2025 Update and Holiday Greeting

Dear Friends,
Warm holiday wishes from the flock, volunteers, and leadership at MAARS!

As the holidays draw near, we pause to reflect on the remarkable year we’ve shared, and to thank you, our generous donors and dedicated volunteers for making it possible.

Why Your Support Matters

To give you an idea of how critical your support is during these challenging times, sanctuaries across the country are seeing double-digit drops in donations while costs continue to climb. Many are operating at a deficit, even as surrender rates reach unprecedented levels. The ASPCA estimates more than 225,000 parrot surrenders this year alone, increasing the strain on sanctuaries and resources nationwide.

During this season of giving, we ask that you consider a donation to MAARS – whether through a one-time or recurring contribution, choosing to sponsor a specific bird the MAARS flock, or by volunteering your time.

We are also consistently in need of the following supplies:

Pellets (Harrison’s, Caitec Oven-Fresh Bites, TOP’s, or Roudybush)
Untreated pine boards
Laundry detergent
Brooms
Buckets
Dish soap
Bleach
Toilet paper
Paper towels

All of this helps in our ongoing mission of providing exceptional care for the birds at our sanctuary, educating the public on the plight of parrots in captivity, and helping to raise the standards of care for birds already in homes. We couldn’t do this without you, and we are deeply grateful for everything each of you does to help us continue moving our mission forward.

Puppy, Moluccan Cockatoo,
helping to express our gratitude

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

As we look ahead to our 27th year of providing a healing home for our flock, we find ourselves reflecting on the many challenges MAARS has faced. These are challenges we’ve been fortunate enough to weather, challenges that have caused other sanctuaries to close their doors, and challenges that pushed us to trailblaze innovative paths to protect the animals who depend on us.

Ernie & Cookie,
Double Yellow-Headed Amazons

Sputnik, Umbrella Cockatoo

Our flock endured a chemical exposure event and a resulting ABV outbreak at a time when there was no test available and little treatment, forcing us to rethink our purpose and mission. We worked through a leadership transition, a process that only about 10% of sanctuaries survive. In 2017, a car crashed into our building, leaving us without our main bird area for almost a year.

And in 2020, like so many organizations, we navigated a pandemic that brought unprecedented decreases in funding, rising capacity demands, and a decline in volunteers for rescues and sanctuaries nationwide.

Bizzy, Goffin’s Cockatoo

We share this history not to dwell on what has gone wrong, but to recognize the lessons learned and look ahead with hope. MAARS has grown stronger with each challenge, just as so many of the birds in our care demonstrate resilience every day. We have been able to continue this work only because of the unwavering support of our volunteers and the generosity of those who support us financially. Thanks to you, we can keep moving toward a brighter future for our flock.

Highlights from 2025

Welcoming Birds in Need

The MAARS flock continued to grow this year, with our ability to assist birds in need limited only by the space available in our sanctuary. As the small-bird crisis continues in Minnesota and across the country, the majority of our intakes this year were foundlings and smaller species (primarily cockatiels and budgies). We remain committed to caring for the most vulnerable and overlooked members of the pet trade – birds with disabilities or high medical needs, individuals with behavioral challenges, and the all-too often overlooked small birds who need a safe haven.

Haribo Snickers — Haribo & Snickers, Budgies, preening

GFAS Accreditation

2025 gave us the opportunity to renew our accreditation with GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries). MAARS has been involved with GFAS since the organization’s inception, and we’re proud to continue meeting their rigorous standards for animal care, organizational sustainability, and ethical practices. We are honored to stand among other respected sanctuaries accredited by GFAS, including The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Foster Parrots, the Born Free Foundation in South Africa and the U.S., the Global Sanctuary for Elephants, and Peace Ridge Animal Sanctuary in New England.

Flurry & Blizzard, Goffin’s Cockatoos

Spring Auction

Our spring auction was a smashing success once again in raising money to help our flock. We’re consistently astonished by the community’s excitement and participation around this event each year, and this spring’s auction was no exception.

2025 Spring Auction

Doing Good Together

We were excited to take part in “Doing Good Together” again this year at Capitol Hill Magnet School, where students learned about our mission and our flock and helped create toys for the birds. The kids always have a blast with this project, and this year they assembled hundreds of toys for the flock to enjoy throughout the year – though with our flock, “a few weeks” may be more realistic.

