At our regular meeting June 20, 2003 we were enlightened by Kathy Pietig and Karen Sabat from Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Service.

They made an impassioned plea for restraint and education in bird breeding and ownership.  MAARS Philosophy statement is:

As an ever-increasing number of birds enter the pet trade and an ever-decreasing number live as nature intended, we are committed to providing solutions to the growing crisis of birds exploited by the pet industry.  These beautiful, intelligent social creatures were never meant to exist  in cages or fulfill human needs... yet the cannot be released.  They are dependent upon humans for their survival in captivity and the preservation of their species in the wild.  We believe that every bird is entitled to a dignified and meaningful life, whether its flock is human, avian or both.

While this statement refers to the pet industry, and their mission statement refers to the pet trade, there is a very strong undertone about captive breeding in general, and the desire to substitute adoption as the means of acquiring birds.

We are all aware of the need for rescue and placement services to some degree, but this presentation made the need much more immediate.  The increase in pet bird ownership is surprising, but the education of bird owners, before acquisition is woefully inadequate.  This leads to increasing numbers of birds in distress.

Look for a variety of materials from MAARS in newsletters and on this website, or visit their site with the link above.