The parrots at the World Parrot Refuge are near and dear to my heart. So, I was absolutely delighted to hear that the World Parrot Refuge won $25,000 from Shell. These competitions are so very important for charitable organizations with little stable funding. With more than 800 parrots to feed and otherwise care for, staff to pay, repairs and maintenance along with day to day supplies to be purchased, that money will not last long.
Having said that, to suggest that this community needs posters to help citizens understand how important it is to ensure that parrots do not escape, is in my opinion, a frivolous use of even $5 of that grant, to say nothing of the frivolous use of the time and energy of the supporters who helped the Refuge get that grant. However, given the stated importance of ensuring that parrots do not escape, perhaps the Refuge should use the grant toward “a double entry system so that there are two doors (or a door and a safety net) between the birds and freedom at all times. The two elements are never open at the same time.” This is one of the Standards For Arboreal/Perching Birds developed by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. See: http://sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/for-sanctuaries/standards/ Let’s make sure parrots don’t escape from the Refuge before we tackle homes in the community.
Pat Phillips
Parksville