Meet Sarah Edwards of Rickie’s Parrot Rescue and Sanctuary in Hialeah

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Edwards.

Sarah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ricky’s started because of one bird. Her name is Ethel. I have always liked and owned birds… but Ethel was special. Ethel was my favorite bird store and the owners were having a hard time weaning her. It is believed that she had a baby stroke. At 1.5 years old… she wasn’t weaned… balance was poor and she cried and rocked back and forth like a baby of only a few months.

I went in one day and they were discussing what to do with Ethel… I piped up and said… let me see what I can do with her. Gulp! I had never hand fed a bird..had no idea if I could help her but I was afraid she would fall into the wrong hands and not make it. I had gotten to know Ethel and if nothing else, I knew I wouldn’t give up on her. The owners agreed and they also agreed to spend time with me showing me how to feed her. They cared about her too… they just didn’t know how to help her at that point.

And to be honest… I didn’t either… but being a paralegal by day and a bird and dog slave by night… I tend to research everything to death. Was I in for a surprise! There was very little out there about special needs birds and nothing that matched what Ethel was experiencing! So, I knew the first thing I had to do was to get her strong enough to work with her. So, although she had been weaned down to two feedings a day… I took her back up to three. After about a month, the baby rocking and crying all but stopped.

So, the next thing I had to work on with her was her balance. She needed to strengthen her legs.. so I purchased a rope perch which would force her to use those muscles… Eventually we worked on feeding… she took bananas first and then chop… finally at almost three years old she was weaned! Today… unless I pointed out that she doesn’t always open her left foot unless reminded… It’s very hard to see her as anything other than a normal adult macaw.

After realizing there was very little out there on the internet about special needs birds… I started a Facebook page called Special Needs Parrots and Birds. All They Need is Love. We currently have over 3k members and it continues to grow. People share stories, ideas of what works and don’t work for different ailments, etc.

After word got out that I had a “way” with special birds I got calls asking me if I would work or take in other birds… and I have.. and from there… the rescue.

We are a 501c3 currently housing our birds at different officer’s houses and will be moving at some point next year to the Miami/Hialeah area. We have been more or less gifted a 10-acre parcel of land so that we can continue to rescue, rehabilitate, house or adopt out the rescues we take in. Depending on the severity of their problem some will be lifelong residents while others will be adopted out.

We do take in normal birds that have been displaced, vet them if needed and find them their forever families too. If I didn’t have some of the best in the business to turn to when I have questions or concerns I don’t know that I would have gotten as far as I have… it’s been an amazing ride.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s not always a smooth road. Unfortunately, as in many types of rescues, you are going to have other local rescues who got into it for the money and they will do anything to make sure you don’t become competition and take profit away from their rescues. I am of the belief that rescues need to work together for the benefit of the animals.

If I get a bird that needs a home in and I don’t currently have someone waiting for that type of bird on my list, I contact another rescue.. if they have someone who has already been approved and is waiting… the bird is transferred to them so it’s not waiting for its forever home. If the rescue isn’t waiting on that type of bird… then it gets listed as available but not until I know that there isn’t already a home waiting.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rickie’s Parrot Rescue and Sanctuary story. Tell us more about the business.
I think I touched on this on the first page. I specialize in medically needy/special needs birds. We also have an officer that specializes in temperament issues. I think those two things tend to set us apart. Most rescues want to take in the birds that are going to make them money right away.

Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years?  Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
In 5-10 years I hope to have a large facility that can accommodate many more birds. I would like to do tours… and teach people about birds. There are so many misconceptions out there because people don’t do their research. They just want a bird that talks… well the same bird that talks will jungle scream a few times and day and may also chew up your house.

In the end, I hope that we become a safe haven for the birds… but also a learning facility so people know what they are getting into when they bring one home.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://southfloridaparrotrescue.com
• Phone: 561-235-9223
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickiesparrotrescue/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/specialneedsparrotsandbirds/

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