An anonymous donor is encouraging others to donate to Feathered Friends Forever to ensure the tropical bird rescue can continue to provide homes for unwanted, neglected and homeless parrots.
The Harlem rescue and sanctuary, started 11 years ago, is already home to more than 700 birds, said Ron Johnson, rescue founder and chief executive officer.
Johnson said the donor, who does not want to be identified, offered to match half of all donations made to the rescue in June.
That offer could bring in much-needed money to support the sanctuary's more than $100,000 annual budget.
"We don't have any paid staff," Johnson said. "It is 100 percent volunteers."
Though a percentage of the budget goes toward rent, storage, utilities, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses, the majority of raised and donated funds go toward maintenance and expansion of the facilities and food for the birds, which eat about 1,800 pounds of feed each month.
"Our bird food is up close to $2,000 a month," Johnson said.
As of last week, the rescue had 727 parrots. More than 200 are adoptable. The others are not available for adoption because of medical or social reasons.
Johnson said the rescue accepts birds from inexperienced or careless breeders, people losing their homes because of tough economic times and deployed military personnel.
Johnson said the rescue is set up to assist in natural disasters. Abandoned birds and those not allowed to stay in hotels with their owners in such times are welcome at the rescue.
"We have piles of cages set up here for emergency purposes," Johnson said.
But the steady influx of birds requires almost constant expansion to accommodate them. Johnson said the rescue has accepted as many as 107 in one day and has received birds from 43 states, including Alaska.
The park consists of 24 flights -- large outdoor cages -- to house birds. Older flights are regularly removed and replaced with new aviaries with improved feeders, watering and misting systems. Last year, a porch to house adoptable birds and others was completed and the original porch is being renovated. The "Villa" amazon flight contains a picnic table and benches so visitors can relax among the tropical birds.
Johnson said a picnic area is under construction as well as a Cockatoo flight, with a stream and misting system and the "Dream Flight."
The framework for the 32-foot-by-120-foot "Dream Flight" is erected, but it will take nearly $19,000 to complete. When finished, that flight will house 300-350 birds, Johnson said.
"We've got 10 acres and we want to finish clearing the back six acres so that we can have it planted and staked out for future expansion," Johnson said.
But the nonprofit organization depends on the generosity of donors and volunteers.
"That's the bottom line," Johnson said.
The same anonymous donor offering to match June donations also matched half the $5,000 donated in May, bringing the total to $7,500.
The outdoor Parrot Paradise Park, located at 612 Byrd Drive in Harlem, is open to the public 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday during the summer. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Donations can also be made at the Web site www.featheredfriendsforever.org or by mail to Feathered Friends Forever, 612 Byrd Dr., Harlem, GA 30814.
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