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By Miriam Raftery
October 19, 2013 (Jamul) – SoCal Parrot, the only local nonprofit which rescues wild parrots in our region, invites the public to “Picnic with the Parrots” on October 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the SoCal Parrot Sanctuary and Garden, 3621 Hidden Ridge Road in Jamul.
Activities include tours, wild parrot aviary viewing, meet the SoCal parrot ambassadors, a petting zoo, koi pond feeding, harvest festival and pumpkin carving. A silent auction and raffles will also be held. The event also features guest speakers. Box lunches can be purchased or bring your own picnic. The event costs $15 per adult, $10 per child, or $40 per family.
At least 13 species of wild parrots are found in Southern California—and some mixed species due to interbreeding. Hundreds can be seen winging their way around East County, where our warm climate and tropical landscaping in many yards enables them to survive and thrive.
Some of the parrots are native to northern Mexico and may have migrated here by flying across the border. Others are exotics from South and Central America that may have been pets or been released by smugglers.
Ironically, some endangered species have greater numbers in Southern California than in their native countries, where rainforests are being depleted, says Amanda Plante.
SoCal Parrot was founded by Brooke Durham, who formerly worked with Project Wildlife. After learning that Project Wildlife won’t care for non-native birds and that no outlet existing to help rehabilitate injured or ill parrots, SoCal Parrot was born.
Today, the facility has returned some rehabilitated parrots to the wild and hopes to soon release its flock of thirty-some parrots in the near future.
For more information or tickets to this event, visit www.socalparrot.org
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