Bonsai Birds is a small business owned and operated by husband and wife Greg and Andrea Fahy. It is based in the historic downtown district of New Bern, NC. Although Bonsai Birds currently focuses mostly on aviculture, it has formed based on Greg's background and interest in horticulture and Andrea's background and interest in aviculture.
We are also proud to share a partnership with German based www.Birds-R-Fun.com.
At Bonsai Birds you can expect to receive high quality attention and service in all aspects. This is a business that takes great pride in the well being of their birds and in caring for their loyal customers. We are avid supporters of small, locally run businesses and appreciate others that are as well!
As time passes you will see the online store developing in addition to the physical store. We are currently in the process of redesigning and reprogramming our website, shopping cart and forum - so look forward to some exciting changes in the near future!
We hope that you will take the time to register with our partner site. Amongst other perks, this will give you access to our mailings of specials, and use of our forums.
Aviculture
It should be of interest to anyone visiting us that keeps birds or is interested in doing so to know a little about our interest in avian keeping! We have been working with companion birds since 2001. We began hand rearing parrots for companion pet purposes as well as to incorporate into breeding programs since 2003. In 2007 we ceased breeding and hand raising parrots for various reasons.
When first introduced to parrot keeping, we were taught that the only good pet parrot was one that was hand raised, kept singly and in a cage. We were also taught to "be in charge of your parrot" Delving time, studies and first hand experience into parrot keeping we have since learned those things were all wrong!
At Bonsai Birds, we are supportive of parent raised or co-parented parrots (or other birds) species appropriate keeping (keeping birds with mates or flocks of their own species) housing parrots in large aviaries or cageless environments, allowing full flight but encouraging flight training and understanding that parrots thrive on respectful relationships with their people, that they are not to be dominated but viewed as a loved equal. On top of all of this, a healthy natural diet is a must as well as lots and lots of environmental enrichment - toys, toys, toys and lots of daily foraging opportunities!
We have also developed a non-profit organization - Partners for Parrots. Currently Partners for Parrots is the base for our forums and handles the parrot adoption program. We have accepted some birds into the program due life changes and / or behavioral issues. We work on these issues, work on pairing the single birds and getting them into adequately sized housing and healthier diets. These birds then go to a foster home or to a permanent adoptive home. Until our larger facility is completely set up, we will attempt to utilize the foster program for birds that need a temporary situation before finding that next steady home. Please note that we cannot accept all birds due to space and time restraints. Also, please note that we do not claim to be a "rescue" as we have yet to rescue any parrots. Rescuing entails saving a bird from a life threatening situation - taking a bird in from a home that has experienced life changes or because the bird has developed a behavior issue is not true "rescue." Now, we are not against rescuing any birds, this just is not a common need (we have rescued some starving chickens though :)
Partners for Parrots has not yet received 501(c)(3) status, as it is a long and grueling process! We will keep everyone posted as this progresses.
We also offer an array of services: behavioral and keeping consultations, training advice and services, some boarding and in home avian care. If we ever breed our parrots again, we would plan to co-parent and pair offspring unrelated birds only. But, I am not so sure we would breed again, as our interest is truly with those birds that just need some time and attention and loving care and training. There are many birds out there like this that can offer just as much pet qualities as one would expect of a young hand reared parrot. It should also be of interest that hand reared parrots are prone to developing the most behavioral issues due to falsley imprinting on humans and all of the psychological and emotional complications that causes! And how can one bear to constantly rip babies away from the parent birds!
We are also working towards starting a not for profit for this line of work: fostering, adoptions, education, etc. We are making changes in our business methods and processes to adapt towards this. We may not file and be labeled as not for profit until 2008. Please know that any support will help us work towards this effort for the birds and towards avian education!
We are also leaning towards German minimum requirements for the keeping of parrots. I encourage you to read the article that is linked above. The more bird like we allow our companion birds to be, the happier they will be and the more we will enjoy them.
At home our flock had the brief opportunity to live in a cageless bird room with a natural setting: branches to simulate trees, with toys hanging about, free flighted birds and ample foraging opportunites. Doing this resolved many issues that were in existence (aggression between species, pent up energy, etc.) We are currently making more modification to their room, so they are back in cages temporarily.
Andrea also spends a good deal of time studying avian medicine and behavior. She is developing an extensive understanding of parrot keeping and care that is proving to be greatly beneficial to the avian community, both online and in our physical community.
We hope that you will join our forums and get to know us better and have access to valuable advice on parrot keeping, behavior issues and much more! Think of this as being invited into my home and being offered free consultations!
