Saving parrots is expensive

Re: Island parrot refuge set to close as money runs out, June 28

Thank you for highlighting the situation at the World Parrot Refuge in Coombs, and the daunting challenge of relocating so many birds.

However, the article misses the mark completely on several counts. Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary was mentioned as a “non-profit society in Surrey dedicated to bird conservation. ” This implies we are working to preserve parrot populations in the wild. While we applaud such efforts, our focus is to provide rescue and protection for companion birds through adoption into loving homes, and education to parrot guardians and the public.

Greyhaven stepped in about a month ago and has taken over most aspects of running the refuge, including paying staff, hauling in water, hiring an interim manager, and working to have the rat infestation controlled. Our volunteers have spent countless hours shuttling birds to temporary and permanent placements on the mainland. To date, this has cost us over $20,000.

About 150 birds have required urgent medical care, and this is being supplied by Night Owl in Vancouver, with the expert care of Dr. Anne McDonald, Dr. Jennifer Miller, and numerous staff and volunteers. The tab for this is over $2,000 per day, over $85,000 to date, with the costs mounting.

Greyhaven is a non-profit, and we have dedicated these funds to the relocation of the World Parrot Refuge birds because it is the right thing to do for the welfare of the birds. But we cannot sustain this financially.

McDonald and company are doing their work for the same reason, but the cost is coming out of Night Owl’s pockets. Again, this is not sustainable. We have been asking the public for donations, and are extremely gratified by the response. If the donations dry up, we will be in a very tight spot indeed. Jan Robson, Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary