The Faces of Foster Parrots: Your Support in Action by Karen Windsor

MARCH 2019 Foster Parrots & The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary P.O. Box 34 Hope Valley, RI 02832 The Official NEEWSLetter of Foster Parrots & T he New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary The Faces of Foster Parrots: Your Support in Action By Karen Windsor to provide food and water, but we were told isolation and poor nutritional support take by the caller that the level of care had not a physical and psychological toll on these been much better than this even while the birds. But we do everything in our power guardian was still present in the home. No to make the “sanctuary years” the happiest provisions had been made for Faye, an old, years possible for these special birds. To see wild-caught, Hispaniolan Amazon whose more of the faces of FP, turn the page. elderly guardian had passed away. Faye was discovered, caged alone in the empty home, by the company hired to clean out the house.

When people support the work of Foster Parrots, what many do not realize is that the majority of birds admitted into the Scootchie sanctuary are those coming from the most abusive or neglectful situations, and escued from an intense domestic parrots whose experiences in captivity abuse situation in which his life was have impacted them to the extent that I want to contribute to the March Match! directly under threat, Scootchie’s they no longer have the capacity to live Rresilience is demonstrated in his continued compatibly with humans. These survivors All donations made affection for humans. This dynamic Triton require a higher level of veterinary It’s the in March will be matched up to cockatoo is an asymptomatic carrier of the intervention and long-term supportive $20,000! avian herpes virus. Sapphire and Missy’s Foster Parrots’ Annual YES! care. Integration into avian communities at guardian had moved out of the house, the sanctuary is their first step to healing, Your contribution to Foster Parrots, Ltd. helps provide care for over 400 parrots and animals leaving the pair caged in the basement. though complex avian social dynamics March at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary. It supports our humane education and They were fortunate in that some level of often make integration a lengthy process. care had continued in the form of a relative (cont’d on p. 2)

We cannot always reverse the damage MiniH Match! adoption programs, and it helps to protect the freedom of wild parrots and natural habitat. who would arrive several times each week that has been done; years of neglect, social All donations dated in the Yes! I want to support the work of Foster Parrots, Ltd. with a tax-deductible donation of: month of March will be matched up to _____ $25 _____$50 _____$100 _____$200 _____$500 ______Other $ Name: ______20,000! Resident birds and animals at the New Address: ______England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary depend on your support! The adoption, education City: ______State: ______Zip: ______and conservation programs of Foster Parrots E-mail address: ______cannot continue without you! We hope you will choose to make a donation in March! See pages 7 & 8 for details Donate on-line by visiting: Sapphire & Missy Faye

Please mail checks to: Foster Parrots, Ltd. PO Box 34 or www.fosterparrots.com It’s our Annual March Matching Fund Drive Issue! c c j $ H Hope Valley, RI 02832 It’s safe, secure, and so easy! H All donations dated in March will be matched up to 20,000! B a a b See pages 7 & 8 for details j 2 NEEWSletter design courtesy of Dorian DeSimone Designs— DorianDesigns.com; Unless otherwise noted, photography courtesy of Brian Jones Design— BrianJonesDesign.com The Faces of Foster Parrots: Your Support in Action (cont’d from the cover) It’s the Foster Parrots Annual March Mini Match!

Removed from an abusive home at the Orson: Too Cool For School! In other Berta – Caged without liberation or age of seven, Bebe is a chronic self- words, too aggressive for adoption. handling for a decade. Mislabeled All donations dated in the month mutilator who had actually chewed into Orson has found companionship at the as aggressive, she is actually an his own keel bone. NEEWS with Sam, another Amazon extraordinary bird who now lives cage- of March will be matched up to who prefers birds to people. free at the sanctuary. $20,000! The birds and animals at the sanctuary and all the programs of Foster Parrots, Ltd. depend on you. Every dollar makes a difference! YOUR SUPPORT ensures that 400 parrots & other YOUR DONATION supports our humane education, displaced exotic animals at The New England Exotic adoption and art programs, all of which work to Wildlife Sanctuary can depend on outstanding, promote animal welfare values and a culture of nutritious diets, and specialized veterinary care in compassion and respect for parrots and all wildlife. beautiful, enriched aviary environments. A special-needs Goffins cockatoo with Taters lived for 40 years, alone in a cage Lucy, an older, wild-caught Moluccan YOUR PARTICIPATION ensures the effectiveness of our deformed feet, Digit is a survivor from without liberation or handling. He now cockatoo was found abandoned with YOUR CONTRIBUTION strengthens our rescue efforts, the notorious Scudders Breeding Ranch shares a large aviary with 3 other older, her mate in a crate in the woods in the conservation partnerships in Central and South America helping us to alleviate suffering, restore dignity, and truly where hundreds of birds suffered and wild-caught Amazons. Bronx. While her mate, Desi, has since as we work to protect the freedom of wild parrots and all died. passed, Lucy lives a cage-free life in the support the individual needs of every bird who comes animals in their natural ranges. open-concept cockatoo community. into our care.

Never underestimate the impact of your gift! Foster Parrots launches 3 fundraising events each year — we hope you will choose to support at least one of these!

Donations can be made on-line by visiting www.fosterparrots.com or It’s safe, secure, and so easy! Mail your check to: Foster Parrots, Ltd. PJ – The discovery of a tumor in this Green-winged macaw, Beckett, rejects Unsocialized with humans, Snowball PO Box 34 Hope Valley, RI 02832 elderly Amazon’s nasal cavity rendered human socialization and is most and Crystal were rescued along with 20 him medically dependent and ineligible comfortable in the company of other other birds from a hoarding situation in for adoption. macaws. Vermont. On behalf of all the birds and animals at the

sanctuary and those who fly free because of your It’s our Annual March Matching Fund Drive Issue! c support — THANK YOU! Without you, none of c j $ H H All donations dated in March will be matched up to 20,000! B a this would be possible. a b See pages 7 & 8 for details j 2 7 Avian Bornavirus & The Heartbreak of PDD It’s the 2nd Annual By Karen Windsor in consultation with Dr. Hank Weitsma, DVM droppings are some of the first symptoms rare. Consequently, it can be presumed to be observed. As the disease progresses, that a cocktail of causative elements Sneaks for Beaks birds essentially starve to death as their come together to give rise to the immune digestive systems fail to properly absorb response in parrots that ultimately results 5k Run for Parrots! food and critical nutrients. PDD can also in clinical disease. A combination of take a neurological path, resulting in genotypes, stress and environmental loss of mobility and muscle control, head factors, diet and individual auto-immune Saturday, May 18, 2019 tremors, loss of equilibrium and inability responses all may play a role. to balance or perch. at 10:30 am The extent to which ABV is contagious also Misquamicut State Beach In a breakthrough discovery in 2008, comes into question. It is known that ABV 257 Atlantic Avenue researchers at two separate labs were able infected birds can live amongst healthy Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 to identify avian bornavirus as a causative birds for extended periods of time without • Post-Race Party at The Andrea agent to PDD, and this led to widespread transmission of the virus. Infected parrots www.andreaseaside.com hope that we were closer to finding cure can have healthy offspring with no signs for PDD, but the link between ABV of virus present. Even when PDD fully • Super Cool Swag, Prizes and T-Shirts Walk or Run! Online Pre-Registration is just $37.00 and PDD remains as mysterious as manifests, there are numerous incidents • USATF Certified Course and Event ever. While findings substantiate a link where one bird will die of the disease while Race Day