Action Alert!

ACTION ALERT - ACT BEFORE 10/18

No Paradise For Breeding Birds
REPLY TO/ MORE INFORMATION:
justroar@comcast.net, www.BirdHell.com

BACKGROUND:
Speakers Flock to World's Largest B ird Store While Breeding Birds Languish
On October 18 and 19, 2008, Bird Paradise, the self-proclaimed "world's
largest bird store," will host its fifth annual "Parrot Palooza" featuring
professionals from the bird trade including Dr. Irene Pepperburg, Sally
Blanchard, Lara Joseph and Madeleine Franco. SEE SUMMARY AFTER SAMPLE LETTER

CONTACT INFORMATION / TAKE ACTION:
Letters and calls needed ASAP to the speakers and promoters asking for
their help to prevent the continued suffering and exploitation of birds.
These speakers and bird advocacy groups should be working to help birds, not
increase the profits of one of the worst exploiters.

SPEAKERS:

SALLY BLANCHARD
ph: 970-278-0233 / email: staff@companionparrot.com

LARA JOSEPH
ph: 419-360-1234 / email: pickyparrot@buckeye-express.c om

MADELEINE FRANCO
email: madfranco@aol.com

IRENE PEPPERBERG, PhD
ph: 781-736-2195 or 617-295-4852
email: impepper@wjh.harvard.edu, imp16@brandeis.edu, alex@alexfoundation.org

PROMOTERS:

Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Educational Center
P.O. Box 548 / Freehold NJ 07728
ph: 732-995-8562 / email: ArcadiaBirds@aol.com
http://www.arcadiabirdsanctuary.org/

The Bailey Foundation
P.O. Box 2122 / Boothwyn, PA 19061
ph: 484-882-0101 / email: jlevine@bailey-foundation.org
http://www.bailey-foundation.org/

Chester County Bird Club
P.O. Box 1025 / Frazer, PA 19355
email: info@ccbirdclub.com
http://www.ccbirdclub.com/index_files/Calendar.htm

Companion Bird Club of Delaware Valley
P.O. Box 167 / Hawley PA 18428
ph: 570-470-0034 / email: birdclubdv@yahoo.com
http://www.birdclubdv.com/

Jojo the Grey Adopti on and Rescue for All Birds, Inc.
ph: 610-713-0304 / email: jojothegrey@yahoo.com
http://www.jojothegrey.com/id1.html

Long Island Parrot Society
P.O. Box 2754 / North Babylon, NY 11703
ph: 631- 957-1100 / email: info@liparrotsociety.org
http://www.liparrotsociety.org/

EMAIL BLOCK FOR ALL SPEAKERS & PROMOTERS:
ArcadiaBirds@aol.com, jlevine@bailey-foundation.org, info@ccbirdclub.com,
birdclubdv@yahoo.com, jojothegrey@yahoo.com, info@liparrotsociety.org,
staff@companionparrot.com, pickyparrot@buckeye-express.com,
madfranco@aol.com, impepper@wjh.harvard.edu, imp16@brandeis.edu,
alex@alexfoundation.org

SAMPLE LETTER
Dear,

I am disturbed to learn that you are supporting the Parrot Palooza at Bird
Paradise. As shown in the store's own promotional video, Bird Paradise
obtains birds from a breeding facility in south Florida where the birds are
confined in small wire cages devoid of any toys or other enrichment.

For many of the birds, the sole furnishing in the cages is a perch
inappropriate for their species. Because the eggs are hatched in the
artificial environment of an incubator, the parents are deprived of
expressing their natural nesting and parenting instincts; instead, they are
confined to the same wire cages to breed over and over, supplying Bird
Paradise with thousands of birds for sale each year.

I am also concerned about your support of any store selling birds at a time
when so many birds desperately need homes. Please ask Bird Paradise to
discontinue the sale of birds and promote adoption instead.

Thank you,
Name / City, Country / E-mail

##################################################

SUMMARY: Birds, especially parrots, are becoming the world's fastest growing unwanted pet. These complex animals require attention and care that few people are
prepared to provide, and many times unsuspecting owners who can no longer
handle the loud, active creatures will simply ditch them or store them in a
dark basement or garage.

