Remember the date Saturday February 27th from 8:00 AM till 3:00 PM. If you don’t know where we’re located, you’ll find all the info on our location page.

If you can’t attend, please support our cause by consider a making a donation through the M.A.R.S. website. It’s fast and easy, you can pay online with any major credit card or via PayPal. All funds go directly to the care of the Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary. Thanks!

A truck load of food

Every six weeks M.A.R.S. makes a run to C&J Feed for the assorted bags of food necessary to keep all our feathered friends happy and healthy. Products with the names Lafeber, Higgins, Roudybush, Kaytee, Hampton Farms peanuts and Mazuri are loaded into our truck (no delivery charge that way). The total of these products is a whopping $606.00, and yes, that is after our discount is applied.

The above does not include all the other necessary items such as fresh fruit and vegies, additional protein such as chicken legs or and occasional steak, (Clyde’s) favorite, I will explain that in a later story. Also not included are special treats such as banana, cornbread and fresh ground peanut butter all available from Publix Supermarket which is totally safe.

With all that said, a picture is worth a thousand words. Please donate to our cause and help feed our hungry critters by paying for the above necessary items. If you can, also consider sponsoring a M.A.R.S. parrot or becoming a member of Melbourne Aviary Rescue Sanctuary by visiting our forms page.

It is our sincerest hope that you will help us maintain and achieve our goals entering into our third year of rescuing, rehabilitating and finding forever homes through adoption.

Captain Daniel Red and Lu with Captain Morgan and Cisco

We had a really great Animal Adoption day here in Melbourne. Thanks to Aloha Pet & Bird Hospital, South Brevard Animal Care and Animal Guardians. The event scored high in attendence, Dennis and Mary Peer of Animal Guardians were amazing in bringing Channel 13 to the event.

Press coverage is essential. The numbers prove once again that people will come out and support a good cause. Adopting a shelter pet.

New homes were found for 11 cats and 3 dogs. No birds, but lots of inquiries. Great fun was had by all who attended.

Refreshments were an amazing array of sweets and treats including pizza and sparkling cider. Cudos to Linda Pepin of Aloha for those.

As mentioned, a pirate or two came, along with M.A.R.S. favorite new adoptive parents Chris and Lorry Burger who were an amazing addition to the event. They are now fostering our feathered member Riley, she is a very lucky bird indeed. Future events are planned and we all hope they are equally as successful.

For those who missed this great event, you can still adopt a bird through the M.A.R.S. website. Please check out our “Parrots for Adoption” page and browse through the wide selection of available birds.

In addition, please also consider to make a donation to M.A.R.S. to support our cause. Check out the various memberships on the membership page. You can pay online (it’s fast and easy), and after a couple of clicks you’re already part of our family!

If you have any questions about bird adoption or our sanctuary, please contact me directly! I am happy to answer all your questions.

Adoptions are the key to finding the perfect pet. So always remember, Don’t Shop Adopt a shelter pet today. Refreshments will be provided by Aloha, and perhaps a pirate or two will join in the festivities. Come out and support this worth while cause.  Who knows the perfect canine, feline, or parrot might just be waiting for you to take them to their new home.

Looks like luxury retailer Bvlgari has gone for a double whammy in their latest campaign using beautiful actress (Julianne Moore) and two incredibly beautiful birds (greater Sulfur crested cockatoo!)

Pictured here are Shaka, aged 27, and Mr Bird, aged 13. Both were bred in the US from a pure Australian lineage and trained to work as “studio birds”. I am unable to find out anything else about their film careers (!) but we do know that in this shoot they were wearing diamond and emerald encrusted bracelets as collars (wonder how that went over!!!).

The Cockatoo’s were said to be chosen for their beauty and symbolism of grace and purity” whereas Ms. Moore ”interprets a strong woman, eccentric and charismatic”.

“Julianne Moore loved them and was very much at ease when she was interacting with them,” a Bulgari spokeswoman said. “At a certain point Shaka suddenly said to [Moore], ‘I love you’, between two shots, which came as a surprise and generated much euphoria.”

Cockatoos LOVE ATTENTION so in my opinion they make the perfect supermodels! If you do not have the time to give to a pet, do not get a Cockatoo. They make LOVING PETS and really require interaction. A wonderful addition to the family (jewelry optional!)

M.A.R.S has a wonderful selection of Cockatoos just waiting to get loving homes. For more information on adopting one of these beauties please send me an email and I can give you all the details!

Well, with the recent cold, we experienced another dilemma  added to our list of ever evolving tasks. How to extract our mascot Gracie from way under a wood deck and how to thaw her out once we achieved this.

With this said, take a look at the photos, and know that it took three days for her to be back to her old self. How we did everything  is another story, for another time.

Gracie when first pulled out

First look around

Gracie, seven hours later, color returned to normal

Lindsay, and a generous gift for M.A.R.S.

Today was grueling,yesterday was equally so and the day before and the day before that. You get the picture.  All of the members of M.A.R.S. ARE INSIDE AND OUT OF THE COLD. Right when you think that this cold cold weather can’t continue, it does for one more night. Than an amazing volunteer, Jane comes in, and you just get to it, and do it.  Cleaning and feeding and providing lots of boxes and things for all of the birds to keep busy and happy so there is quiet time.  Extra treats provided like dried fruit and cheese cubes, again you get the picture right?                                                                                                                                                         

Well after all the work is done, it suffices to say that Jane and I are simply relieved to be finished, another day ended, the members of M.A.R.S. happy and content. Not so  for their  human caretakers, we’re spent. We also know that tomorrow it all starts all over again.

Than out of the blue, two people are at the door, Lindsay and her Mom. In their hands a card and an envelope containing donations that a group of Christmas caroling children collected for the members of M.A.R.S.  This is what sets some days apart from all the others, and this is what makes it all so amazing. Thank-you to Lindsay, Linden (another great volunteer), Rue, Rowen, and Alyssa. We so appreciate your donation.

This video really rocks and we had a lot of fun doing it! Spread the word and a big thanks Jennifer and her crew!