Registration is $45.00 between PDD and ABV, the correlation the mate lives on, never becoming sick. • All Proceeds to Benefit Foster Parrots is tricky. In fact, not all birds who So how do we manage a disease whose & The New England Exotic Wildlife die of PDD will test positive for ABV. Save the date and register today by visiting Furthermore, most birds who test positive characteristics are so variable, and around Sanctuary! https://www.fosterparrots.com/sneaks-for-beaks-5k/ for ABV will live full, healthy lives and which breakthrough research typically only leads to more questions? Disease randy was 16 years old when I never develop clinical symptoms of PDD. management is especially challenging in brought him home in 1999. He Researchers have estimated that between sanctuary or rescue settings, breeding bonded instantly with my two young 33 – 60% of all psittacines will test facilities and parrot retail situations where Nearly 1/3 of all parrot species on the planet are threatened with Bchildren, and soon we added a pit bull positive for Avian bornavirus (aka parrot large numbers of birds are housed together. puppy to the mix. It was an oftentimes extinction. More than ½ of all parrot species are in decline. bornavirus), but this figure comes into The fact is that exposure to virus and chaotic household, but kids and animals death from disease can and will happen make a home, and it was the insanity of in facilities despite proper quarantine those years as a young family that we now esearchers have protocols, high quality husbandry and remember as “precious”. And this is why, Keeping Our adequate sanitation practices. Indeed, it 18 years later, as I sat with Brandy in my estimated that R can be assumed that any location housing lap, knowing I was about to lose him, it was between 33 – 60% large numbers of birds will have virus so hard to let go. Parrots of all psittacines present. But avian bornavirus is not hardy PDD took Brandy’s life on July 9th, 2017. outside its host. It is sensitive to common He was 34 years old. will test positive for detergents, disinfectants and UV light. Flying Free Avian bornavirus In large facilities or in smaller home One of the most devastating and enigmatic environments, common sense practices Join us at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary of all avian diseases, Proventricular (aka parrot like frequent handwashing, footbaths, on Saturday, March 16th 2019 at 9:30 am for our Dilitation Disease (PDD) has broken the bornavirus) general sanitizing and exposure to natural hearts of thousands of parrot guardians sunlight can help in the management of Conservation Mini-Conference since it was first identified in 1978 by Dr. ABV while we await further research – and Hannis L. Stoddard. Initially thought possibly a vaccine – that will someday Featuring Presenters: to be specific to macaws and termed, question because different diagnostic make the devastating losses from PDD a 2 Ermenson Urtecho from Loreros Danika Oriol-Morway – Sanctuary “Macaw Wasting Disease”, PDD quickly labs arrive at different results. Up to 14 thing of the past. Observando y Conservando en Director of Foster Parrots, Ltd. working began to demonstrate that it was an equal different genotypes or “genetic varieties” opportunity offender, capable of infecting of ABV have been identified, affecting Ometepe (LOCO) in Nicaragua, in Guyana to protect the last wild sun parrots of virtually any species. birds worldwide. A negative test for one triumphs and challenges protecting parakeets genotype does not rule out infection the endangered yellow headed parrot PDD attacks the central nervous system Dr. Lucy Spelman - Founder of Seating is strictly limited! by another. Furthermore, the virus is Tickets are $15. and can take a variety of courses, with Dr. LoraKim Joyner – Executive “Creature Conserve” at RISD, shed only intermittently in droppings, Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. the most familiar pattern causing increasing the chances of false negative Director of One Earth Conservation blending science and art to raise Visit www.fosterparrots.com/ inflammation to the nerves supplying the test results. The high incidence of ABV detailing their work & partnerships in awareness about endangered species conservationconference/ gastrointestinal system. Loss of weight infected birds suggests that this virus is Central and South America issues worldwide to reserve your space! despite a ravenous appetite and the extremely common in parrots, whereas passing of undigested seed and food in the the development of PDD is actually quite 6 3 Macaw Conservation Costa Rica Update Guyana: The Sun Parakeet Project Lapita and David: Love Stories from the Osa Peninsula A One Earth Conservation & Foster Parrots Collaborative By Danika Oriol-Morway oached from soon welcome