Studies show that wild birds spend 30% of their time flying just for fun.
Most captive birds never get a chance to fly, or fly only a few yards. Bird
Paradise operates a bird store in southern New Jersey offering thousands of
birds for sale along with a wide assortment of cages, toys and food.

On Bird Paradise's infomercial (2008), a visit is made to a Florida breeding
facility where many of the birds sold by Bird Paradise are born. While
watching the infomercial you will make some disturbing observations. Among
other things, the breeder birds housed at the facility are kept in barren
cages devoid of any of the multitude of toys for sale at Bird Paradise's own
store. Captive birds need enrichment, such as toys and out of cage time, to
remain as physically and emotionally healthy as possible in captivity.
SEE RECORDING OF THE INFOMERCIAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq30I_-ZSE8

It also appears that the perches provided for some of the breeder birds are
an inappropriate diameter measurement for their foot size. In order to avoid
serious captivity-related foot problems, it is important to offer a variety
of perch types and sizes appropriate for their foot size.

Another problem at the facility is the artificial environment in which the
eggs are hatched. Apparently some of the eggs are taken immediately from the
parents and placed in an incubator. This is very stressful for the adult
birds and baby birds alike. And despite the thousands of birds confined at
the facility, only one employee is shown during th e entire video. This
raises concerns about a possible lack of individual attention for the birds,
whose lives appear to be limited to a cage, nesting box and perch.

Bird Raffle Action Alert

An Action Alert from Second Chance Birds:

The Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors (SPBE) has a fundraiser raffle going until December. The winner of the raffle will win...a young Cockatoo. This is extremely disturbing! Notice that the SPBE states that the winner must pay SHIPPING costs if applicable. To us, this means the Cockatoo, in addition to the general stress of captivity, may have to endure the stress of being shipped like merchandise. Anyone with $5 and a little bit of luck could get this innocent Cockatoo and do as they please with him/her.


From the Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors' raffle page (http://www.spbe.org/Files/2008%20Raffle/2008_spbe_fund_raiser_raffle.htm):

2008 SPBE Fund Raiser Raffle
Eleanora Cockatoo
Raised and donated by Rick Rowland and Gail Mundis)
Tickets $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00
Winner Must Pay Shipping Cost if Applicable


Living, breathing animals are not prizes and in some states it's illegal.
Unfortunately, not enough states have adopted legislation to prevent it.


Please take the time to write a letter. Please crosspost and forward!

Contact emails:

spbe1@aol.com,
birdmanofwarsaw@embarqmail.com,
mjs5295@comcast.net,
jp449wd@aol.com,
spbe3@aol.com,
jzachow0454@charter.net,
ltironwings@aol.com,
sandee@parrotletranch.com,
lix4me@aol.com,
tetzel@comcast.net

How to Destroy a Bird - What We Don't Want to Do

The video and photos below show birds missing feathers or birds with open wounds. Birds kept in captivity often develop the captivity induced behavior of self mutilation. Birds who self mutilate will pluck out their feathers, chew/rip holes in their skin or bite off their claws, feet or legs. Birds in the wild rarely self mutilate because they are busy gathering food, protecting their young and basically just doing "wild" things. Wild birds also usually have a nutritionally adequate diet.

Sadly, many birds sold by Bird Paradise and other pet stores have a very good chance of becoming self mutilators.

Watch this video, "How to Destroy a Parrot" and find out what we don't want to do to birds!

Parrots Flock Northern Indian Temple

Appreciate wild animals in their natural habitats. Don't hold them captive for your entertainment.

Parrots Flock Northern Indian temple

From BBC News , July 21, 2008:
Hundreds of thousands of parrots have flocked to a temple in northern India to feed.
The parrots gather at the temple in Indore for three months a year to eat sorghum grains left out by devotees. Click here to watch a video of the wild parrots!

Please join us this weekend!

*NEWS RELEASE* Contact: Marianne Bessey (610) 733-1248


BIRD STORE OWNERS TAKE EXTREME MEASURES TO SILENCE CRITICISM

Committed Concerned Citizens Continue Compassion Crusade this Weekend

August 21, 2008, Burlington, N.J.: In their nonstop campaign to silence criticism of the multi-million dollar bird trade, representatives of Bird Paradise contacted the employer of one of the lead advocates to require removal of information from the website www.BoycottBirdParadise.com. Undeterred, advocates vow to continue their efforts to expose bird suffering with another demonstration at the store this weekend.

