If you live out of our area and are unable to adopt from us, there are some steps you can take to find a rescue group closer to your home.  Even if you have searched the Internet and your local phone book and have come up empty, chances are you will still be able to locate a group, or at the very least a single bird needing a home. 

Since bird rescue and adoption is a relatively new concept, many groups are still very small and may not have a website or an official standing as an organization.  Usually these groups start out as bird lovers, who gradually become aware of the problem of pet stores and breeders.  Over time they take in unwanted birds and by word of mouth alone they grow.  Eventually, many decide to apply for non-profit status out of necessity, but some choose to remain small and independent.

Here are some suggestions:

• Start by searching for bird rescues in your area.  Using a search engine like Google or Yahoo!, enter your search term and area in quotation marks.  For example, "parrot rescue Florida" or "bird rescue Baltimore." 

• If you have already searched for rescues, try searching for bird clubs in your area.  Again, using a search engine like Google or Yahoo!, enter your search term and area in quotation marks.  For example, "parrot club Florida" or "bird club Baltimore."  These bird enthusiasts would surely know of rescue groups, or individuals, closer to you.  There is also a good chance that at least one of the club's members is connected with rescue and adoption. 

• Call any avian veterinarians nearby.  They most definitely would know of bird adoption groups, or might even know of clients who are looking for new homes for their own birds.  If you don't have avian specialists nearby, contact regular veterinarians.  Many small animal vets also see birds or have a colleague to whom they refer their bird-owning clients.  They are definite possibilities for adoption information. 

• Call your local animal shelters, because very often shelters will take in animals other than dogs and cats.  If someone finds a bird in their backyard, for instance, they will usually call their local shelter or humane society.  Even if the shelter does not deal with birds itself, these people will more than likely know of any bird rescues in the area.  Rescue facilities are becoming better at communicating with one another.

• Call your local wild bird rescue.  They do not handle "pet" birds, but they are probably aware of such groups in the area.  Someone finding an odd-looking bird in the garage or backyard may not know what to do, and sometimes the only "bird number" you may find in the phone book is for local wild species.  Having received enough calls regarding lost Parakeets and Cockatiels, wild bird centers usually have the contact information for "pet" bird organizations.