OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS | Rescue group will be at garden show this weekend to spread the word
GOOD CONNECTIONS | Polly wanna new home? Maybe you can help
DEBRA SKODACK
The Kansas City Star

Kathleen Siska will be on the lookout this weekend to find parents — for a couple of 60-year-olds.

Tracy and Pepe are Amazon parrots being cared for by foster parents through Beak N Wings. The bird education and rescue nonprofit, which has about 250 members, will be at the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show this weekend in hopes of finding homes for the almost 100 birds now being fostered by the group’s members.

Including Tracy and Pepe, two birds Siska believes have never been separated.

“They just have to stay together,” she said.

The parrots came to the organization last year from an elderly couple whose failing health was making it difficult to care for the birds.

“Actually we aren’t sure how old the birds are,” Siska said. “That couple had them for 40 years, and they said the owners before had them for 20.”

Longevity is one of the biggest issues for many of these birds. Many birds come to Beak N Wings because their owners can no longer care for them.

Interested owners can begin the adoption process this weekend but won’t receive the birds immediately.

Beak N Wings spends a lot of time with prospective owners, Siska said.

There are home visits to make sure people understand the responsibilities of caring for the birds. In addition, Beak N Wings members look for potential dangers, such as plate-glass windows, incense burning and ceiling fans.

“We want the person to be educated and know what they are getting into,” Siska said.

Prospective owners also are counseled about any issues the birds might have that could cause problems.

“A lot of people don’t realize that the birds bond for life,” Siska said. “When the family is gone, they don’t understand what they did wrong.”

Siska herself became a bird owner through the organization.

One of Siska’s girlfriends contacted Beak N Wings after her cockatiel flew away.

“She lost her bird but found the club,” Siska said.

Her friend ended up adopting one of the birds she fostered and persuaded Siska to take the other.

Now, Siska not only owns several birds but also has fostered 25 to 30 birds.

The cost of adopting one of the birds — about $500 for a macaw — is less than what the bird could cost retail, Siska said. Proceeds from adoptions are used to pay for veterinary services.
The details

• Beak N Wings will be at the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show at the American Royal Center, 1701 American Royal Court, Kansas City. The show’s hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7.50 for adults, and children 12 and under are free.

• Beak N Wings also will hold a spring bird expo from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at KCI Expo Center, 11730 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City. Cost is $4. Childern 10 and under are free.

• For more information about Beak N Wings, call (913) 322-3398 or go to www.beaknwings.org .
Don’t forget…

The life of Larry Stewart, Kansas City’s Secret Santa, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Unity Temple, 707 W. 47th St. The memorial service is open to the public.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...l/16657018.htm

Thanks Mike for the link to here. I saw this, but it is in Kansas and it is way too far for me to even be considered. I live in Central North Carolina so I am sure that would nix me from this one.

Oh, Mike, if I lived ANYWHERE near there you can bet I'd be there doing my best to give this lovely couple a new home. Thanks for the post.

When I win the lottery I'll take in every single one that needs me----If I lived close by, I'd be so tempted.

Thanks for this post!

I'm partnering with a friend to start a similar org here in CA. We want to have foster parronts out in the community rather than centrally housing the birds. So I'm very grateful to find this group, because hopefully we can learn from what they've done! Again, thanks so much!

Too far ='( Need plane ticket....or a large group of birds...0r some string and a good gust of wind...>=) JK