Iowa Parrot Rescue’s philosophy is pretty simple… The birds come first, second, and last. We are dedicated to providing the best care we possibly can, in the greatest amount of freedom.
Founded in 1997, Iowa Parrot Rescue is a 501(c)3 certified and the only health inspected rescue in the state of Iowa. We are committed to placing our birds in the right homes for their needs.
When a bird arrives at the rescue, it moves into quarantine where it waits for a trip to the vet and a physical evaluation. Quarantine time is an opportunity for the bird to adjust to new surroundings while feeling protected. In the meantime, a variety of people watch and interact with the new arrival to get a sense of that birds personality and needs. Once the health evaluation is complete, birds are started on meds or therapies according to their needs. Changes in diet are made slowly and the birds are introduced to their new neighbors.
Each bird is treated as an individual with particular needs and desires. Our job is to figure out what those are and build those into the bird's future. Almost all of our birds arrive with some form of damage: poor diet, lack of stimulation or space to move, long term injuries or illness, neglect or outright cruelty. Some birds adapt and bloom very quickly, some take years to build trust and find themselves. Some birds have never seen another bird and only respond to people. Some birds are aggressive and need to be only birds. Some like a flock around them. Some birds form bird friendships, which we encourage and will never break or interfere with that bond. Some birds will stay here for their natural life.
A parrot adopted from Iowa Parrot Rescue never really leaves the rescue entirely. People's lives and circumstances change. So do the bird's...a loving juvenile bird can turn into a raging hormonal dinosaur that desperately want to leave the nest and make a new home. Changes in the home can lead to stress, aggression or fear. Any bird that is no longer able to stay in the adopters home must come back to the rescue. We pride ourselves in being an ongoing source of support and information for those who adopt.
Our goal is that every bird that comes here will go to a situation better than it has at the rescue. To that end some birds stay here for years waiting for the right person to walk in the door. Ever potential adopter goes through several interviews and visits, plus a home visit before an adoption is approved. Families visit the birds and spend time learning which bird will fit best in their home. But in the end, the bird chooses the person.
What We Do
We shelter birds who can no longer stay where they've been, for whatever reasons.
We work with troubled or hurt birds to make them able to live a happier life.
We place birds in adoptive homes where they can stay for the rest of their lives.
We provide partners to birds who have no friends.
We educate the public about parrots as animals and as companions.
We assist and advise new rescuers.
What We DON’T Do
We don't buy birds.
We don't sell birds.
We don't sell cages or food.
We don't broker birds for other people.
We don't ship birds to remote adopters.
We don't breed birds.
We don't charge a fee to accept birds, or to place them for adoption.
As a nonprofit organization, it is important to us to provide education to our local community and beyond about the care of parrots in captivity. We also stress the urgency of conservation and the actions you can take to make a difference. We visit libraries, educational facilities, shelter events, aviculture gatherings, and park districts with our permanent residents to help people understand the threats facing wild and captive parrots.