The most recent action was unprecedented: Employers of the advocates involved in the campaign to help raise awareness of the suffering of birds in captivity are unrelated in any way to the campaign, yet Bird Paradise representatives didn't hesitate to attempt to harass and intimidate demonstrators by contacting at least one employer to request that action be taken to require the removal of information from the website also known as www.BirdHell.com. The employer declined the request. It is unknown how many total employers were contacted.

What: Demonstration to Highlight Bird Suffering

When: Saturday, August 23, 2008, 3:00 p.m.

Where: Public Right of Way in front of Bird Paradise, 551 E. Rte 130 South, Burlington NJ

Bird Paradise's attempts to suppress free speech began in January, when store owners requested local police to remove demonstrators from public property outside the store. Continuing their campaign to squelch dissenting opinion this spring, Bird Paradise owners next filed a civil lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court to prevent the next planned demonstration. When even this effort failed (the ACLU stepped in to represent the demonstrators and the lawsuit was dismissed), things turned ugly when one of the owners, Kathy Lance, assaulted a demonstrator during the first demonstration in April, causing cuts and bruises and requiring emergency medical treatment.

After she was videotaped attacking the demonstrator, Lance fled the scene but local police helped to identify Lance as the person who attacked the demonstrator, and assault charges were filed against Lance. Hours later, Lance filed a statement claiming the demonstrator "stepped on to the property of Bird Paradise with camera in hand" and filed charges against the demonstrator for assault, harassment, and trespassing. In court last month, all charges against the demonstrator were dismissed (the ACLU and esteemed attorney William H. Buckman donated their services to represent the demonstrator at no charge), and Lance pled guilty to a lesser charge. Ms. Lance's legal counsel requested the judge to prohibit communication of the guilty plea outside of the courtroom, but the judge refused.

"Bird Paradise is trying desperately to deflect attention from the true issue here, which is birds are wild animals that suffer greatly in captivity," said local advocate Marianne Bessey. "Even the most loving bird owner can't meet birds' needs to fly and flock. Stores like Bird Paradise continue the cycle of abuse by selling thousands of more birds, even when so many birds already suffering in captivity desperately need good homes."

###

Press Release: Kathy Lance Guilty & Attempt to Silence Campaign

Bird Paradise Store Co-Owner Pleads Guilty and is Fined for Confrontation with Demonstrator

Store Owner Strikes Out in Court Again in Attempt to Silence Bird Abuse Education Campaign

July 29, 2008, Burlington, N.J.: After filing a frivolous lawsuit and false charges against a demonstrator in attempts to silence the mounting campaign to highlight bird suffering, store owner Kathy Lance last night pled guilty to charges relating to an altercation with local activist Marianne Bessey.

Bird Paradise's attempts to suppress free speech began in January, when store owners requested local police to remove demonstrators from public property outside of the store. Continuing their campaign this spring, Bird Paradise owners then filed a civil lawsuit in Burlington Superior Court to prevent the next planned demonstration. When even this effort failed (the lawsuit was dismissed), the demonstration proceeded – but one of the owners assaulted Bessey during the demonstration, causing cuts, bruises, and bleeding – and requiring Bessey to seek emergency medical treatment.

After she was videotaped attacking Bessey, Lance fled the scene. Although Lance was nowhere to be found after the attack, local police helped Bessey to identify Lance as the person who attacked her, and Bessey immediately filed assault charges. Hours later, Lance, accompanied by her lawyer, Deborah Plaia, arrived at the police station and filed a statement where she claimed Bessey "stepped on to the property of Bird Paradise with camera in hand." In her statement, Lance claimed that Bessey's alleged step onto Bird Paradise's property caused Lance to feel "threatened," and she filed charges against Bessey for assault, harassment, and trespassing.

At last night's trial in Burlington City Municipal Court, all charges against Bessey were dismissed. Lance, who had been charged with assault for her attack on Bessey, pled guilty to a lesser charge. She was fined $1,000.00. Ms. Lance's legal counsel requested the judge to prohibit Bessey from communicating the guilty plea outside of the courtroom, but the judge refused.

"It's so sad that Bird Paradise will go to such lengths to try to keep the facts about birds in captivity from the public," said assault victim Marianne Bessey. "The fact is, birds are wild and suffer greatly in captivity. Stores like Bird Paradise continue the cycle of abuse by selling thousands of more birds, even when so many birds already suffering in captivity desperately need good homes."