her as the newest member of alizing for the first her nest as MCCR’s breeding program. time who she really has continued to fuel their decline in the a hatchling was. Abandoning wild, despite the thousands of captive- Pover 20 years ago With illegal poaching almost commonplace her Spanish vocab- bred sun parakeets already persisting in and kept illegally and the keeping of parrots deeply ingrained ulary, she began to cages around the world. The problem as a pet, Lapita had in the culture, countless parrots in Costa mimic the language surrounding the sun parakeet, however, never experienced Rica lose their chance to be free every year. of her aviary mates, is not just about extracting birds from the the company of Many of these birds live poor quality lives in and when she was wild. It is also about what happens to the other macaws. captivity. One of the most rewarding aspects introduced to a communities, cultures and environments Nevertheless, of MCCR’s work is helping to return birds handsome male when people have limited economic her wildness had like Lapita to more natural lives in the society macaw named choices, and the external pressures and begun to surface. of other macaws. Impacted by their human David, the connection was almost instanta- market demands that commodify the Despite being well- experience – and sometimes physically neous. The two birds soon began the rituals natural resources of a region. disabled – many of build these relationships in Guyana so cared for, Lapita began to exhibit aggression of allopreening and mutual feeding that that we can begin to piece together a as she matured, becoming increasingly these former pets demonstrate they have formed an exclusive n single file we make our way across the In January, working in our target village full understanding of the health and difficult for her human family to manage. are not releasable, pair-bond. Before long, the nest box attached meticulously planted rows of farmed of Karasabai, we (Dr. LoraKim Joyner distribution of parrots across the country. When they happened to see a poster at their but their offspring to their spacious aviary became their focus, cassava with slender, twisted trunks of One Earth Conservation and Danika local veterinary supply store offering help to will fly free, and with Lapita spending extended time inside Istretching towards the sun. The small, Oriol-Morway of Foster Parrots) hosted The art of conservation comes not people illegally holding parrots as pets, they will be instrumen- and David dutifully guarding the nest. De- a six-day workshop that involved 20 tal in helping to leafy tops offer little in the way of shade or from the proselytizing of westernized knew this was their chance to return Lapita spite both birds having been raised in captiv- participants from 3 different villages. We ideologies of human animal interaction, to a more natural life in the company of other strengthen Costa ity, Lapita and David show great promise as cover as we sneak quietly across the dusty trained team members to conduct fixed but instead is about learning from the scarlet macaws. Rica’s wild macaw valuable contributors to the future of Costa fields. I look nervously between the sky transect counts to assess the minimum communities we want to work with. populations. Rica’s wild macaws. 2 and my feet, still fearful of stepping on an Chris Castles, the head of Macaw Conser- unsuspecting snake or scorpion, but also number of individual birds in a given area. Our work in Guyana is rooted in the vation Costa Rica (MCCR), arrived on a hot After serving her required time in quarantine To learn more or to support the important not wanting to miss my chance to see the Alarmingly, our January population survey fundamental belief that what we offer afternoon in August to retrieve Lapita and and receiving a clean bill of health, Lapita work of MCCR, visit their website at their rare sun parakeets (aka, sun conures). We documented only 137 distinct, individual are simply tools and methodologies to transport her to the MCCR sanctuary on the was introduced to the other macaws. Her new address, are speaking in whispers as we follow our sun parakeets. support the work and expertise of the Osa Peninsula where 30 other macaws would demeanor changed almost instantly, as if re- www.MacawConservationCR.org guide to the back of the farm, and just as indigenous communities who know their we hit the tree line we hear a faint call, land and animals better than anyone else. “skree-skree-skree-skree-skree”. One of Conservation must be in-situ, managed by our ranger trainees turns back to me and the indigenous communities or else we are Foster Parrots Adoption Corner points to the sky with a big smile on his in endanger of perpetuating modernized Mango : Sun Conure face and says in a low but excited voice, colonialist archetypes under the guise of conservation. 