Reggie and I were NOT up at the crack of dawn (first picture).  It was a stormy night last night. Reggie (with the rest of us) was slow to rise on the first day alone here without his mom and dad. Grapes were  fed treats of the morning. I had to cage Hughie up so Reggie could get use to the surroundings without Hughie showing off. They all seem to forget what it is like when they first got here. 

    Reggie will fit right in, I can tell. I am hoping that Molly (see picture) can befriend Reggie and we can have a macaw thing going. Of course Hughie (see picture of him taking a bath) thinks he is everyone’s buddy, but Molly needs a friendship with someone closer to her own species.

    It's funny how the energy changes in the bird room with a new addition. Reggie already had a human visitor. Rose, from down the street came to see how Reggie is adjusting. Joey did the smoke alarm call for her attention. I realized that Joey, an Abbott’s Lessor Sulfa Cockatoo, only does that when there is company over and Joey is feeling like he’s not getting all the attention. Thank goodness none of the other birds have ever picked up that bad habit! Actually, they each have their own way of telling me (or others) what they want.

All is well on the bird end of Hope Ranch Animal Rescue.
Happy spring to you all,
Shareen

I will give Reggie a home that “she” will be happy in and enjoy. Maybe Reggie will develop a relationship with someone other than me (like another bird).

Here are the pictures that I took while they were here visiting. (see attached)

After they left, I had a little pep talk with Reggie. All my other birds quietly listened in to what I had to say to Reggie. I can tell that Reggie was picking up the gist of what I was saying. Then Reggie inquired about the seed medley that the other birds have (Reggie is use to a special parrot feed). I gave Reggie some in her dish in her play pen. She immediately climbed over and checked it out. She  tested out the different seeds and told me that she liked the sunflower seeds the best. Well duh! They all do. They are the most addicting. I think Reggie will do fine. I just feel so bad for Carol. It is hard to give up your kids.

Please tell your friends and neighbors about us. We need the support and donations. (Shareen)

Zane’s  wife says that it is Brandi that is keeping Zane alive. (I guess the feeling is mutual).

It is so wonderful to see them both so happy. It is a match made in heaven! (Shareen)

Call Shareen at (530) 964-2524 for information regarding adoption or sponsoring a bird.

By Gene Eagle, Mount Shasta Area Newspapers

(Reprinted by permission of Mount Shasta Area Newspapers)

Shareen Strauss in her bird room in McCloud, where she cares for sick, unwanted and problem birds that people in the community bring to her. (Photo by Gene Eagle)

McCloud, Calif. - Shareen Strauss of McCloud has always had a passion for wild animals. As a child she and her older sister Lori always brought home strays or unwanted animals to nurture. Their love for animals grew as they did.

In 2007, Lori and her husband Bob Morris started Hope Ranch Animal Rescue, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in Malibu. With Strauss’s help they began rescuing unwanted and abused animals. Over the years they have rescued, rehabilitated and placed horses, dogs, llamas, guinea pigs, and other animals into new homes.

Life-changing situations brought Strauss to McCloud in January 2000, and within a week a cockatoo named “Dakota,” was brought to her. “The bird had no feathers, had bad behavioral problems, hated men and had issues with strangers,” said Strauss. “Today she is fully feathered and is loving and affectionate.”
Strauss said, “After that, little by little, one by one, people began bringing sick, unwanted and problem birds to me.”

Over the past nine years she has accumulated over 30 birds who have a room of their own and, though they live in cages, several are free to fly about the room and get exercise during daylight hours. “The birds are very vocal and do make a lot of noise during the day when I am feeding them and when I first come home from work or when people come over,” Strauss said. “But when we are just hanging out together or at night, they are quiet and content.”

She has species ranging from love birds to cockatiels, parakeets and cockatoos to macaws.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to take in an animal and build trust and rehabilitate them and watch them grow and become healthy again,” she said.

She offers some tips for anyone interested in having a pet exotic bird: “Carefully consider such things as how much time you can devote to a bird and how much noise you can tolerate. It is important you make a good decision and find a bird that will be a good match for your personality, lifestyle and household.”

“Many of the larger beautiful, exotic birds such as macaws are bought on impulse because someone wants a colorful, talking bird or because they think these birds are cool pets,” said Strauss. “Most of these people don’t know what they are getting into. After they get the bird home they are faced with a loud, messy, expensive animal that lives many years and is very demanding.”

“People get overwhelmed, burdened or just don’t have the time for them, and in the process the birds start getting anti-social behavior, and can become mean or stressed, to the point of pulling out their own feathers."

"Birds are very sensitive and are social creatures. Many people don't really realize that."

"In the process of taking these unwanted birds and caring for their individual needs it has become somewhat expensive, plus I am running out of room to house them," she said. "I am now promoting these birds, to place them in healthy homes. Anyone wishing to adopt, sponsor a bird, or make a donation towards medical care and feed, can call me at 530-964-2524."

For almost 20 years Shareen Strauss has worked in veterinarian medicine as a tech. She also has ten years under her belt managing a ranch and she has extensive knowledge in animal behavior, nutrition, and other needs of exotic, domestic and farm animals. Shareen Strauss welcomes visitors, gives demonstrations, and offers her expertise for those having, or thinking about purchasing an exotic bird.