This is Pete the parrot. He's a blue and gold macaw my husband recently adopted from Montana's Parrot and Exotic Bird Sanctuary. Actually, we surrendered two cockatoos and took Petey in trade!I've developed severe allergies this winter: to wood smoke and the bird feather dust emitted into the air by Angel (the sulphur-crested cockatoo) and Sammy (the Moluccan cockatoo). The dryness of the air and the elevation haven't been helping my breathing much, either. After having my doctor dose me with steroids and an inhaler, the birds had to go, the woodstove had to be shut down, and the humidifier has been pumping between 6 and 8 gallons of water into the air at my house on a daily basis.
Now, back to the birds. The bird sanctuary and its director, Lori McAlexander, were kind enough to relieve us of Angel and Sammy. In exchange, we adopted Pete, who does not emit bird feather dust. Sammy, who is both affectionate and friendly, will be visiting nursing homes and schools with another of the sanctuary's Moluccan cockatoos, Peaches. Angel is having the time of her life, hanging out on a Manzanita stand at the sanctuary and befriending one of its newest inhabitants, Ricky, another sulphur-crested cockatoo. At the time we visited, the sanctuary was home to another blue and gold macaw, a scarlet macaw, three African greys, and several conures. The sanctuary also has quite a number of other birds staying in foster homes.When we think of animal adoption, dogs and cats immediately come to mind. But many parrots and exotic birds need homes too. If you're interested in adopting a bird, visit the website of Montana's Parrot and Exotic Bird Sanctuary to learn about their Available Birds.