2 ango is a handsome 4-year-old sun conure (aka, sun somewhere where there’s at least one female member of “ke’se”, or as we know it “sun parakeet”. We all look to the sky as a rush of orange, parakeet). He gives kisses and loves to be held and the household. Like all sun conures, Mango knows how to To learn more about One Earth Conservation, M yellows, greens and blues come screaming scratched. Mango has lived with a woman for all his life make noise! He is looking for a home with someone who visit: oneearthconservation.org and has not had exposure to men, so he would like to live has time to give him lots of attention and love. out of the trees just a few meters above our heads. I revel in this chance to witness these beautiful birds, free and totally Continuing to research village attitudes Topaz: Blue & Gold Macaw unaware they are, in fact, the last of their and interest in parrot conservation efforts opaz, a beautiful, 36 year old blue & gold macaw, has wants to be the center of attention, and she will scream kind. in Guyana, we visited the villages of Rewa, been on our adoption list since September 2018, and when her people are talking to each other or talking on T Once wide-spread throughout Brazil, Surama, Annai, and the conservation we can’t believe she hasn’t been scooped up yet! She is the phone. She is looking for a home where her people research center at Iwokrama. Much playful and loving with the people she bonds with, and will talk, play, and sing with her all day. Venezuela, Southern Guyana, Surinam she will speak to you in English and Portuguese! Topaz and French Guiana, sun parakeets have of our work focused on community all but vanished throughout their range. engagement, working directly with local They are classified as Endangered on youth wildlife clubs within each village, Erik: African Grey the IUCN Red List, and could further offering population censusing and parrot be upgraded to Critically Endangered as identification training, and spending time Photos and sun parakeet logo provided by rik is a 22-year-old African Grey parrot. He’ll be whistles and noises like water dripping and the smoke listening to people as they relayed the Danika Oriol-Morway. celebrating his 23rd birthday in March! Erik is a little alarm. Erik needs a patient guardian who will take the further surveys are conducted. As we wind E history of Home and their relationships nervous at first, but once he warms up to you he enjoys time to get to know him on his terms. Once he gets our way through the rugged terrain, up the attention and will happily sit on your lap. Although he comfortable he’s very funny and interactive. Ireng river and through the dense primary with their native parrots. As of January Sun parakeets are doesn’t speak human words, he knows how to mimic forests of the Pakaraima mountains, it is 2019, we (One Earth and Foster Parrots) known in the U.S. hard not to feel as though these birds have have officially established two parrot as ‘sun conures’. gone into hiding, tucking their families monitoring projects, one in Karasabai and Check out Mango’s Interested in Adopting a Parrot? Welcoming to invest, please visit our website at far away from human reach in a final the other in Rewa village, hiring wildlife profile in our Adoption Corner a parrot www.fosterparrots.com/adoption-rescue attempt to save the last of their species. guides, local parrot conservationists on page 4! into one’s family is a challenging but rewarding, life-long to read about our requirements for adoption and to fill The demand for the sun parakeet as pets and ex-trappers. We will continue to commitment. If you think you have the love, time and patience out an application. There are so many parrots in need! 4 5 Macaw Conservation Costa Rica Update Guyana: The Sun Parakeet Project Lapita and David: Love Stories from the Osa Peninsula A One Earth Conservation & Foster Parrots Collaborative By Danika Oriol-Morway oached from soon welcome her as the newest member of alizing for the first her nest as MCCR’s breeding program. time who she really has continued to fuel their decline in the a hatchling was. Abandoning wild, despite the thousands of captive- Pover 20 years ago With illegal poaching almost commonplace her Spanish vocab- bred sun parakeets already persisting in and kept illegally and the keeping of parrots deeply ingrained ulary, she began to cages around the world. The problem as a pet, Lapita had in the culture, countless parrots in Costa mimic the language surrounding the sun parakeet, however, never experienced Rica lose their chance to be free every year. of her aviary mates, is not just about extracting birds from the the company of Many of these birds live poor quality lives in and when she was wild. It is also about what happens to the