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THE FEATHERED FORUM

In This Issue
What's New for 2013
IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION NEWS & CLOSINGS
Meet Pepper
Meet Nikita
Meet Gabby
Tip of the Month
2013 CPR Calendar on sale now!
Happy Endings - Jasmine's Journey Home
A great reason to train your bird
Volunteer Corner
Help the Birds
Companion Parrots Re-homed is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

 

Your tax deductible donation to Companion Parrots Re-homed will make a real difference and help a bird in need.

 

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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
Click here for map and directions

Visiting Hours:
Mon - Fri 10 AM - 7 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday Noon - 5 PM
  
Contact Us 
 
 704-889-2325 
 
Please consider a tax deductible donation.  Your gift of any amount will directly help the birds.
FREE Classes at Parrot University
Please RSVP
 Call 704-889-2325 or email
   
Parrot 101 plus one additional class is required for adoption
    
Parrot 101
Wed, Jan 9, 6:30 pm
Sun, Jan 27, 2 pm
Thurs, Mar 7, 6:30 pm
 
Avian Medicine
 
Sat, Jan 26, 2 pm
Sun Feb 17, 2 pm
Wed, Mar 20, 6:30 pm
 
Positive Reinforcement
Sun, Jan 6, 2 pm
Thurs, Feb 21, 6:30 pm
Sat, Mar 16, 2 pm
 
Sex & the Single Bird
New date: Sat, Jan 12, 2 pm
Sat, Feb 23, 2 pm
 
NEW CLASS!
Behavior Problem Solving
Sat, Mar 23, 2 pm
    
'Calendar of Events'
for class schedules

 

  
Please Support Our Sponsor

Parrot U logo
'It's About The Birds'

Recently Adopted

These lucky birds of CPR have recently found new families. Join us in wishing the birds and their families wonderful new lives together!

 

Arizona, Amazon

Bobby, Amazon

Maxwell, Macaw

Peepers, Quaker

Mija, White-bellied Caique

   

Connect with us on Facebook! Our new families often post photos, videos and progress reports about their new family members.

 

 

Like us on Facebook

 

 

New to CPR

Come meet the newest members of the CPR family at Parrot University.

 

Jasmine (Cockatoo) is back and seeking a loving forever home.

 
African Grey Graphic 
Read their stories at

www.companionparrots.org

Joining Us Soon

 

In Quarantine

 

Mattie, Lovebird

Binx, Peach-front Conure

Peaches & Pebbles, Budgerigars

Pablo, Maximillian Pionus

Andy, Yellow-naped Amazon

 

Waiting in the Wings

 

Quaker

Cockatiel

2 African Greys

And many more 

Lovebirds

JANUARY 2013

What's New for 2013

by Karen Justice, President & Founder

 

We have so many exciting things happening in this new year! I'm very excited to announce that Parrot University and Companion Parrots Re-homed are EXPANDING! We have leased the space next to us (formerly Weight Watchers) and are renovating as you read. The popularity of our classes has grown to the point that many have been standing room only. In the new space, we will have our very own classroom! This will enable us to hold more classes (see Tip of the Month) and also to bring in guest lecturers.

 

Emmy, Cockatoo
Emmy

In 2013 we're adding new classes - 'What's in Your Toolbox: Strategies for Problem Solving', 'Pleasing Your Parrot's Palate: Cooking for your Companion Bird', 'Avian Anatomy', and 'Entertaining Your Parrot: Toy-making and Foraging Ideas'. Toy-making will have a nominal fee but you will take home toys suitable for your parrot(s). As with our other classes, the rest are FREE. We will announce the schedule for these new classes as soon as the renovation is complete. Please take advantage of as many as you can, because it can only improve the life of your parrot.

 

We are also very excited to announce that we will be hosting world renowned animal trainer and founder of Good Bird, Inc., BARBARA HEIDENREICH for two seminars during August. Stay tuned for details as we are currently in the planning stages. If you don't know about her, please do some research now, as this is an opportunity you will not want to miss!

 

And, of course, we hold out hope that Emmy will be back with us soon. PLEASE continue to spread the word, place our posters wherever you can, visit flea markets and Bird Fairs. It was through the diligence of our volunteers that Jasmine is back safe and sound. For the story of her journey home please read this month's Happy Endings.

IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION NEWS & CLOSINGS

 

Due to the construction and painting for our expanded facility, Parrot University will be CLOSED on Sunday, January 13 and Monday, January 14. There will be no boarding services available during these two days.

 

Sex & the Single Bird class, originally sceduled for Sunday, January 13 will now be held on Saturday, January 12 at 2 pm.

