About Us

Experienced bird lovers founded TARA in 1998 in response to the increasing number of unwanted birds and the needs of bird owners for good, up-to-date information on parrot care and behavior. One of TARA's main goals is to increase individuals’ knowledge of what to expect from parrots and how to care for them properly. Parrots' high level of intelligence, their long lifespans, and their innate wild nature make their needs greater than most people can meet.

Our primary educational program is a six-hour course on the care and behavior of parrots. This course, which we teach several times per year, provides "basic training" for prospective volunteers and adopters. This course, taught in two three-hour sections, is also for people who simply want to learn more about their own birds.

TARA does not "warehouse" rescued birds in a single facility. Instead, we provide them with more intimate surroundings and consistent care givers, with the care provided determined by the individual bird's needs. Some birds are fostered by volunteers in their homes, while others are housed in home aviaries with birds of their own species. TARA attempts to socialize rescued birds with other parrots as well as with humans, and we often pair up "bird buddies" of the same sex.

TARA's heart and soul are its dedicated volunteers—no one in TARA is paid. Volunteers pick up birds, transport them to our vet (all TARA birds undergo complete veterinary assessment and blood work, including psittacosis testing for all, and Beak and Feather Disease testing for cockatoos and greys), foster birds in their homes, make home visits, mentor adopters, clean our quarantine facility, and do numerous other tasks, such as producing our printed and web materials and staffing the TARA booth at outreach events.

After their vet visit, birds go to TARA's quarantine facility. During the quarantine period, we assess each bird's behavior, social, emotional, and physical status. Some birds exhibit no significant problems, others need a little work, some just need time, and some are so emotionally and behaviorally dysfunctional, because of years of abuse or neglect, that they are unadoptable.

After clearing quarantine, many birds are ready for their new adoptive homes, while others may go to an experienced volunteer's home for rehabilitation. Usually these birds "come around" with time, patience, and love, and are adopted. Those that don’t come around, and those deemed unadoptable during the initial quarantine/assessment period, may be placed in an aviary with a buddy, or a special volunteer may make room for a special bird. Whatever the placement, it is the bird’s needs which come first. (We find people for birds, not birds for people.)

TARA interviews all prospective adopters and also requires home visits prior to adoption. Lifestyle, space, and available time to spend with the bird are important considerations, as are the potential adopters expectations of a parrot. Any birds already in the home must be vet checked and tested. (Though it’s rare, we sometimes will not adopt out birds to homes/individuals we deem unsuitable.)

Some TARA birds come with cage, play stand, and toys; others come with nothing. During the minimum 60-day waiting or foster period, TARA lends cages, etc., but the adopter(s) must have an appropriate cage at the time of adoption.

Regardless, there are no free birds. There is an adoption fee (primarily to cover vet testing/care) ranging up to $350 for cockatoos and macaws. Then there are the costs of toys, food, new perches, play stands, cages, and vet visits. TARA encourages everyone to consider this before acquiring a bird.