desire for a bird and also helped both of us create an even stronger bond and knowledge for the birds we already have.
Then one day, Michael walked into the "little bird" room. There, he met Jake, a bald, funny looking, little Blue Crown Conure that could meow like a cat. Seriously, it was love at first sight for both of them! Jake immediately stepped up for Michael, went straight to his shoulder (we know, you shouldn't do that) and began to preen his hair (and he didn't particularly care for me -- yes, that was an advantage from Michael's point of view...haha).
| Jake & Michael |
There was no stopping this relationship! And just like that, a few weeks later, Jake became a permanent member of our flock.
It's been a couple months now and while Jake mostly just tolerates me (though he will step up for me when Michael is not around ), Jake's most enjoyable time is spent sitting on Michael's shoulder, preening Michael's ears or sitting on his perch making the funniest little noises, which he knows will make us laugh. He meows like a cat, barks like a dog, whistles and makes some other very comical noises to get our attention, which gives us limitless joy.
Jake's learning to step up on fingers (which he was previously afraid of) and we know in time, he'll become even more comfortable with us and us with him. We look forward to what else may come from this little bald chicken that has completely stolen our hearts.
We owe a world of gratitude to Karen, Lea, and to all the staff and volunteers at Parrot U and CPR. Because of you, we have a much better understanding and appreciation for the birds that were already in our lives and now a new family member we can't imagine being without.
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Parrot Soup -- News from CPR | |
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CPR
Here's two simple things that you can do. The birds will thank you.
Follow us on Facebook
CPR's Facebook pages feature the 'Bird of the Week', adoption stories, reader stories, photos of the birds, classes and events.
Several of our adopting families now post on our Facebook page about bringing their new bird home and their lives together.

Help 'The Feathered Forum' go social
Use the share links at the top of this newsletter to share 'The Feathered Forum' with your friends. Ask them to join our mailing list to receive future issues.
CONNECT WITH CPR --
Watch our videos anytime on YouTube
We hope you enjoy the videos of the birds on our website, in the newsletters and on facebook. If you want to see all of our videos, visit our YouTube page.
Did you miss an issue of the Feathered Forum?
View past issues in our Newsletter Library. Debbie Foster's training articles are a wonderful resource.
| Angel |
Angel trains for a career
Angel has chosen a career path and is practicing diligently. He plans to apply with the Salvation Army as a bell-ringer during the Christmas season. Once that job can be added to his resume he has his heart set on the Charlotte Symphony! To ring the bell Angel breaks off a four inch stick of wood from a toy, inserts it inside the bell from the top and rings away. And away, and away, and away. Click to watch the video.
Remembering Charlie
| Charlie |
We were saddened by Charlie's passing in May. Charlie was one of the two splay-leg male budgies who were rescued last September. All of the CPR birds are special, but sometimes there are one or two that climb deep into your heart and stay with you forever. Charlie and Sandy brought us much joy and inspiration as they happily adapted to their disabilities. It made us glad that Charlie was happy and safe at CPR during the last year of his life.
Charlie passed peacefully, surrounded by love to a world of straight legs, strong wings and no cage bars. There he happily flies free and awaits the day when Sandy will join him. Sandy, meanwhile, is doing OK and reminds us that life goes on. You can see photos of Charlie and Sandy, during happy times, on Facebook. 
Peace, little man. |
Training Opportunities at Parrot University | |
"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can -- there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did."
- Sarah Caldwell
| Class at Parrot U |
Whether you have no experience with pet birds or you've lived with pet birds for many years. you are invited to take advantage of the free training classes offered at Parrot University. Classes are open to anyone interested in living with companion birds. Listed below are upcoming classes. Be sure to call 704.889.2325 or email to parrots@parrotu.com to reserve your seat.
Here are some of our upcoming classes:
Avian Medicine Learn what to expect when visiting your avian vet, when to call the vet for emergencies and about avian diseases. Next class: Sunday, July 17 at 2:00 pm
Parrot 101 for Kids Kids learn about their responsibilities in keeping parrots as pets. For ages 8+
Next class: Thursday, June 23 at 2:30 pm
Parrot 101 Learn the basics of caring for your bird from feeding, sanitation, habitat requirements and hazards in the home
Next class: Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30 pm
Positive Reinforcement Learn techniques for changing your bird's behavior or training your bird to do tricks
Next class: Sunday, July 24 at 2:00 pm
Volunteer Training Learn about the many volunteer opportunites with Companion Parrots Re-homed plus information on how to work events and support CPR.
