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Group's Efforts Are For The Birds

Sherri Proctor, USF

Jonathan Pitsenbarger carries on a conversation with (from left) a 4-year-old rescued calico macaw, a 1-year-old rescued miligold macaw and a 5-month-old blue and gold macaw.

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By MARILU MUZZI and SHERRI PROCTOR, for The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

News Channel 8 Report

Video: Interview With Jennifer Klosowski, Jennifer Underwood

Video: Jennifer Klosowski Discusses Parrot Rescue

Snap Photo Gallery

Bird trainer Jennifer Klosowski remembers what Rebel was like when he first arrived – the 8-year-old green-wing macaw, muttered to himself and cowered in the back of his cage. He squawked loudly and paced when anyone came near. His aggressive behavior made it difficult to handle him.

"In time, he'll make a full turn around and become a wonderful pet," said Klosowski, who has worked with Rebel for nearly three weeks. "He's coming along, but he will need someone very experienced to continue to work with him."

Klosowski works with neglected birds like Rebel through Tampa Bay Parrot Rescue, which fosters and finds homes for surrendered and abandoned birds. The only parrot rescue in Hillsborough County, it has found homes for more than 30 birds since it started in May. Those rescued include: two macaws, an African grey, a Senegal, a Quaker, several cockatiels and cockatoos.

Founder Jennifer Underwood, 27, became aware of the need for a parrot rescue in the Tampa Bay area while working at Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort in Plant City.

Clients would call the office pleading for someone to take their parrots, because they were either too ill to care for them or didn't have the time for them.

There was no room at the clinic and the Humane Society does not take in birds since they specialize in dogs and cats and lack space. So, Underwood started her own rescue group for parrots and occasionally takes in other animals as well.

"There are so many cat and dog rescues and are very few bird rescues," Underwood said.

Christy Poulin, a veterinarian at Timberlane, has treated several birds for the Tampa Bay Parrot Rescue.

"When people look at cute little baby birds, they don't consider that they're going to be huge Macaws when they're done," Poulin said. "They also don't realize that they are going to require a big cage or open space for them to live in; they require a lot of time and effort."

Parrots can live between 15 to 100 years depending on the species. Often, the owner dies or is too ill to care for the birds any longer.

"Having a parrot, especially a large parrot, is a lifetime commitment," Underwood said. "If you are getting a parrot at 20 years old, there's a good chance that they are going to outlive you."

Klosowski is a certified avian specialist bird trainer, who teaches birds to fly, do tricks and most importantly overcome behavioral issues. Klosowski got involved with the parrot rescue when she heard several birds were going to be displaced from their homes.

She said it is common for rescued parrots to have behavioral problems. Parrots require a lot of time and energy; when they do not get enough attention, they misbehave. Typical indicators that a bird is stressed and has not been cared for properly, according to Klosowski, are screeching, biting or plucking their feathers.

Underwood agrees. "Parrots turn to this destructive behavior out of boredom or stress," she said.

Sometimes the birds Tampa Bay Parrot Rescue receives are physically abused. Gizzy, a yellow-crested umbrella cockatoo was kicked around like a football. The front of his cage was bowed in from his owners throwing things at it.

"Parrots are like people, when they experience physical stress they suffer emotionally too," Klosowski said. "Getting a bird to overcome the emotional damage from being neglected or abused is the hardest thing to accomplish."

For example, Klosowski has worked for three years with a bird that bites. Kya, a military macaw, came from a pet store where people poked at her. Even with all her work, Klosowski said Kya still bites strangers.

"Kya is in her forever home here with me," Klosowski said. "I am also prepared to keep Rebel, if that's what it takes, but right now, it is still too soon to tell."

The parrot rescue currently has about 20 parrots in more than a dozen foster homes throughout the Tampa Bay area. Sheila Williams of Tampa is one of those foster parents who opened her home to macaws, cockatoos, love birds and parakeets.

"I've been doing animal rescue for over 20 years," Williams said. "I started out with cat and dog fostering, than I decided I wanted to do birds."

Her daily routine consists of cleaning cages and handling the parrots. Her home is crowded with cages and often is noisy, but Williams and her 7-year-old son, Jesse, prefer a house full of feathered friends because of the love and companionship they get in return.

Roxy is an umbrella cockatoo who lived with her owner for 13 years. When he moved and built her an outdoor aviary, she didn't take to it well and started plucking her feathers. The owner surrendered her to the Parrot Rescue. Shortly after Williams started fostering Roxy, she began talking, something she never did with her previous owner.

"She screamed out 'I love you' so that was it," Williams said. "I just had to keep her, plus she hasn't plucked since she's been here."

The parrot rescue is working to get its non-profit status, until then, it cannot have fundraising events, and so the money comes from adoption fees, donations or from Underwood's own pocket. Neither Underwood nor any of the volunteers make a profit from the rescue. Starting up and running a rescue organization has proven to be an expensive endeavor for Underwood who works a part-time educational outreach job where she brings animals into classrooms.

Despite the expense and hard work, Underwood and the others involved in the Tampa Bay Parrot Rescue find fostering parrots enriching and rewarding.

"The parrot rescue's been a great organization," Poulin said. "I've loved working with them and I hope to continue to have a long relationship with them."

Reporters Shraddha Belsare, Brittany Jackson and Shannon Legrand contributed to this report.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

This report is part of a multimedia project produced by a University of South Florida journalism class in cooperation with The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8.

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