Rescued parrots find joy in the great outdoors

When the sun’s out and the temperature is just right, Parrot Garden at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary comes alive in a different way. Birds fluff up, bob their heads with excitement, and line up to step onto caregivers’ arms — ready to head outside.

“It’s one of the coolest things we’re able to do here,” says caregiver Bradley Kay. “The birds know when it’s time. They get excited. And they love it.”

Not all the parrots at the Sanctuary are able to fly, but that doesn’t stop them from getting as close to nature as possible. Caregivers carefully carry these spirited squawkers to spacious outdoor aviaries where they’re surrounded by the sights and sounds of the high desert: sunlight filtering through trees, a warm breeze, the chirp of wild birds nearby.

That change of scenery brings more than joy. “Being in the fresh air is great for their respiratory system and their feather quality,” says Bradley. “It’s also amazing enrichment — that shift in environment helps keep them happy and engaged. They’re wild animals at heart, and being outside gives them a little piece of that wild.”

Some parrots lift their wings to catch the breeze, even giving them a flap or two while caregivers hold their feet to keep them safe and secure. “It’s the closest thing to flying that some of them will get,” Bradley says. “And they really do feel it.”

[Learn more about adoptable birds at Best Friends] 

Once settled into their outdoor digs, the birds might squawk a little louder than usual — in part because they’re soaking up sunshine with parrots they don’t often see when they’re indoors, chatting away as they mingle with new and familiar friends. And then there’s the misting: gentle showers that help the birds cool off and clean their feathers.

“They have an absolute blast with that,” says Bradley. “Most of these birds are tropical, but the dry heat can be a little much for them, so being able to give them that moisture on their feathers is a really big health benefit as well.”

[When parrots go to school]

Caregivers keep a close eye on the weather and bring the birds in when the temperature starts climbing too high. But as long as the weather stays in their comfort zone, these feathered friends get the best of both worlds: the safety of the Sanctuary and a breezy taste of the outdoors.

“These aren’t birds who can go back into the wild,” says Bradley. “But this is a way to give them that connection to the outside world. It makes a huge difference for them.”

It’s just one of the many ways Parrot Garden helps birds thrive — not only by meeting their needs but by honoring their wild hearts.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.