The Phoenix Landing adoption coordinator for the Greenville area of South Carolina is Jackie! If you are in the Greenville area of South Carolina and are interested in either adopting a bird or becoming more involved with Phoenix Landing in order to help more birds, let us know by contacting us! Jackie shares information about volunteer opportunities with Phoenix Landing in her interview below.

Jackie and LucyLui

1. For what area are you the adoption coordinator for Phoenix Landing? Greenville/Spartanburg, SC

2. How long have you served in this volunteer role?
5 years (I’m guessing!)

3. How did you first learn about or get involved with Phoenix Landing?
I was researching parrot agencies where I could volunteer. I came across Phoenix Landing and signed up for a STEP UP! Class and the rest is history! I adopted a parrot I worked with during STEP UP! And became more involved with transport and helping with area bird adoptions.

4. There are many causes and non-profits out there to get involved with, why did you choose this one?
Because Phoenix Landing is more about the right placement for each parrot than they are about pushing parrots out the door into any old home. The requirement for each potential adopter to take one higher-level adoption class is key and that requirement sold me on Phoenix Landing. There are people who “think” they want a parrot and after taking a class that goes into the required care, caging, enrichment, nutrition, possible noise, etc., people know what they are getting into and go into the adoption process with their eyes wide open! Also, Phoenix Landing makes sure that a particular parrot is right for the adopting person/family and that the parrot will be “happy” with the lifestyle in the new home. A loud, active home may not be a good fit for every parrot, so it is good to know that someone is not just looking to place a bird, but to place a parrot in a mutually beneficial environment with a person/family.

5. What do you like most about volunteering with Phoenix Landing?
I enjoy the variety of parrots, but most important to me is working with older parrot owners. Many older people have to make tough decisions about placing their parrots because the person is getting older, may have health issues, whatever the case may be, but they know they need to place their beloved pet in the best situation going forward. Most are so glad to know that their parrot will have a home for life within the Phoenix Landing system and that should their pet need to come back to Phoenix Landing for any reason whatsoever, it will happen. And it happens quickly so that the parrot is back in a cared for, healthy environment while we look for its next home.

6. What else would you like to share about yourself, about volunteering, or about Phoenix Landing?
I wish I were more outgoing so that I could grow the Greenville/Spartanburg parrot group! If there is anyone out there who wants to help get the word out in the Greenville/Spartanburg area, please don’t hesitate to STEP UP! There are parrot owners in this area and I want to reach them, get them involved in classes, get to talk about their parrots, and see everyone updated on parrot ownership in today’s world where nutrition, housing requirements, and enrichment of these wonderful pets is key to their health, happiness, and longevity.

Continuing our celebration of National Volunteer Week and the numerous volunteers who make what Phoenix Landing does, possible, today we are highlighting our Western North Carolina adoption coordinator, Liz! Liz has been volunteering with Phoenix Landing for years, but is our newest adoption coordinator, having just agreed to officially take on the role last week!

Liz and Mango

1. For what area are you the adoption coordinator for Phoenix Landing?
Western NC, Hickory Metro, covering approximately 5 counties. My home is in Morganton NC, Burke County

2. How long have you served in this volunteer role?
Just agreed to become official last week. But have helped teach a few classes at The Landing in Asheville and with the help of our volunteer and friend Lannie Ellison, I have set up education booths at bird fairs and pet expos for the last 4 yrs.

3. How did you first learn about or get involved with Phoenix Landing?
We met them at a booth that was set up at the Pet Expo in Hickory about 7 or 8 years ago. We adopted some Bourke Parakeets that had come out of a situation in Catawba County.

4. There are many causes and non-profits out there to get involved with, why did you choose this one?
Local and common interests and viewpoints. My husband and I also work with National Shetland Sheepdog Rescue, and Carolina Great Pyrenees Rescue.

5. What do you like most about volunteering with Phoenix Landing?
It’s rewarding to meet and talk to people and educate them on the care and long term commitments to our feathered companions. I love spending time at the Landing in Asheville and am constantly learning new things.

6. What else would you like to share about yourself, about volunteering, or about Phoenix Landing?
I’m Tuki’s mom! Nuff said. HaHa And working with Ann, Mary, Kevin, Leigh Ann, Jenny, and everyone else I’ve met along the way. I consider them all personal friends.

In honor of National Volunteer Week, we are continuing our celebration of the numerous volunteers who make what Phoenix Landing does, possible! Today we are highlighting our Wilmington, NC area adoption coordinator, Nina!

Nina, Wilmington, NC adoption coordinator

1. For what area are you the adoption coordinator for Phoenix Landing?Wilmington, NC.

2. How long have you served in this volunteer role?
Almost 7 years.

3. How did you first learn about or get involved with Phoenix Landing?Recommendations of other parrot lovers when I was in Asheville for a veterinary conference.

4. There are many causes and non-profits out there to get involved with, why did you choose this one?
Outstanding reputation, philosophy, and focus on education.

5. What do you like most about volunteering with Phoenix Landing?
Teaching others about parrot behavior, nutrition, health, and care.

6. What else would you like to share about yourself, about volunteering, or about Phoenix Landing?
I highly recommend the “Step up” classes and the Parrot Wellness Retreat for anyone who loves parrots and wishes to expand their knowledge.

Information about the “Step Up” classes is available at http://www.phoenixlanding.org/events.html. The next Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreat will take place in 2018. Stay tuned for details!

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.