Adopting a Parrot
Research. And research some more.
The first step in finding a new friend in our adoptable birds is by looking at their bios to determine what bird would be a great match. This is a decision that could ultimately impact your family for the next 20-80 years, so it is important to think carefully about what bird would blend well into your lifestyle and whether you can meet the demands of that species. Most birds that come into our rescue have been surrendered because these demands were not thoroughly considered or addressed. Research and proper consideration will play a key role in determining which of our available birds will be the right fit for your household.
Submitting an Application
Each individual bird will require an application be submitted on them before placement is considered for a potential adopter. Once the adoption application has been completed, the adoption coordinator will reach out to confirm the application is received and instruct you on the next steps to move forward with the process.
Screening
Once an application has been submitted, our volunteer team thoroughly reviews it to make sure that the bird you are applying for is a right fit for your family, lifestyle, and experience. If the bird is no longer available, or it is determined that the bird is not the right fit, our adoption coordinator will help you find a great match for your family – whether it is one of our currently available birds or a bird that comes to us in the future.
Vet Checks
We perform vet checks on all applications, no exceptions. We ask that all current pets in the household (including birds) be vetted within the last year and, if applicable, be up to date on any state mandatory vaccines. STAR coordinates with local avian veterinarians to provide initial wellness exams on all birds that are surrendered into our care. Each bird is then quarantined within their foster home for a period of 30 days before they become available for adoption and listed on our website. This ensures that our birds are healthy and happy before going up for adoption. Verifying that potential adopters have provided veterinary care for their current pets is a way of ensuring that they continue to thrive in an environment where their health is a priority.
Home Visit
Once an application has been pre-approved, you should expect to hear from one of our volunteers to set up a home visit. Our home visits are conducted to ensure that the environment our birds are potentially being placed in is safe, clean, and properly set up to welcome a new feathered family member. This is also a great opportunity to ask any specific questions about the bird that you are applying for, advice on how to “bird-proof” your home, and express any specific concerns you might have. Our volunteers are dedicated to providing you with the proper tools and education to make your potential adoption a success!
Cage Approval
After the home visit has been completed and a specific species (or even bird) has been chosen to be a good fit, a proper cage for your new friend will need to be verified by our adoption team. Every species has their own unique requirements when it comes to cages and it is important that their new home meets those needs. Don’t have a cage yet? Our adoption team will be more than happy to guide you on where to obtain a new home for your future bird!
Meeting
Depending on the species and nature of the adoptable bird, we require at least two meetings to determine if the bird is a good match. Compatibility is very important and meetings are a great way to determine how comfortable you are with a specific bird and how comfortable they are with you. Birds, just like people, are individuals and their personalities, traits, and behaviors are taken into consideration when choosing a home for them. If a meeting goes well, our adoption team will approve your application and send you all of the required paperwork to make your adoption official!
It is important to note that we do not process applications on a first come, first serve basis. Rather we base our placement decisions on what home would be the best fit for each individual bird.
The birds in our care are intended as companion pets, to be kept indoors and provided appropriate cages. We do not adopt into breeding situations or homes where the intention is breeding. Nor do we not adopt birds into aviary or zoo-type settings.