other macaws. captivity. One of the most rewarding aspects introduced to a communities, cultures and environments Nevertheless, of MCCR’s work is helping to return birds handsome male when people have limited economic her wildness had like Lapita to more natural lives in the society macaw named choices, and the external pressures and begun to surface. of other macaws. Impacted by their human David, the connection was almost instanta- market demands that commodify the Despite being well- experience – and sometimes physically neous. The two birds soon began the rituals natural resources of a region. disabled – many of build these relationships in Guyana so cared for, Lapita began to exhibit aggression of allopreening and mutual feeding that that we can begin to piece together a as she matured, becoming increasingly these former pets demonstrate they have formed an exclusive n single file we make our way across the In January, working in our target village full understanding of the health and difficult for her human family to manage. are not releasable, pair-bond. Before long, the nest box attached meticulously planted rows of farmed of Karasabai, we (Dr. LoraKim Joyner distribution of parrots across the country. When they happened to see a poster at their but their offspring to their spacious aviary became their focus, cassava with slender, twisted trunks of One Earth Conservation and Danika local veterinary supply store offering help to will fly free, and with Lapita spending extended time inside Istretching towards the sun. The small, Oriol-Morway of Foster Parrots) hosted The art of conservation comes not people illegally holding parrots as pets, they will be instrumen- and David dutifully guarding the nest. De- a six-day workshop that involved 20 tal in helping to leafy tops offer little in the way of shade or from the proselytizing of westernized knew this was their chance to return Lapita spite both birds having been raised in captiv- participants from 3 different villages. We ideologies of human animal interaction, to a more natural life in the company of other strengthen Costa ity, Lapita and David show great promise as cover as we sneak quietly across the dusty trained team members to conduct fixed but instead is about learning from the scarlet macaws. Rica’s wild macaw valuable contributors to the future of Costa fields. I look nervously between the sky transect counts to assess the minimum communities we want to work with. populations. Rica’s wild macaws. 2 and my feet, still fearful of stepping on an Chris Castles, the head of Macaw Conser- unsuspecting snake or scorpion, but also number of individual birds in a given area. Our work in Guyana is rooted in the vation Costa Rica (MCCR), arrived on a hot After serving her required time in quarantine To learn more or to support the important not wanting to miss my chance to see the Alarmingly, our January population survey fundamental belief that what we offer afternoon in August to retrieve Lapita and and receiving a clean bill of health, Lapita work of MCCR, visit their website at their rare sun parakeets (aka, sun conures). We documented only 137 distinct, individual are simply tools and methodologies to transport her to the MCCR sanctuary on the was introduced to the other macaws. Her new address, are speaking in whispers as we follow our sun parakeets. support the work and expertise of the Osa Peninsula where 30 other macaws would demeanor changed almost instantly, as if re- www.MacawConservationCR.org guide to the back of the farm, and just as indigenous communities who know their we hit the tree line we hear a faint call, land and animals better than anyone else. “skree-skree-skree-skree-skree”. One of Conservation must be in-situ, managed by our ranger trainees turns back to me and the indigenous communities or else we are Foster Parrots Adoption Corner points to the sky with a big smile on his in endanger of perpetuating modernized Mango : Sun Conure face and says in a low but excited voice, colonialist archetypes under the guise of conservation. 2 ango is a handsome 4-year-old sun conure (aka, sun somewhere where there’s at least one female member of “ke’se”, or as we know it “sun parakeet”. We all look to the sky as a rush of orange, parakeet). He gives kisses and loves to be held and the household. Like all sun conures, Mango knows how to To learn more about One Earth Conservation, M yellows, greens and blues come screaming scratched. Mango has lived with a woman for all his life make noise! He is looking for a home with someone who visit: oneearthconservation.org and has not had exposure to men, so he would like to live has time to give him lots of attention and love. out of the trees just a few meters above our heads. I revel in this chance to witness these beautiful birds, free and totally Continuing to