Saturday, June 25 at 10:00 am
Check the schedule at left and the 'Calendar of Events' at www.parrotu.com for more class times. |
Positive Reinforcement Training Tips & Tidbits | |
| Student Emmy | by Debbie Foster
Most bird owners absolutely love their birds to distraction, spoiling them rotten. We cook more for them than we do for ourselves, we buy piles of toys and we worry about their well-being. I even know people who have added rooms onto their homes for their birds! So it's a fair statement to say that we want our birds to be treated well at all times.
But what happens when your bird goes the vet for its annual check-up?
Would you describe this as "wrestling an alligator" to get your pampered parrot into a carrier? What happens at the vet when they have to towel the bird to trim nails, draw blood or to do the physical exam?
How would you like to make your bird's life -- and yours -- less stressful? Let's start by looking at how we can train our birds to willingly enter a carrier.
A lot of different types of training start with target training. We've already covered that in a previous newsletter (you can find back issues in our Newsletter Library), so I'll just say that I teach the bird to touch a chopstick with its beak in order to earn a reward. Start with this first if you haven't already done it.
Leave the carrier where the bird can see it, but not too close to the cage. You want the bird to get used to seeing it, but not reacting to it. Depending on how fearful your bird is, this might take several days or even a week or two. Once the bird seems calm, move the carrier closer by small increments. Monitor your bird's body language, stopping well short of a fearful response. Ideally, you eventually want the carrier on a flat space (table or floor) with room for your bird to walk around.
Once you are able to have the bird and the carrier in the same space, start targeting the bird. Reward each time the bird touches the target. Get your bird to move all around the carrier. Then put the target at the entrance to the carrier. The door should be wide open. When the bird is comfortable touching the target at the entrance, move the target just inside the door. By moving in small increments, you can eventually have a bird who will willingly enter the carrier with no fear and no drama. At that point, you can slowly close the door for a few seconds. Watch the bird's tail so you don't close it in the door and make sure the bird shows no fear. If it does, open the door immediately to show the parrot that it has a choice.
The next step in the process is to lift the carrier very slowly a few inches off the table. Reward your bird for calm behavior and praise it lavishly.
By taking baby steps and using positive reinforcement, you can teach your bird that the carrier is not a bad thing. And the next time you have to visit your veterinarian, there will be no alligator wrestling!
Next month we're going to talk about desensitizing your bird to towels. Until then, train away!
Click to watch a video of Debbie training Emmy the Cockatoo to enter a carrier. From now on, we'll be pairing these articles with videos demonstrating the training activity.
Want to learn more? Reserve your seat now for the next Positive Reinforcement Training Class -- free at Parrot University on Sunday, July 24 at 2 pm. |
Volunteer Corner | | JUNE 2011

Many thanks to some of our volunteers who have helped out recently: Connie Thompson (proud new mom of Snappy Green), Alan Stein, David Stein, Stephen Platte, Steve Hrisikos, Janis Lukes, Marcela Diaz, and Marilyn Boyle.
An extra special thanks to Val Vajay, not only for the time she spends helping in the store, but especially for her presence at the Girl Scout event on May 14.
Judi Johnson, as always, you are amazing. Parrot U and CPR are truly fortunate to have you at the store, caring for birds two days a week. If only we could bottle your energy and caring.
Leslie Wieser and I will be conducting a new volunteer training session on June 25 at 10 am. The focus will be on how to set up for special events and to prepare you for the kinds of interactions you may get with people who visit. If you are a new volunteer, we also ask that you attend a Parrot 101 class, so you'll be able to respond to questions about bird care.
If you're interested in volunteering, please send us your information. There are many needs in our all-volunteer organization. We can match you up with what makes you comfortable. We need not only people to attend events, but also to care for birds at the store, clean habitats and prepare fresh foods; to help make toys and to make vet runs from time to time. Plus we always need quarantine and foster homes for new birds.
Lynda Rettew
Volunteer Coordinator
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We thank all of you for your support. Hope to see you at Bosley's Big Birdie Birthday Bash on July 23!
The Birds of Companion Parrots Re-homed
Karen Cheek Justice, President & Founder
Board of Directors
Volunteers
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