 

Please stop in to see our fresh new look for a fresh new year!
Pepper: Featured Bird for January
Pepper, African Grey
Pepper

 

Meet Pepper

 

Species: Congo African Grey

 

Age: 10

 

As he is fondly called, "Dr. Pepper" joined us a year ago due to a family that lost interest in owning a parrot. Pepper is a charming male that will share his vast human language with you. Sadly he uses his feathers as a form of communication so he is quite plucked. Pepper prefers women and would genuinely like to be the center of your universe, in other words an only bird. He gets along fine with other birds but seems much happier and vocalizes more when alone. If he could get settled in a good home, we believe the plucking -- which is his "go to" behavior when he deals with change and stress -- will subside. Watch the video and please come meet this sweet guy.

Nikita: Featured Bird for January
Nikita, African Grey
Nikita

 

Meet Nikita

 

Species: Congo African Grey

 

Age: 11-1/2

 

Oh my sweet Nikita! When she joined us, just about anything would cause her to fall on her back screaming in surrender to "kill me now". Nikita has come a VERY long way but will require a very patient home that is willing to accept two steps forward and one step back. Nikita is an excellent human mimic that loves to offer you "chips, French fries, and popcorn". We continue to struggle to find the reinforcer that motivates her to work with us. Like Pepper, we feel if she could get into a patient home that will work with us closely, that she would really blossom. She shows a strong preference for men and an interest in kids, which is odd, given her nervous tendencies. Watch the video and come meet Nikita.

Gabby: Featured Bird for January
Macaw Gabby
Gabby

 

Meet Gabby

 

Species: Scarlet Macaw

 

Age: 8

 

Gabby is a testament to what a loving and patient home will do for a parrot who has endured major stress and abuse during early life. We have very limited information on her first home other than we know she was caged with a very domineering and abusive Green-wing. Her growth was stunted due to starvation. We feel her intelligence was also stunted from starvation and abuse.

 

Gabby's foster family has given her four wonderful years of letting her progress at her own pace. There have been so many milestones, such as taking food from one's hand, coming out of the cage, etc. Her most recent was finding the courage to "reprimand" her M2 brother for his vocalizations. She is such a happy girl that just wants to "be there" with you. Watch the video and please let us know if you are interested in meeting Gabby. She surely deserves a loving, forever home.

 

Tip of the Month -- Take More Classes!
  

by Debbie Foster

Parrot U logoEducation is the key to improving your bird's life and your relationship with your bird.

 

We're adding another new class, starting in March, called 'What's in Your Toolbox: Strategies for Problem-Solving'. It's a little different from the other classes in that Positive Reinforcement is a prerequisite, class will be limited to six people and each person will be able to discuss a problem they are having with their bird.

 

In class, we'll quickly review the basics of behavior and positive reinforcement, as well as all the wonderful information we empower you with in Parrot 101. Then we'll dig deeper. We'll do several functional analyses, identifying antecedent, behavior, consequences and predicting future behavior. We'll see how we can manipulate the environment by changing the antecedent or consequence, resulting in a desired behavior change. Each person will review their problem and we'll do a functional analysis of it. The group will then brainstorm possible chances for the owner to try with their bird.

 

Every attendee should leave class with a super-sized toolbox full of solid ideas. If you want to take your relationship with your parrot to a whole new level, this is the class for you! Right now we're only offering it once a quarter, so sign up quickly to reserve your seat (schedule coming soon).

CPR 2013 Calendars - on sale!
Bob, Budgie
Bob, Mr. January
  

We still have a few 2013 Companion Parrots Re-homed calendars left.  They are just beautiful and currently on sale for just $10.00 each.

 

This is an important fundraiser for CPR and a wonderful way to help the birds -- all proceeds directly support the Birds of CPR. Please help us 'sell out'.

 

Calendar sale - $10 each. Add $3 for shipping (mail only). Calendars can be purchased at Parrot University. Or to order, call 704-889-2325 or email info@companionparrots.org

Happy Endings - Jasmine's Journey Home
 
Jaz, Debbie & Karen
Jasmine home

Three and a half weeks after Emmy's and Jasmine's abduction from Parrot U, we received a call from a volunteer who was attending a Bird Fair in Colfax, NC (outside of Winston-Salem). She was certain that a vendor had just purchased Jasmine from an individual. I jumped in the car and sped there, arriving after the fair had ended. Thankfully the bird vendor was still there. When I told him about our situation he informed me he had already sold the bird. Then he shared with me the circumstances under which the woman was selling her bird.

 

Supposedly, she had received the Cockatoo as a gift from her boyfriend eight years earlier. They had recently broken up and she had to move back in with her mom. Sadly, her mother had lung cancer and could not tolerate the bird's dander so, tearfully, she must sell her. The vendor agreed to buy the bird and went to hold the door to the facility open for her to bring it in. He said there was a woman in the front seat of the vehicle with an oxygen tube and that the owner seemed genuinely distraught over the situation. He offered this description: a female with very bright red hair, extremely large breasts, and at least one tattoo on her inner forearm.

 

As I drove home I felt the whole scenario sounded legitimate, as the vendor did. That night, the vendor contacted me again (God bless him!) and said that he had gotten the Moluccan back. After many years with birds, he said he had never been involved in anything illegal and he wanted to make sure he wasn't now. He offered for me to come see the bird at my convenience.

