July 2011
Dear Beloved Birds, Elephants and Humans,
25 YEARS, twenty five and still growing........... We have so much about which we can crow and actually glow. We are a good group; we care about living things and how they feel and that makes us a good bird club. I am so very proud to be part of this. The last two months have been very special because we did programs for children in four schools. We bring our birds and teach the children to care. We teach them that these birds have feelings and need lots of love and understanding. We let them know where the birds originally come from and where they truly belong. We have done so many of these programs in so many varied venues besides schools: nursing homes, neighborhood facilities, camps, hospitals, social clubs etc where we have spread the word about the bird (I don't believe I actually said that)
Tonight is a very special anniversary. We have been together for a quarter of a century. Our speaker on this auspicious occasion is the new curator of ornithology at the Bronx Zoo/ Wildlife Conservation Society, Nancy Clume. We are very lucky to have had Dr. Don Brunning the erstwhile ornithology curator, as our speaker who came to us every year and now, we are able to hear from his successor. So many important projects are going on worldwide to help keep the bird population in this world extant and healthy by the WCS and we are going to learn about many of them.
Our club is ostensibly a pet bird club, but we have a great desire to help all the birds we can and learn about the plight of these beautiful creatures everywhere they occur as a natural life form. We were one of the few "pet bird clubs" that actively campaigned to pass the law that prohibited the importation of wild birds for the pet industry in 1993. That is because we have always cared more about the birds themselves than any industry associated with them. We truly believe that that is the reason Dr. Brunning liked us so much. We were of like minds. It is the birds that count and always will.
We, at one time, felt that domestic breeding of pet parrots was a panacea to the trapping and, often, mass killing and maiming of wild birds that went along with the trapping. Today we realize that, of course all pet birds should be bred domestically , but there are just too, too many being bred and people often do not understand what they are taking on when they buy that adorable, compelling baby bird in a pet shop. The next thing is I, or some other person who does bird rehoming, get a call telling me to get this screaming, filthy thing out of here.....or sometimes it is said in other ways.... The result is always the same, too many no longer wanted birds and not nearly enough good, loving, permanent homes. I know I have made this cry very often, but we need a moratorium on pet parrot breeding and we need to stop the cruel practice of pulling infant birds from their hapless parents.
Come to us, join us, be part of us and celebrate with us. Enjoy the food, comradery and the wonderful program tonight. Bid generously at our silent auction and remember that since we are now a 501 (c)3 organization, your dues and what you give to us is tax deductible.
Next month we will be having a toy making program, don't miss that. Also, remember that our 20th pet bird show will be taking place on October 9th (Columbus Day Weekend) at the Liberty Ambulance Building. Please be part of that in every way you can........see Matt. ask him what needs to be done and tell him what you can do.
Be well and I will see you here for our 50th.
LOVE,
Richie
25 YEARS, twenty five and still growing........... We have so much about which we can crow and actually glow. We are a good group; we care about living things and how they feel and that makes us a good bird club. I am so very proud to be part of this. The last two months have been very special because we did programs for children in four schools. We bring our birds and teach the children to care. We teach them that these birds have feelings and need lots of love and understanding. We let them know where the birds originally come from and where they truly belong. We have done so many of these programs in so many varied venues besides schools: nursing homes, neighborhood facilities, camps, hospitals, social clubs etc where we have spread the word about the bird (I don't believe I actually said that)
Tonight is a very special anniversary. We have been together for a quarter of a century. Our speaker on this auspicious occasion is the new curator of ornithology at the Bronx Zoo/ Wildlife Conservation Society, Nancy Clume. We are very lucky to have had Dr. Don Brunning the erstwhile ornithology curator, as our speaker who came to us every year and now, we are able to hear from his successor. So many important projects are going on worldwide to help keep the bird population in this world extant and healthy by the WCS and we are going to learn about many of them.
Our club is ostensibly a pet bird club, but we have a great desire to help all the birds we can and learn about the plight of these beautiful creatures everywhere they occur as a natural life form. We were one of the few "pet bird clubs" that actively campaigned to pass the law that prohibited the importation of wild birds for the pet industry in 1993. That is because we have always cared more about the birds themselves than any industry associated with them. We truly believe that that is the reason Dr. Brunning liked us so much. We were of like minds. It is the birds that count and always will.
We, at one time, felt that domestic breeding of pet parrots was a panacea to the trapping and, often, mass killing and maiming of wild birds that went along with the trapping. Today we realize that, of course all pet birds should be bred domestically , but there are just too, too many being bred and people often do not understand what they are taking on when they buy that adorable, compelling baby bird in a pet shop. The next thing is I, or some other person who does bird rehoming, get a call telling me to get this screaming, filthy thing out of here.....or sometimes it is said in other ways.... The result is always the same, too many no longer wanted birds and not nearly enough good, loving, permanent homes. I know I have made this cry very often, but we need a moratorium on pet parrot breeding and we need to stop the cruel practice of pulling infant birds from their hapless parents.
Come to us, join us, be part of us and celebrate with us. Enjoy the food, comradery and the wonderful program tonight. Bid generously at our silent auction and remember that since we are now a 501 (c)3 organization, your dues and what you give to us is tax deductible.
Next month we will be having a toy making program, don't miss that. Also, remember that our 20th pet bird show will be taking place on October 9th (Columbus Day Weekend) at the Liberty Ambulance Building. Please be part of that in every way you can........see Matt. ask him what needs to be done and tell him what you can do.
Be well and I will see you here for our 50th.
LOVE,
Richie