Toys For Holland

For those of you who watched the BBC program "Look Who's Talking" that was aired by the PBS stations around the country, you probably saw the section on insane parrots. I found this part of the broadcast extremely disturbing since these birds did not look insane and in most cases were exhibiting normal behavior for their species.

I was able to put a phone call through to Holland and talked to Tony Van Meegen, who is the head of the Parrot Refuge. These birds are not "insane". They are birds from different areas of Holland that are not wanted by their owners. Tony Van Meegen is an extremely caring and concerned bird owner. He has over 1,000 birds in his 150 aviaries with more arriving daily. He is currently building a 2,500 square meter aviary. These birds are not going to
be rehabilitated. He does not breed them, nor does he place them in homes for adoption. They are placed, after a six month isolation period to avoid spreading disease among the flock, into aviaries with other members of their species.

He does not need food for the birds, but toys for his flock are always welcomed. Toys cost a lot of money, and toys for 1,000 birds would be near to impossible for him to provide. Sonny Days Bird Toys is currently developing a program of "Toys for Holland", that hopefully, will become self-sufficient in generating a continuous stream of toys for these birds who will spend the rest of their lives at the Parrot Refuge.

For every two bananas purchased from Sonny Days, one additional banana will be donated in your name to the Parrot Refuge. The total cost of $11 includes $3 Priority Mail shipping to your house. The bananas are hung with rope,
have leather peels, and are 8 by 2in. Money earned from the bananas will be used to defray the cost of shipping to Holland, as well as generate extra revenue to produce rope swings, toys to climb on etc.for the outside aviaries at the Parrot Refuge. After an initial shipment is made, we will change to another toy, to provide variety both for the birds in Holland as well as your birds. For $11, you get two bananas for your birds, Sonny Days donates one
additional banana, as well as swings etc. for the aviaries in Holland.

To order by e-mail: Send order to SDBT@aol.com

To order by mail: Send order to
Sonny Days Bird Toys
1019 Arbogast
Griffith, In 46319

To order by phone: Leave message on answering machine at 219-923-6492
To fax: 219-923-6492

When you receive your order, if you like it, mail us a check or money order for the amount on the enclosed invoice. When we receive your check, we will donate the toy in your name. If you don't want the toys, write or e-mail me for return information.

Any bird clubs wishing to participate, may take orders from your members and have the entire order shipped to one address for distribution at the next meeting. Please e-mail SDBT@aol.com for more information.

We will be extremely busy during this period. If anyone wants voice contact, please leave your name and phone number on the answering machine and your call will be returned as soon as we can. More information on the Parrot
Refuge will be posted as soon as we get it.

Thanks,
Sandi
Sonny Days Bird Toys