 

Debbie told you about our journey to Winston-Salem and the identification of Jasmine, but there's a little more to the story...

 

Jasmine & Karen
Jasmine & Karen

Ever the pessimist, I still had just a hint of doubt since we had no physical identifying feature to seal it for me. We decided to take her to Dr. Rutowski for DNA sexing. On the way, I called Dr. Powers to find out which lab would give us the quickest results. While on the phone she scanned Jas's medical records in hopes of some identifying item and discovered that we had implanted a hormone suppressant back in March, to the left of her spine, half way down her back.

 

When Dr. Rutowski examined her guess what he found -- the implant clearly palpable beneath the skin. Our beloved Jasmine was home! Debbie and I started laughing, crying and jumping up and down. Meanwhile Jasmine peered from her crate with a look that said "I told you this was me!"

 

On the ride back, something had occurred to me. The weekend after the theft one of our board members had an odd encounter with someone who came into Parrot U. It was so odd, that we looked back on the surveillance footage at the incident. A woman with bright red hair and large breasts had entered the store, turned left and was going from cage to cage in our 'big bird' section. When asked if she needed help, she explained that she and her mother were wondering if our birds had been found. She was told that, although we had leads, none have brought our birds home. She promptly turned and left, getting into the passenger side of a vehicle waiting in the parking lot. She was in our facility exactly one minute and twenty-nine seconds. I won't put two and two together for you.

 

I appeal to this person to please contact me directly, at 704 589-4935. We ONLY want information that could lead us to Emmy's safe return. If anyone reading this thinks they recognize the individual PLEASE let us know. We are NOT giving up on getting Emmy back with us. The $1000 reward is still in place for her safe return.

 

-- Karen Justice

Another Reason to Train Your Bird

by Debbie Foster 

 
Jasmine & Debbie
Jasmine & Debbie

Well, here's a column I never envisioned writing...

 

By now you have heard that we were able to get Jasmine back. I have to say it was a very strange, convoluted set of circumstances that led us to her. Karen and I had been on so many wild goose chases that we were sure this would be one more, but we couldn't bear not knowing, so off we went again. Just in case, I packed some training materials that I use routinely to see if I could get the bird to do anything.

 

Because we had no idea where Jasmine had been or how she'd been treated we didn't know whether or how she would react if she saw us again. And we thought it might be pretty hard to distinguish one beautiful Moluccan with gorgeous coloring from another!

 

To make a long and painful story a bit shorter, I'll tell you that we were both a little shocked when we saw this bird. It certainly LOOKED like Jasmine, and it certainly seemed very friendly.

 

The bird came out of her cage and I asked her to touch the target (my handy-dandy chopstick). She did that immediately and then looked at my other hand for reinforcement! Karen and I gaped at one another in disbelief. I then tapped the perch with the chopstick and the bird came down from the cage and got on the perch. Lots more gaping. I cued the turn-around and the bird did it without hesitation - several times. I then presented the bird with a folded dollar bill and asked her to drop it in a container. She missed the first time and bounced it off the container the second. The third time, the bird turned its head to put it in the container. We didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so we did a little of both.

 

To be able to bring Jasmine home has to be one of the most satisfying things I've ever been involved in. To see that the trust relationship between us hadn't been destroyed by what she'd experienced was so humbling. To see her perform her tricks so fluidly was just amazing.

 

Positive reinforcement. If you haven't been a believer before, I hope you will be now. Jasmine's training is what brought her home.

 

Watch these videos of Jasmine's training.

Jasmine does the retrieve

Jasmine does the turn-around

Jasmine practices target training

Volunteer Corner

 by Lynda Rettew 
 
Zsa Zsa - Cockatiel
Zsa Zsa, Cockatiel

With the flurry of holiday activity as well as our continued efforts to locate Emmy, it might be easy to forget some of our special "angels" who stepped in for extra security on weekends and weeknights. Special thanks this month to Connie Thompson, Sharon Thiele, Steve Hrisikos, Judi Johnson (who spent an extra weekend day in addition to the two days each week she already works!) and David Rettew.

 

In a favorite movie of mine, the lead character often says, more or less, that it will all work out fine in the end, and if it hasn't worked out yet, it's not the end. Please keep that in mind as we don't give up on Emmy. Continue to visit bird fairs, flea markets, pet stores, and post our reward offer.

 

We all thank you for all that you have done so far. Without the intervention of a volunteer, we never would have found Jasmine.

 

Happy 2013 to everybody! And please contact me if you would like to help CPR in any way. We have many different kinds of opportunities available and you can truly make a difference.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Lynda Rettew, Volunteer Coordinator

volunteer@companionparrots.org

We'd love to hear from you.  Please send your comments or suggestions to info@companionparrots.org. Thanks to all of you for your support.

  

The Birds of Companion Parrots Re-homed

Karen Cheek Justice, President & Founder

Board of Directors
Volunteers