###

Bird Paradise Owner Pleads Guilty - Watch Assault Video

Kathy Lance, co-owner of Bird Paradise pet store in NJ, pled guilty to a lesser charge on July 28, 2008 in Burlington County Court. All charges against the activist she assaulted were DISMISSED.Watch the video of Kathy Lance lashing out violently and assaulting a peaceful demonstrator here:http://youtube.com/watch?v=rl1xXOrw1U0



Check out the latest at www.BirdHell.com.

Help Stop Indonesian Parrot Smuggling

Smuggled Parrots Photo Courtesy of ProFauna International

Visit the link below for more information and an email form to make it easier to send your email. **Mailing your letter to Indonesia will have a greater impact**

http://www.profauna.org/content/en/petition_parrots.html

From ProFauna.org-
Be sure to mention the following points in your letter:

• Demand the Republic of Indonesia government to stop parrots smuggling to the Philippines by conducting confiscation operation in North Halmahera dealers and improve the patrol of marine boundaries between Indonesia and the Philippines and the route used for wildlife smuggling from Indonesia to the Philippines.


• Urge the Forestry Ministry of Republic of Indonesia to control, investigate, and seize protected wildlife, especially parrots, from traders in the animal markets in Surabaya and Pramuka market in Jakarta.


• Recommend the Forestry Minister to raise the protection status of White Cockatoo (Cacatua alba) many of the species are caught for trade and the mortality rate in parrot trade is very high. Nevertheless, white cockatoo is not protected.
  

Send your letter to the following addresses:

MS Kaban, Menteri Kehutanan Republik Indonesia Gedung Manggala Wanabhakti Blok I, lantai 4 Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jakarta Pusat 10270. Phone 021-5731820, Fax 021-5700226 e-mail: indofor@dephut.go.id, dirjen.pka@dephut.go.id, cites@dephut.go.id

Jendral Polisi Soetanto, Kepala Polisi Republik Indonesia MABES POLRI Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru Jakarta Selatan. Phone 021-7390306, 3848537 e-mail: info@polri.go.id

Please copy carbon your letter to ProFauna address below, as we are forwarding the sent letters to the Forestry Minister and the Federal Police of the Republic of Indonesia. Your support will help the conservation of Indonesian parrots in the wild.
ProFauna Indonesia Jl Raya Candi II no 179 Klaseman, Malang-Indonesia Phone 0341-570033, Fax 0341-569506 Email tri@profauna.org

For more information about Indonesian Parrots and how you can help them, visit http://www.indonesian-parrot-project.org/

June's Demo: New Peeps, Public Support and Wild Baby Birds

Our third demonstration against Bird Paradise, this past Saturday, was as successful as our first two. Some really great things happened that day. The honks of support and thumbs up were too numerous to count. We welcomed two advocates who were new to the Bird Paradise demos. Then halfway through the demo, as we stood in the sweltering heat standing up for the birds, a couple, who had honked their support about ten minutes earlier, pulled up . They presented us with a bag filled with ice cold water, enough for each demonstrator, and told us that we were doing a great thing. It's so awesome when the public gives us kudos for what we do, it really proves we are making a difference.


April 2008


During the demo one of our advocates received a phone call from her awesome aunt reporting that five bird eggs in her yard just hatched that day. We are so excited that five brand new baby birds were born into the wild, soon to fly in the sky and enjoy their freedom!

Presenting the adorable feathered babies:

Photo credit: Aunt Mary!

Blogging Against Bird Paradise

Welcome to the blog for the Boycott Bird Paradise campaign! You can find background information about the campaign at www.BirdHell.com. We've started this blog as a way to give updated information about the campaign and to share anything interesting that we come across. The campaign started in January 2008. For information on the plight of captive birds, visit these sites:

• Parrots.org
• http://avianprotectors.homestead.com/
• SecondChanceBirds.com
• http://www.petsmartcruelty.com/angels_story.asp
• AvianWelfare.org

If you are looking to provide a loving home to one of the many homeless birds, make sure to do a lot of research, as adopting a bird is much different than adopting a dog or a cat.
Check out adoptable birds here:

• Petfinder.com - Lists adoptable animals in every state

BestBuy Coupons