It is National Volunteer Week! As an all-volunteer organization, Phoenix Landing Foundation would not be able to do the work it does for parrots without our numerous volunteers! It isn’t possible to highlight everyone individually, but we decided this would be a wonderful opportunity to help everyone get to know our volunteer Adoption Coordinators a little better. So, for the next few days, we will profile them!

We will start with Jenny, our Virginia adoption coordinator!

Jenny, with her Cockatoo and African Grey

1. For what area are you the adoption coordinator for Phoenix Landing?
Virginia

2. How long have you served in this volunteer role?
10 years

3. How did you first learn about or get involved with Phoenix Landing?
In 2003, I was in a pet store with my grey Henry. She was on a harness, and spent most of the time chewing on it, desperately trying to remove it. (We don’t do harnesses anymore). While checking out, a Phoenix Landing volunteer who happened to work behind the register gave me a newsletter, and I contacted the main email to see how I could help. I was the education coordinator until 2007 – helping to put together the newsletters back when they were a quarterly magazine, and developing classes. I later moved into writing books about behavior, but since 2007 have been the adoption coordinator.

4. There are many causes and non-profits out there to get involved with, why did you choose this one?
Easy! Because I love birds and want to help them.

This group is focused on the birds: providing optimum care, being good role models, and educating caregivers. I have learned so much from the speakers we’ve had through the years.

We’ve had just about every significant voice in the parrot community share their wisdom with us.

And of course, Ann [Brooks] makes everyone feel appreciated and welcome. She is the best!

5. What do you like most about volunteering with Phoenix Landing?
Making a great match between bird and family. Sometimes it takes a while. I remember placing a grey with a family. The bird loved the dad, but wasn’t too crazy about the rest of the family. After a few months, it was obvious that the placement would not work out. However, I was struck by how kind they were, and how they wanted for the parrot to go to the right home. It was painful for them to give the parrot up, even though he wasn’t the best match for them. A few months later, we received a relinquishing form for a caique. I thought of them, and contacted them out of the blue to see if they would be willing to try again. They were happy to hear from us, and decided to try fostering the bird. It was a perfect match! The entire family interacts with and loves the bird – and when on vacation, they wait for pictures from their bird sitter daily! It was a very happy ending.

6. What else would you like to share about yourself, about volunteering, or about Phoenix Landing?
I have a Moluccan cockatoo, a grey, a pionus and a quaker. My web site, jennydrummey.com, has videos, articles and more information about parrot care.

We have a great group of volunteers but can always use more! The species we need the most help with fostering are the big birds: macaws, cockatoos,and amazons, and this need continues to grow daily. Anyone who is interested in what it’s like to live with larger birds should consider fostering through us first. You can learn if the commitment necessary for large parrots is one that you can deal with.

If you are interested in volunteering with Phoenix Landing, email us at phoenixlanding@earthlink.net.