Open house Aug. 4 at Siesta Sanctuary

HARMONY — Join more than 80 beautiful parrots for a free, family-friendly open house at Siesta Sanctuary from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug 4. Play catch with them, hear them talk and sing, watch them play and dance and learn about their care.

“This place is incredible!” David Sewall posted on Siesta Sanctuary’s Facebook page. “If you are interested in birds, especially parrots, this place is a must-see!”

The Sanctuary’s flock includes African Greys, Amazons, cockatiels and cockatoos, conures, eclectuses, love birds, macaws, parakeets and ring necks. This species lives all over the world, at or near the equator.

Since parrots live from 30 to 80 years, they usually outlive their human or suffer from unrealistic expectations of having a parrot as a pet. These parrots came to the Siesta Sanctuary from a variety of places and circumstances: rescue organizations, owners moving to a nursing home, spouses objecting to the bird and/or problem behaviors that disrupt the home. Many have been kept alone and have not seen other parrots.

Contributed photo
A CHANCE TO SEE THE PARROTS — The Siesta Sanctuary in Harmony will hold an open house from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4, enabling the public to meet members of the flock of more than 80 birds including these macaws.

This non-profit establishes a permanent sanctuary for them. Here the parrots live in a flock, can fly and learn to behave like birds. Nearly all have found a mate or best friend to hang out with. Even a hobby of dismantling the aviary. The interactions among them are fascinating.

The sanctuary does not re-home the birds but can refer to organizations that do.

Siesta Sanctuary is also a place to learn about parrots, how to care for them as pets and what threatens the survival of wild parrots. Margaret and Fritz Buschmann also provide entertaining, educational presentations — sometimes with parrots.

While the open house is free, donations of time, equipment and/or money are always appreciated. It costs roughly $16,000 annually (roughly $45 per day) to house, feed and tend this flock. Any donation, large or small, helps immensely.

Siesta Sanctuary is 100 percent dependent on donations and does not receive any government funding. Donations are tax deductible and receipts are also given for in-kind donations of cages, food or equipment.

Siesta Sanctuary is located at 104 Brown Road. For more information, please call 683-6322 or visit Siesta Sanctuary.org and the Facebook page.