You helped protect 900 birds from the Black Forest Fire When the Black Forest Fire blazed across Colorado last June, The Gabriel Foundation, which cares for nearly 900 homeless birds at its Elizabeth, Colo., aviary and adoption center, asked the Petfinder Foundation for help. Because birds have such delicate respiratory systems, their lives were in danger from the region’s polluted air — so we rushed a $1,500 disaster grant to the group so it could buy air filters that would protect members of their flock like Monet (below). CEO and President Julie Murad tells us the aviary was 30 miles from the fire’s epicenter. The days after it broke out were harrowing for her staff, who were tasked with not only protecting the birds already in the group’s care, but with protecting new birds they were taking in from displaced evacuees. “Due to the severity of the heat and fire-generated winds, no fresh air could be provided to our birds while the fires raged,” Murad tells us.

“The five aviary and adoption center buildings are not fully air conditioned, and all fresh air vents were sealed due to the smoke danger while we determined whether or not evacuation would be necessary. Due to the ultra-efficient respiratory systems of parrots and related birds, they are highly susceptible to airborne toxins or pollutants, and death is often the outcome.” Thankfully, with help from our grant-funded filters, The Gabriel Foundation was able to keep its birds safe. “It was a frightening five days with near lock down at our aviary and adoption center as more birds were evacuated by owners or law enforcement personnel and brought to TGF for safety,” Murad said. “The air purifiers purchased with this grant from Petfinder Foundation became an essential part of our birds’ survival.” Hundreds of birds are waiting for homes at The Gabriel Foundation; learn more about adopting one here. Follow the Petfinder Foundation on Facebook so you can learn how to help pets when disasters strike!

Things That Are Harmful To Your African Grey Parrot.  You may not realize it, but certain things that you might take for granted in your daily life can be fatal to your grey.  It’s important to learn how to protect your African Grey Parrot. Below is a list of items well known to be harmful or deadly to African Greys (and most all pet birds, for that matter), and it is very important that you understand how to Protect Your African Grey. 1. Certain Cleaning Products. The cleaning product Febreeze has been known to kill pet birds. Always exercise caution with any fabric or general cleaning product. The odors emitted can be very harmful to your bird. Other products that can emit harmful fumes include oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, hair sprays, nail polish remover, perfumes, pesticides, bleach, moth balls, floor cleaners, spot removers and wax. We use only natural cleaning products in our home. Generally, if it smells bad to you, it could kill your bird.Do NOT under any circumstances cook with any non-stick cookware product.

The substance found in non-stick cookware emits a gas that is fatal to pet birds (not to mention harmful to humans as well)! If you are planning on purchasing a grey or any other exotic bird, then also plan on replacing all of your non-stick cookware with either glass, cast iron or stainless steel. This including any kitchen gadgets such as toaster ovens, waffle makers, electric skillets, etc. Teflon is definitely out when it comes to a pet bird.Many air purifiers today contain a feature that will emit ozone in the room. air purifier online australiaOzone is very harmful to birds. using wii lens cleaning kitIf you do use an air purifier in your home and it has a feature to turn off the ozone function, by all means make sure it is OFF.air purifiers whole home

Never feed your African Grey chocolate, avocado, alcohol, products containing caffeine, fruit seeds or pits. 5. Certain Common Household Plants. Amaryllis, Christmas Candle, Dieffenbachia, Hyacinth, Mistletoe, Philodendron, Poinsettias and all ivys. The best policy for a bird that may have a bit of freedom in your house is to make sure they do not go near any house plants in the area.Exercise caution with your grey around other animals such as a pet dog or cat. The bacteria from a dog bite or even a cat scratch can kill your grey. It can be fun to watch a young African Grey interact with other pets in your household…just use caution if and when this occurs.  Just remember to do a house safety check for you bird and do anything you can to Protect Your African Grey.The Sun Conure is one of the most popular pet birds around. Their energy, intelligence, and beauty make them a great addition to the family. The following 3 supplies are essential for making your home a healthy and happy environment for them.

A Steel Cage – The right cage can make a huge difference in how happy, safe, and engaged your bird is day in and day out. Steel is the preferred material. It is easy to clean and there are no worries about toxicity if and when your pet tries to chew on the bars. Its size should allow your Conure to fly without fear of damaging its wings, and be tall enough for it to move from one level to another. The minimum height should be about twice as high as their length or 24 inches. The minimum width and depth should be approximately 20 inches. However, the bigger the cage you provide the better life your avian friend will have. At first it might appear that the cage is an area where you can cut costs. This is so not true. These features in a cage will make for a happier pet because it has space to move naturally. This will help your bird stay physically and emotionally healthy. The more types of entertainment you can provide the more engaged and stimulated your sun-colored flyer will be.

Toys are designed to emulate things it would attract their attention while flying about in the wild. Nooks or soft fuzzy objects are great for the single bird. Brightly colored hanging contraptions with bells and mirrors will pique their curiosity. Sleep tents are great to provide for cozy nights. Perches and swings will also keep them active. Objects that require them to find food inside are favorites and can keep them occupied for hours. There is no shortage of interesting toys. Try a few things to see what your pet responds to and take it from there. Toys should be rotated in and out of the cage frequently before boredom sets in. Remove damaged toys from the cage so they don’t cause injury. A HEPA Air Purifier – If your bird can’t breathe, nothing else matters. Every home has indoor pollutants like dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, seasonal pollen, and possibly dander from other pets. In the wild these would not be a problem. They would simply dissipate into the atmosphere or the birds would fly away.