Puppy, Moluccan Cockatoo

Annual T-Shirt Fundraiser

Our annual T-shirt was met with a lot of excitement and was another major part of generating the revenue necessary to ensure our flighted friends receive the world-class care they deserve.

2025 T-Shirt Fundraiser

New Initiatives & Improvements

Social Spotlight

We’ll be expanding and improving the birds’ flight areas to support their physical and mental health. These upgrades will allow the flock to move more freely, exercise, and engage in natural behaviors, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Late this year we began a partnership with a social media consultancy to help increase our reach and further spread our mission that parrots are wild creatures who belong in the wild, and to raise awareness of the standards of care needed for parrots living in captivity today.

Together, we’re crafting a cohesive content strategy, creating engaging and educational posts, and launching targeted campaigns that highlight the stories of our birds and volunteers.

This effort will broaden our reach, attract new supporters, and keep our community informed and inspired year-round. If you haven’t yet, please follow MAARS on our newer platforms in addition to Facebook:

MAARS on Instagram & TikTok

Fundraising Campaign: #SpreadOurWings

We’re also happy to announce that our next online auction to benefit the MAARS flock is coming in the spring! Our past auctions have been a tremendous success. We’re excited to bring you another opportunity to bid on unique items while supporting the MAARS flock. If you’d like to learn more or contribute to the auction, please reach out to us at donations@maars.org. Stay tuned for updates!

Envisioning a future space designed
for the flock’s needs

Upcoming Events

Looking ahead to 2026, here are two initiatives we’re excited to highlight:

Restarting Basic Bird-Care Classes

We’re excited to bring back our Basics of Bird Care classes. Before the pandemic, we offered these sessions several times a year, and now, thanks to staffing levels returning to near pre-pandemic strength, we’re able to support them again.

These classes are an important resource for the parrot community, offering a chance to learn foundational care skills directly from experienced MAARS caregivers. They also reflect one of our core missions: raising the standard of care for birds living in captivity today.

By offering these classes regularly once again, we hope to help ensure that as many birds as possible receive the informed, compassionate, and appropriate care they deserve. Follow us on our social channels for upcoming dates and details.

Spring Auction

We’re looking forward to our annual auction again this coming spring. These auctions are always a fun way to support the birds while also having the chance to bid on unique, one-of-a-kind items. Keep an eye on our social channels for updates as we get closer to the event. If you’d like to learn more or contribute to the auction, please reach out to us at donations@maars.org.

What Your Support Makes Possible

This year has shown us, once again, how powerful our community can be. With your help, we’ve provided safe haven, expert care, and enrichment to birds who have nowhere else to turn. Your involvement strengthens our ability to meet the complex needs of parrots in captivity and to model what responsible, compassionate care can and should look like.

Albert & Euchariah,
Canary-Winged Parakeets

On behalf of all of us at MAARS, thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Your compassion gives these birds a second chance at a vibrant life, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Wishing you a joyful, peaceful holiday season filled with warmth and wonder.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Galiena Cimperman
Executive Director
MAARS

Keep the Momentum Going

Looking ahead to the coming year, we’re excited to build on the progress we’ve made together. Your support, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word helps ensure the flock continues to receive the exceptional care they deserve. Here are some impactful ways you can help:

Donate

Your contribution helps cover daily care, habitat maintenance, enrichment, and the educational outreach we provide to the community. Every gift makes a difference. You can donate here.

Donate Land

If you’re interested in making a lasting impact through a land donation, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at birds@maars.org for details.

Volunteer

Your time, skills, and enthusiasm are priceless gifts to the birds. Consider giving the gift of your time by volunteering with us. Learn more about volunteering here.

Spread the Word

Sharing our story helps expand our circle of support. Tell friends, family, and your community about MAARS, and follow us on social media to stay connected.

Foster or Adopt

If you have the capacity, fostering or adopting through The Parrot’s Umbrella is a powerful way to support parrots in need, especially here in Minnesota.

Your involvement in any of these ways contributes immensely to the
well-being of our sanctuary and its residents.

Unique Holiday Gifts

You can also support MAARS by purchasing unique holiday gifts from the flock, including the 2026 Flock calendar, original paintings, new prints, and a selection of greeting cards. 100% of the profits from the sales of items purchased through MAARS go directly to providing care for the MAARS flock.

2026 Flock Calendar

Paintings by Parrots

Greeting Cards

You can also assist MAARS’ mission by choosing MAARS as your designated charity through your sales on eBay for Charity, shopping through iGive, GoodShop, or providing food for the flock at Nuts.com.