Owen, Claire, Vicky:
We have been volunteering at MAARS since October 2024.

Owen:
We came to volunteer at MAARS because I wanted to get a bird.

Claire:
One moment that really stuck with me was seeing Kai warm up to me. It was amazing to watch a bird start out unsure, then begin to trust.

Owen:
One moment that really stuck with me was being with Puppy for the first time after she arrived at the sanctuary.

Claire & Owen:
What surprised us most was the wide range of personalities among all the birds.

Claire:
I wish more people understood just how complex birds’ needs are, so they don’t make mistakes when considering adopting or caring for one.

Owen:
I wish more people understood birds’ boundaries.

Vicky:
This work matters to me personally because there is so much for us to learn.

Claire:
If someone is thinking about volunteering, I’d want them to understand that it does require hard work—but it’s a really rewarding experience.

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If someone is thinking about volunteering, what would you tell them?

Alyssa said, “If you want to volunteer, you can expect hard work. It's cleaning and fixing and scrubbing and lots of poop and lots of noise. That being said, there are many ways to work on a shift, depending on your personality and comfort zone. We have birds of all sizes and temperaments, so you can decide what works for you. Also, give it a few weeks to get used to it. Once you're in the groove and have a routine down, it becomes a lot more fun and really rewarding! Don't be intimidated! A bonus too volunteering beyond the birds are the fantastic people. I love my shift! They are like family.”

What do you wish more people understood about parrots? Sonia replied:

“That they’re wild animals, no matter how we try to frame it. We try to fit them into our homes and lives the way we do with domesticated animals, and it just doesn’t translate.
We can do our best for them, and we should, but even the best care isn’t the same as a fully wild life.”

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