research village attitudes Topaz: Blue & Gold Macaw unaware they are, in fact, the last of their and interest in parrot conservation efforts opaz, a beautiful, 36 year old blue & gold macaw, has wants to be the center of attention, and she will scream kind. in Guyana, we visited the villages of Rewa, been on our adoption list since September 2018, and when her people are talking to each other or talking on T Once wide-spread throughout Brazil, Surama, Annai, and the conservation we can’t believe she hasn’t been scooped up yet! She is the phone. She is looking for a home where her people research center at Iwokrama. Much playful and loving with the people she bonds with, and will talk, play, and sing with her all day. Venezuela, Southern Guyana, Surinam she will speak to you in English and Portuguese! Topaz and French Guiana, sun parakeets have of our work focused on community all but vanished throughout their range. engagement, working directly with local They are classified as Endangered on youth wildlife clubs within each village, Erik: African Grey the IUCN Red List, and could further offering population censusing and parrot be upgraded to Critically Endangered as identification training, and spending time Photos and sun parakeet logo provided by rik is a 22-year-old African Grey parrot. He’ll be whistles and noises like water dripping and the smoke listening to people as they relayed the Danika Oriol-Morway. celebrating his 23rd birthday in March! Erik is a little alarm. Erik needs a patient guardian who will take the further surveys are conducted. As we wind E history of Home and their relationships nervous at first, but once he warms up to you he enjoys time to get to know him on his terms. Once he gets our way through the rugged terrain, up the attention and will happily sit on your lap. Although he comfortable he’s very funny and interactive. Ireng river and through the dense primary with their native parrots. As of January Sun parakeets are doesn’t speak human words, he knows how to mimic forests of the Pakaraima mountains, it is 2019, we (One Earth and Foster Parrots) known in the U.S. hard not to feel as though these birds have have officially established two parrot as ‘sun conures’. gone into hiding, tucking their families monitoring projects, one in Karasabai and Check out Mango’s Interested in Adopting a Parrot? Welcoming to invest, please visit our website at far away from human reach in a final the other in Rewa village, hiring wildlife profile in our Adoption Corner a parrot www.fosterparrots.com/adoption-rescue attempt to save the last of their species. guides, local parrot conservationists on page 4! into one’s family is a challenging but rewarding, life-long to read about our requirements for adoption and to fill The demand for the sun parakeet as pets and ex-trappers. We will continue to commitment. If you think you have the love, time and patience out an application. There are so many parrots in need! 4 5 Avian Bornavirus & The Heartbreak of PDD It’s the 2nd Annual By Karen Windsor in consultation with Dr. Hank Weitsma, DVM droppings are some of the first symptoms rare. Consequently, it can be presumed to be observed. As the disease progresses, that a cocktail of causative elements Sneaks for Beaks birds essentially starve to death as their come together to give rise to the immune digestive systems fail to properly absorb response in parrots that ultimately results 5k Run for Parrots! food and critical nutrients. PDD can also in clinical disease. A combination of take a neurological path, resulting in genotypes, stress and environmental loss of mobility and muscle control, head factors, diet and individual auto-immune Saturday, May 18, 2019 tremors, loss of equilibrium and inability responses all may play a role. to balance or perch. at 10:30 am The extent to which ABV is contagious also Misquamicut State Beach In a breakthrough discovery in 2008, comes into question. It is known that ABV 257 Atlantic Avenue researchers at two separate labs were able infected birds can live amongst healthy Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 to identify avian bornavirus as a causative birds for extended periods of time without • Post-Race Party at The Andrea agent to PDD, and this led to widespread transmission of the virus. Infected parrots www.andreaseaside.com hope that we were closer to finding cure can have healthy offspring with no signs for PDD, but the link between ABV of virus present. Even when PDD fully • Super Cool Swag, Prizes and T-Shirts Walk or Run! Online Pre-Registration is just $37.00 and PDD remains as mysterious as manifests, there are numerous incidents • USATF Certified Course and Event ever. While findings substantiate a link where one bird will die of the disease while Race Day Registration is $45.00 between PDD and ABV, the correlation