Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty...
Oh, that's what he was talking about!
Posted on 05/27/2005 9:23:35 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~28822~2888206,00.html
Nearly 100 exotic birds stolen from home aviary
By Angie Valencia-Martinez, Staff Writer
May 26, 2005
Nearly 100 parrots and other orphaned exotic birds were stolen from an aviary in Box Canyon operated by an 85-year-old bird lover, officials said Wednesday.
The birds, including Rosellas, Mexican Redheads and Patagonias, were stolen from the back yard of June Matthews' mobile home, where she has cared for rescued birds since 1984.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department said Matthews reported the birds stolen on Monday, but that an investigation showed they might have been taken from the aviary over the weekend.
Matthews lives in an isolated area and does not have neighbors close by.
Although the birds had an estimated value of $30,000, detectives said Matthews does not sell the birds and probably does not have insurance.
"I'm devastated. I don't know who would do such a thing," Matthews said in a brief interview before she was taken to the hospital for treatment of stress.
"Auntie June is an animal lover to the max," said Ron Mendez, store director at Theresa's Country Feed and Pet Store, where Matthews has for years offered free wing and nail trimming for birds during the weekend.
"She's very depressed and upset by the ordeal."
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, (805) 532-2700.
Angie Valencia-Martinez, (805) 583-7604 angie.valencia@dailynews.com
Just plain wrong
Wow. Operating an aviary of that size at 85; that's amazing. I want to know how someone stole 100 birds? Seems like a lot to keep quiet and a lot to hide. Or was it maybe a wacko who just freed them
I'm not in the area, nor do I know this lady. From what I've read, the thinking is that whomever did it knew her layout and knew her schedule. These were not suitable as pets, but birds rescued from bad home situations, some of whom were described as being downright nasty. The truly sad part is that a lot of bonded pairs were broken up when one mate was taken and the other left behind.
Dan
Oh, yeah.
If they're rescues, means they may have some problems that will make them especially hard for new owners to handle.
This is what I've read on other bird forums. Some are described as being on the nasty side. The sad thing is that they are described as once being in a bad home situation (abuse, etc.) and now they're probably right back in a similar situation after being loved while in her care.
I was thinking the same thing. Folks see birds and go "OH pretty!" then they get them and discover they're loud, messy, destructive and require gobs of work.
So they abuse and neglect them. Or if they're humane, put them in a rescue.
~~sigh~~
This is a major problem right now with parrots of all sizes. Pet stores and bird breeders sell babies which are lovable and compliant. But when the bird reaches sexual maturity after a few months or years, depending upon the bird, they start screaming, lunging and biting --all of which they're supposed to do because they're still wild animals and like you say, people will hit the cages, or the birds themselves, or squirt them with water, or they'll stuff the bird in a dark closet, dank basement, or cold garage.
Bird rescues are bursting at the seams trying to take care of all the cast-off parrots, like this lady has been doing for the last 20 years or so.
Yes, it takes a different type of person to own and love a parrot, that much is for sure. It takes a very special person to take a hundred or more under your wing.
Most parrot rescues for unwanted pet birds deliberately try to keep their locations a secret. When some of those bird species can retail for several thousands of dollars, there is a strong incentive for criminals to get there hands on these animals. Hopefully it wasn't some nut that released them into the wild. They will be cat or hawk food in less than a week, providing they don't starve becassue they don't no how to forage.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty...
Oh, that's what he was talking about!
I had a cockatiel get out once (I don't clip their wings). She was kinda fussy and I always joked about "she doesn't like me".
But within 2 days, she literally flew in and landed at my feet. As if to say "It's SCARY out there, and I'm hungry!!"
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