>>> EXOTIC BIRDS ARE IN THE TOP
THREE HOUSEHOLD PETS IN
AMERICA,BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY
ARE ALSO AMONG THE TOP PETS
GIVEN UP FOR ADOPTION OR
ABANDONED BECAUSE
OWNERS
UNDERESTIMATE THE
RESPONSIBILITY.
THERE IS A NEW ORGANIZATION FOR
AREA HELPING TO CARE FOR ,
REHABILITATE AND REHOME THESE
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.
THEY ARE CALLED NICHOLS BIRD
RESCUE.
HERE TODAY TO TELL US MORE IS
DONALD CORBIN, HE IS THE
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ALONG WITH LISA SPEARS THE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE BIRDS.
>> THIS IS MIKO.
HE IS A NONMETAL BLUE AND GOLD
MACAW AND THEN WE HAVE THE BABY
AND BABY IS EIGHT YEARS OLD.
SHE IS AN UMBRELLA COCKATOO.
>> THEY ARE GORGEOUS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THESE WERE
VERY COMMON AS PETS.
>> THEY ARE.
THEY ARE THE TOP THREE ANIMALS
BROUGHT INTO THE HOM
.
ACTUALLY THE UMBRELLA COCKATOO
IS THE NUMBER ONE RESCUED BIRD
,
EXOTICBIRD.
THEY ARE VERY LOUD AND DUST
BIRDS.
SO IT TAKES A LOT OF
MAINTENANCE TO TAKE CARE OF
THEM AND YOU HAVE TO SPRAY THEM
DOWN EVERY DAY AND PEOPLE DON'T
WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT.
>> IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
WORK THEY ARE?>> IT IS.
THE FIRST QUESTION WE GET WHEN
SOMEONE WANTS TO ADOPT IS I
WANT A BIRD THAT TALKS WHERE
CAN I GET A BIRD THAT TALKS.
>> WHICH SOUNDS AWESOME.
>> IT DOES BUT I TELL PEOPLE
DON'T GET A PURCHASE BECAUSE
THEY CAN TALK.
JUST LIKE BABY OVER HERE, SHE
TALKS TO US BUT SHE MIGHT GO TO
A DIFFERENT HOME AND SHE MIGHT
NOT SAY ANYTHING FOR THE NEXT
60 YEARS.
THEY LIVE 80 YEARS.>> THEY
LIVE 80 YEARS?
>> YES, AND NIKKO CAN LIVE UP
TO 125.
IT IS A
LIFETIME COMMITMENT .
>> OKAY SO IS THAT HOW YOU CAME
ABOUT
?
IS THAT HOW THIS CAME ABOUT?
>> I GOT IN FIRST
.
AND THEN ONCE I GOT NIKKO
PEOPLE STARTED SAYING I HAVE A
BIRD, YOU WANT A BIRD COMING
ONE ANOTHER BIRD?
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT ALL
THESE BIRDS.
>> I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND
THERE IS NO FEDERAL OR STATE
LAW THAT DECIDES WHEN A BIRD
HAS BEEN MISTREATED LIKE A CAT
OR DOG.
SO AS LONG AS I HAVE FOR THE
WATER THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN
DO ABOUT IT.
SO IF THE OWNERS HAVE A LIFE
CHANGE OR IF THEY CAN'T TAKE
CARE OF THEM ANYMORE
.
SOME OF THESE CASES SO WE
REHABILITATE THEM AND ADOPT
THEM BACK OUT TO HOMES THAT CAN
TAKE CARE OF THEM.
>> SO YOU TAKE THEM IN FROM
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THEM
ANYMORE AND THEN REEVALUATE
THAT BIRD WHETHER IT WAS
MISTREATED OR WHATEVER.
>> AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A
LOT.
I HAVE A BLUE AND GOLD AT HOME
THAT IS 35 YEARS OLD AND SHE
DOES NOT LIKE WOMEN AT ALL.
SO SH-- WE WERE GOING TO
ADOPT HER OUT BUT SHE HAS
BONDED WITH ME AND IT IS NOT
LIKE A REGULAR DOG OR CAT BOND.
IT IS MORE OF A HUMAN BOND LIKE
YOU WOULD HAVE WITH THEIR
CHILDREN.
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE, JUST
REMEMBER WHEN YOU
DON'T WANT
THAT BIRD ANYMORE THAN THAT
BIRD WILL AND CAN LIKE IT'S
FEATHER, IT IS FEET OFF BECAUSE
YOU
HAVE LEFT IT .
IT ENDS UP KILLING ITSELF
BECAUSE IT BEING ALONE .
>> OKAY.
THIS IS SO FASCINATING I WISH
WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT IF PEOPLE
HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF THEY WANT
TO CONDUCT YOU, HOW DID THEY
FIND MORE INFORMATION?