the mate lives on, never becoming sick. • All Proceeds to Benefit Foster Parrots is tricky. In fact, not all birds who So how do we manage a disease whose & The New England Exotic Wildlife die of PDD will test positive for ABV. Save the date and register today by visiting Furthermore, most birds who test positive characteristics are so variable, and around Sanctuary! https://www.fosterparrots.com/sneaks-for-beaks-5k/ for ABV will live full, healthy lives and which breakthrough research typically only leads to more questions? Disease randy was 16 years old when I never develop clinical symptoms of PDD. management is especially challenging in brought him home in 1999. He Researchers have estimated that between sanctuary or rescue settings, breeding bonded instantly with my two young 33 – 60% of all psittacines will test facilities and parrot retail situations where Nearly 1/3 of all parrot species on the planet are threatened with Bchildren, and soon we added a pit bull positive for Avian bornavirus (aka parrot large numbers of birds are housed together. puppy to the mix. It was an oftentimes extinction. More than ½ of all parrot species are in decline. bornavirus), but this figure comes into The fact is that exposure to virus and chaotic household, but kids and animals death from disease can and will happen make a home, and it was the insanity of in facilities despite proper quarantine those years as a young family that we now esearchers have protocols, high quality husbandry and remember as “precious”. And this is why, Keeping Our adequate sanitation practices. Indeed, it 18 years later, as I sat with Brandy in my estimated that R can be assumed that any location housing lap, knowing I was about to lose him, it was between 33 – 60% large numbers of birds will have virus so hard to let go. Parrots of all psittacines present. But avian bornavirus is not hardy PDD took Brandy’s life on July 9th, 2017. outside its host. It is sensitive to common He was 34 years old. will test positive for detergents, disinfectants and UV light. Flying Free Avian bornavirus In large facilities or in smaller home One of the most devastating and enigmatic environments, common sense practices Join us at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary of all avian diseases, Proventricular (aka parrot like frequent handwashing, footbaths, on Saturday, March 16th 2019 at 9:30 am for our Dilitation Disease (PDD) has broken the bornavirus) general sanitizing and exposure to natural hearts of thousands of parrot guardians sunlight can help in the management of Conservation Mini-Conference since it was first identified in 1978 by Dr. ABV while we await further research – and Hannis L. Stoddard. Initially thought possibly a vaccine – that will someday Featuring Presenters: to be specific to macaws and termed, question because different diagnostic make the devastating losses from PDD a 2 Ermenson Urtecho from Loreros Danika Oriol-Morway – Sanctuary “Macaw Wasting Disease”, PDD quickly labs arrive at different results. Up to 14 thing of the past. Observando y Conservando en Director of Foster Parrots, Ltd. working began to demonstrate that it was an equal different genotypes or “genetic varieties” opportunity offender, capable of infecting of ABV have been identified, affecting Ometepe (LOCO) in Nicaragua, in Guyana to protect the last wild sun parrots of virtually any species. birds worldwide. A negative test for one triumphs and challenges protecting parakeets genotype does not rule out infection the endangered yellow headed parrot PDD attacks the central nervous system Dr. Lucy Spelman - Founder of Seating is strictly limited! by another. Furthermore, the virus is Tickets are $15. and can take a variety of courses, with Dr. LoraKim Joyner – Executive “Creature Conserve” at RISD, shed only intermittently in droppings, Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. the most familiar pattern causing increasing the chances of false negative Director of One Earth Conservation blending science and art to raise Visit www.fosterparrots.com/ inflammation to the nerves supplying the test results. The high incidence of ABV detailing their work & partnerships in awareness about endangered species conservationconference/ gastrointestinal system. Loss of weight infected birds suggests that this virus is Central and South America issues worldwide to reserve your space! despite a ravenous appetite and the extremely common in parrots, whereas passing of undigested seed and food in the the development of PDD is actually quite 6 3 The Faces of Foster Parrots: Your Support in Action (cont’d from the cover) It’s the Foster Parrots Annual March Mini Match!

Never underestimate the impact of your gift! Foster Parrots launches 3 fundraising events each year — we hope you will choose to support at least one of these!